For those of you who me, I’m a big fan of the “other football”. I strive to not only look at the result, but also to look at the performance. It’s one thing to look at the stats, it’s another to look at the highlights. Both of those things however do not tell the entire story. I usually like to watch things twice, the first as a fan with live emotions, the second time around as a coach.
The reason I enjoy looking at it twice is because I see things that I might have missed. I can look back with an objective
mindset and figure out what and where things went right or wrong. The result will stir my emotions, but the performance will stir my perception.
To win a close football game, more often than not, you have to win within the margins. That usually consists of good/bad plays that directly/indirectly led to points being scored or taken off the board. It serves as a “you make your own luck” purpose. So let’s look at the margins.
First up, we have Nebraska with the football at the Cincinatti 1 yard line with just under 7 minutes left in the second quarter. Nebraska is most assuredly going to score a touchdown, but a bad false start on first and goal from the 1 moves Nebraska back. Nebraska only gains 1 yard in the next 3 plays and kicks a field goal. That puts Nebraska at a minus-4 when it comes to being “within the margins”.
The last 2 minutes of the second quarter is where things take a massive turn in Nebraska’s favor. Dylan Raiola is sacked and fumbles the football. There are 3 Bearcat players there to pick up the ball. If any one of them gets it, they go for an easy scoop and score. However, one guy mishandles the ball and it goes right into the grateful arms of Dylan. That gives Nebraska a +7 in this situation, making the game a +3 overall for the time being.
Nebraska punts right after that, but Cincy promptly turns the ball over on a fumble. Nebraska takes just 3 plays to convert the turnover into a touchdown. This gives Nebraska another +7 in the margins for now a +10 overall. Winning the turnover battle is massive, and Nebraska definitely got some luck in the second half.
To start the 3rd quarter, Nebraska gets the football and drives to the Cincy 43. Nebraska on 4th and 2 decides to throw the football. Raiola makes his read but throws a terrible ball that luckily goes right through the hands of the Bearcat defender. If the corner picks this ball off, it’s an automatic pick six the other way. Once again, Nebraska earns another +7 in the margins because Cincy didn’t make the play. Nebraska now is a +17 on the night.
The last “inside the margins” play comes at the end of the contest. With Cincy driving at the Nebraska 33, Bearcat QB Brendan Sorsby goes for the kill shot by throwing a deep ball into the endzone. If the receiver catches this, it’s game over and Cincy wins. Malcolm Hartzog Jr. makes a great play to intercept the pass and win the ballgame for Nebraska. By taking points directly off the board with the turnover, Nebraska earns another +7 and finishes +24 on the night in the margins.
Things like this can be seen as “they got away with one” or “they should have gotten blown out”. Winning inside the margins is how a good team creates its own luck. It’s how a good team wins a close ballgame. Win the turnover battle, check. Make winning plays, check. If the Bearcats had made their two plays, it’s another 14 points and who knows if Nebraska scores at the end of the half or needs to make a stop at the end.
For all the times we’ve gotten the opportunity to be mad at losing a one score game, most of the time we can pinpoint the moment(s) that screwed things up. I for one would like to take the time to recognize the good things the Huskers did is this last close game to actually win it. I know you would like Nebraska to win big, but good teams can win the scrappy ones. Winning in the margins is a damn good first step. Go Big Red!
