How to Blow a Lead Against CU (2007 Issue)

As it might be well known to anyone reading this blog, CSU lost to CU in OT this weekend 31-28 (And if you didn't know that, I honestly question why in the world you would bother reading this site). I promise you, no, I did not cry, but I came about as close as is physically possible when Kevin Eberhart booted through his third field goal on Saturday. All I could think of is how? How in the world did we blow an 11-point lead?

I have spent most of this week reading the numerous articles from Colorado newspapers and message boards (the Ramnation.com CSU Ramblings board has a great CSU forum, and the homepage has links to almost every article about the Rams), and they are filled with people trying to answer my question. I have compiled what I feel are the three main reasons CSU fans and experts have pointed to as the cause of the Rams loss, along with my reaction.

1. CSU lost because of questionable play calling.

While the Rams put up 28 points in three quarters, they put up zero in the last 25 minutes of the game. It doesn't take a genius to see how they let their lead slip away.

Most point to CSU running the ball on third-and-6 with around 2:40 seconds left in the game as the reason we lost, citing this as one example of CSU not going for the throat down the stretch.

Many claim CSU also failed to look to tight end Kory Sperry, who had eight catches for 103 yards and three scores, enough late in the game. Looking at the play-by-play of the game however, during regulation when the Rams had the ball and were trying to ice the game, they did attack. They called running plays 14 times and they had eight pass attempts. Two other attempted plays pass resulted in sacks. That is pretty good balance, something teams in the lead often do, not the ultra-conservative play calling people are making it out to be. Of those eight passes, three were thrown towards Sperry. He made one catch, and then Hanie just missed him on two more long passes. One of the throws would have gone for a 54-yard touchdown if the pass had been on target.

Those plays show a team that went for the jugular, but just missed. In fact, it shows the fact that fans judge based on their last memories of the game, but they forgot much of what happened before. Perhaps not throwing in the third-and-6 situation wasn't wise, but it wasn't a guarantee that the Rams would get the first down anyway. In a similar thrid-and-9 situation just minutes later in overtime, Caleb Hanie forced a pass into the back of the end zone that was picked. This took away a shot at a field goal for the Rams, making it so the Buffs just had to play for a field goal. Had Hanie done this at midfield with only 2:40 second remaining, it would have been just as disastrous.

But if people feel the Rams offense couldn't close the door on the Buffs...

2. Then it was the special teams that left the door wide open.

After already giving up some big returns to CU, the special teams could've crippled the CU comeback, instead they enabled it.

With just over two minutes left in the game, after the failed third-and-6 run, the Rams had a fourth down at their own 41 yard-line. If the Rams could get a net of about 35 punt yards it, and it would force CU to drive almost 70 yards for a touchdown, and about 45 yards to for a shot at make able field goal, in about 2:15.

It should have been easy for the Rams senior punter Jimmy Kaylor, he of many first or second team preseason MWC selections, but Kaylor shanked the punt. It traveled 34 yards, and was returned 43 to the CSU 34. That's a -9 net, sportsfans, pretty much putting Eberhart in field goal range.

If the Rams special teams left the door wide-open for the Buffs...

3. A lovely official from the Big XII Conference escorted them to OT.

The Rams defense held the Buffs after the special teams gaffe, setting up a fourth-and-4. Dan Hawkins had his team go for it, not trusting his kicker to make a 45-yard field goal. Cody Hawkins lofted a fade pattern toward Patrick Williams, who caught the ball, but landed out of bounds. CSU fans exploded in joy, until a little hanky littered the ground.
Pass interference on CSU cornerback Joey Rucks. Four plays later Eberhart just snuck a 22-yard field goal through the uprights to force overtime.

Yes, it is easily the worst excuse to use in sports, but a bad referee was a killer for the Rams.

CU and CSU played almost an entire game with just one pass interference call, until with 1:16 the second one was called. The call (which CSU is still unsure about) would be questionable at any moment in the game, but at this juncture of the game it was downright ridiculous. But, had CSU taken care of business earlier, they would never have left it in the hands of the refs, who never seem to get it right.

The moral to all this: CSU did a lot wrong in this game, and they lost by just three points, in overtime. The immediate future looks bleak with #10 California coming to town, but CSU looks much better than the team that tanked at the end of last season. While this loss is crushing, the Rams still have a chance to have a successful season.

Don't judge a book by it's cover.