I just watched the last 2 minutes of the national championship more because I wanted to see if Mario ended up not having a headset for the rest of the game after his sideline temper tantrum.

He did end up getting it back up and working but I noticed something else. Miami was moving the ball well, Indiana was lost/unorganized and got called for a really dumb roughing the passer penalty. Miami got down to the IU 45 or so and had all the momentum. I was thinking crap Miami's gonna pull this out and win the natty even with Mario!

That's when Cignetti called a timeout with a few seconds left on the play clock. He called everyone over, nobody will ever know what was said (I wish I did) but he wasn't panicked! He allowed his defense to take a deep breath, took the momentum away from Miami and Beck and allowed Mario and his staff to rethink(like we've all experienced) their game plan. Sure enough the very next play was the int. BRILLIANT!!

That Cignetti is one goofy dude but he sure can coach!! I think I'll have a beer!! Hilarious!

Edited 16 hours ago16 hr by candyduck
Update

I don't really like beer most of the time (there are situationalexceptions to every rule), but I can appreciate the moment!

Hear, hear!

Edited 16 hours ago16 hr by woundedknees

I thought Miami was going to score a TD and win the game. They blew it.

A great QB doesn't blow it when it counts the most.

What I can imagine a coach saying in that spot would be: "Don't give it away, focus on your assignments and make them earn it".

I wish football coaches used timeouts like they do in volleyball and basketball to stop the momentum when it's really swung against you.

I think Cignetti is going to make it a thing. What is better, to have 3 timeouts left to give you a chance to get the ball back to score if the opponent gets one more first down, or is it better to have stopped the other team's momentum on the previous drive so you didn't end up playing from behind in the first place?

I noticed the same thing during the game when Indiana called that timeout. Great move to get reorganized and spell your pass rushers.

However, I did take issue with Cignetti on Indiana's previous drive to not put the ball in Mendoza's hands to get the first down (throwing). Whether Indiana fails throwing or running, they still kick the field goal and Miami gets the ball with 1:42 left.

With that much time on the clock, I feel the timeout is low impact in college football with clock stopping on first downs. Indiana should have done everything possible to get that first down instead of the lazy handoff to burn Miami's last timeout. Willingly giving it back to Miami with 1:40+ remaining was a huge mistake in my opinion. Fortunately, it didn't cost them.

It just felt like Cig’s time-out was mainly to firm-up secondary assignments on what was an obvious go-for-it passing down for Miami. It was just too predictable, and Indiana’s zone coverage allowed the time for their deep saftey to move under coverage to either side for a break up or int.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by Washington Waddler
spelling

It helped that Beck did not throw a very good pass. Not sure why? Hurried? Feet not set?

1 hour ago, mikethehiker said:

I noticed the same thing during the game when Indiana called that timeout. Great move to get reorganized and spell your pass rushers.

However, I did take issue with Cignetti on Indiana's previous drive to not put the ball in Mendoza's hands to get the first down (throwing). Whether Indiana fails throwing or running, they still kick the field goal and Miami gets the ball with 1:42 left.

With that much time on the clock, I feel the timeout is low impact in college football with clock stopping on first downs. Indiana should have done everything possible to get that first down instead of the lazy handoff to burn Miami's last timeout. Willingly giving it back to Miami with 1:40+ remaining was a huge mistake in my opinion. Fortunately, it didn't cost them.

I thought about that too at the time. But it would have made it too easy to get a field goal and tie the game, especially with today's kickers in warm weather with not much wind. It would have been different if they were playing in a place like Green Bay.

The loss of the offense's time out becomes huge if there is a sack. And once a team gets in the red zone, they have to keep throwing it or run out of time.

But before that decision is made, it pays off to go for two early in the game so a situation like that does not become a tie.

Of course if you don't make it, then you are playing 'catch up' to get that missed point back.

I like taking the chance deep in their zone on 4th down earlier in the game. If you don't make it, most of the time they will punt deep and you get the ball back mid field or closer - then it is pretty easy to get that field goal back that you passed up.

38 minutes ago, HDuck said:

It helped that Beck did not throw a very good pass. Not sure why? Hurried? Feet not set?

B-E-C-A-U-S-E he's B-E-C-K - 1 comeback PO win was enough. 😁

The TO Cig took before Fernando's run for a TD was also timely. Gave him time to talk things over with OC Mike Shanahan and run a 4th downplay drawn up for this game.

2 hours ago, HDuck said:

It helped that Beck did not throw a very good pass. Not sure why? Hurried? Feet not set?

I wonder if the time out effected Beck? Only he will know

2 hours ago, HDuck said:

It helped that Beck did not throw a very good pass. Not sure why? Hurried? Feet not set?

Absolutely. And the way the corner and saftey sandwiched the receiver, it would’ve required a dime. Pressure situations can make you try a little too hard? Dunno, something went wrong for him.

2 hours ago, oregon123 said:

I thought about that too at the time. But it would have made it too easy to get a field goal and tie the game, especially with today's kickers in warm weather with not much wind.

The play I questioned was on 3rd down (and 5). You still get the field goal on 4th down to go up by 6 if you don't get the first down. The point is that you do everything you can to win the game on 3rd down instead of handing the ball off into a loaded box. Play action with the ball in Mendoza's hands to win the title vs handing the ball to Miami with plenty of time to steal your championship. The last Miami drive could have ended very differently for Indiana - don't give them that chance.