Vandy & State are similar schools. Both are small schools with presumably small budgets (Vandy being private does not publish their budget). Both schools are recruiting-challenged to say the least. And in their most recent games, both schools have been underdogs - State against LSU and Vandy against Auburn. So let's look at what these similar schools in similar situations did at the end of the first half in these games.
Crxxm's team which hadn't shown a lick of offensive productivity all year had just put on an impressive drive to score a TD against LSU. Then Crxxm's defense gets a 3&out to give the offense the ball back with about 1:30 left. With a rare stroke of offensive momentum going against a superior opponent on the road, Crxxm falls into "don't loose" mode by running out the clock and heading to the locker room. After the game he said "I didn't want us to do anything to get beat".
Vandy on the other hand had 0 points in the waning moments of the 2nd quarter. Their starting QB had just gotten hurt and their backup QB was seeing his first action. With all this going against them, Vandy had every reason to sit on the ball and run out the clock at the end of the first half. Instead, Vandy not only drove for a touchdown, but they did it with downfield passing from their backup QB.
And that is the difference between an underdog that gives itself a chance to win and an underdog that plays not to get blown out. Hell, maybe we should hire Bobby Johnson.
Crxxm's team which hadn't shown a lick of offensive productivity all year had just put on an impressive drive to score a TD against LSU. Then Crxxm's defense gets a 3&out to give the offense the ball back with about 1:30 left. With a rare stroke of offensive momentum going against a superior opponent on the road, Crxxm falls into "don't loose" mode by running out the clock and heading to the locker room. After the game he said "I didn't want us to do anything to get beat".
Vandy on the other hand had 0 points in the waning moments of the 2nd quarter. Their starting QB had just gotten hurt and their backup QB was seeing his first action. With all this going against them, Vandy had every reason to sit on the ball and run out the clock at the end of the first half. Instead, Vandy not only drove for a touchdown, but they did it with downfield passing from their backup QB.
And that is the difference between an underdog that gives itself a chance to win and an underdog that plays not to get blown out. Hell, maybe we should hire Bobby Johnson.