Loss to Monday Morning Quarterback: Loss was frustrating, disappointing
By Blaine MyersWest Virginia Mountaineers elevated its level of play against the No. 5 team in the nation Friday, but came up short in a disappointing and frustrating 24-21 loss to Cincinnati.
The Mountaineers needed to play an error-free game to have any chance of winning, and they did that with no turnovers and only 25 yards in penalties. Jarrett Brown had his best game since suffering a concussion against Marshall, making several outstanding runs after being flushed from the pocket, and completing 17 of 25 passes for 188 yards.
Defensively, WVU held the potent Cincinnati offense to 24 points, its lowest output of the season, but the inability to stop the Bearcats on two possessions in the fourth quarter was crucial. With the Mountaineers trailing by a touchdown, Cincinnati began the final stanza on its own 1 yard line, but was able to drive 58 yards before giving up the football. With five minutes remaining, West Virginia had the Bearcats on their own 24 and needing a stop to get back the football. On the first play, Cincy running back Isaiah Pead was bottled up on a sweep but somehow eluded several Mountaineer defenders, turning the play into a 43-yard gain. The Bearcats then converted a field goal to put the game on ice.
The ability to kick the ball into the end zone and cover (or not) kick returns was a huge factor in Friday's game. Receiving five kickoffs from Cincinnati, West Virginia's average field position was its own 20 yard line. On three WVU kickoffs, the Bearcats average starting position was their own 48.
Late in the second quarter Cincinnati was awarded a controversial touchdown when the officials on the field ruled that the running back had not scored and WVU had recovered a fumble. The Big East replay official then ruled that the ball had crossed the plain of the goal line and reversed the call on the field.
The purpose of replay is to reverse calls on the field that are clearly in error. The written standard of review used by the NCAA presumes the call on the field to be correct and reversible only when there is conclusive evidence that the call was wrong.
Replay used in college is a good system, but can only be as effective as the officials who administer it. Too much inconsistency and incompetence has been demonstrated and it should not be used to protect a league's elite teams. If the NCAA and the conferences can't get a handle on this problem they should just scrap it altogether.
On a more pleasant note, Cincinnati supporter and local resident Lynn Fuller graciously hosted his Parkersburg friends and others at a Bearcat tailgate before the game.
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GTL4pns
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11-16-09 10:05 AM
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That ludicrous replay overturn was not the only incredulous replay decision made throughout CFB this weekend. May not have been the key to WVU winning or losing, but it certainly blew WVU's growing momentum going into half-time. C'mon Blaine... you've got to have a comment on the play calling and clock management (or lack thereof) during that last drive! Why did we go away (again) from Ryan Clarke smashing the ball up the middle to a diminuative Jock Sanders? Why a Nehlen-esque running play on 3rd an long? Why not some creativity in faking to Ryan up the middle and then giving to Divine or Sanders ona sweep... or vice versa? I'm getting really tired of the one back set. Makes it easy for the defenses to focus their attention...
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