appgrunt71 wrote:A game is won or lost on the field. My assessment summariezed with these factors: Turnovers, penalties, mistakes, heat, homefield advantage, and, yes, game officials. My assessement of gameday experience: Besides the numbers, which I admit are important, AppState holds a big advantage in the gameday experience in our overall environment.
Well said. However, the game officials deserve a special mention here. I cannot recall an App game that was decided more by the officiating than this one. There was so much to complain about, I don't know where to begin. First, that fumble return for a TD was not a fumble. Jackson was down. Second, App got called for a number of penalties that were not penalties, and then there was the ECU holding that was not called on that kick return for a TD. The officiating was so bad that for the first time in about twelve years, I left my seat before the clock wound down. I just could not stand it.
But, that was what it was. Anyone who goes into an FBS school's stadium and expects fair officials is from another planet. Fine. The deeper problem I saw was App's response to the crappy-a$$ed officiating. Plain & simple -- we just wilted. After about the third turnover & the 11th penalty, there was no snap to our step out there. That concern could fit under your "homefield advantage" category.
I really don't think the heat was a problem for our guys. We were ready for that & seemed to be hydrated. I was concerned about Middleton, but he just broke a bone. At least that was not from the heat (irony).
I thought App's real problem the entire game was youth. That's the problem with youth; they're too young (that's humor). OK, they are freshmen no longer. We got taught a lesson in Greenville.
Montana is going to see just 'zactly what we learned. I hope we hang 100 points on the Griz.
