Muttley

November 15th, 2014 at 10:11 PM ^

It wasn't a certain kneel down, but it was close.

Of the 96 seconds left, Notre Dame would have been able to run off 2x40 seconds between 2nd-and-3rd down and between 3rd-and-4th down. So that leaves 16 seconds.  Say Gholston snaps the ball each time w/ 2 seconds left, and that leaves 20 seconds at most.  Plus Notre Dame had 3 plays (2nd, 3rd, & 4th down) in which to waste additional time.

If Gholston could have managed to run around (safely) and kill 7 seconds per play, then ND could have run the clock out.

You could say the same thing on the ND 1st down at the NW 33 when NW had only 1 timeout.

 

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/playbyplay?gameId=400547980&period=4

Muttley

November 16th, 2014 at 9:25 PM ^

There were 96 seconds (1:36) left upon the ill-fated 2nd down fumble-play snap.

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/playbyplay?gameId=400547980&period=4

 

The guaranteed elapses of time had ND retained possession were:

  • the time elapsed on the 2nd down play
  • the 38-40 sec btwn 2nd and 3rd downs
  • the time elapsed on the 3rd down play
  • the 38-40 sec btwn 3rd and 4th downs
  • the time elapsed on the 4th down play

The clock stops on a change of possession after 4th down.

If Kelly had decided to take the full 40 seconds in between plays by taking two delay of game penalties, that still leaves 16 seconds that would need to be run off during the live play of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th downs.

It was a terrible risk/reward decision by Kelly, as we're talking about maybe one play from the NW 35 if Golson were to take the typical knee quickly on each down.  And for all his acclaimed offensive genius, Kelly couldn't find an ultra-low-risk way to waste 6-7 seconds a play?

 

ppToilet

November 16th, 2014 at 12:42 PM ^

So, as described above, ND is NW territory with a minute and a half to go and NW has no timeouts. ND had just received a huge gift of a pass interference call where Golson basically threw the ball away and a ND receiver 5 yards away did a prat fall that fooled the sideline ref.

ND decides to run the ball and the runner fumbles. NW recovers. ND then inexplicably goes incredibly conservative on defense rushing only 3 or 4 when NW only needs a field goal to tie. On cue, NW ties the game up with a field goal. In OT, ND gets the ball first and misses a field goal attempt.  NW makes its field goal.

Game over. And what made it all possible was BK going for two points earlier in the game when ND was already up by 11.