[teejers1]

It was vintage Shaw.  Which is a good thing.  Running out clocks is something they used to do with regularity.

Guys, Vintage Shaw is run, run and then convert on 3rd and 3 or fewer.  
Yesterday, in the clinching drive, Stanford's first series converted a 3rd and 8 (after Mills scrambled and made an improvised toss to a covered Fehoko just past the sticks, and then took a shot).  The chances of Stanford converting 3rd and 8 generally - and then after Mills is pressured out of the pocket - have to be less than 30%.

On the third series of that drive, after two telegraphed runs in heavy formation netted .5 yards, Stanford converted on a 3rd and 10 on the Fehoko one-handed grab.  The chances of Stanford converting 3rd and 10 . . . well below 50%.

It's fair to say that Stanford was fortunate to convert either third down, let alone both.

The point is to temper talk about vintage Shaw (at least with respect to that last drive).  Converting third and longs is not "vintage Shaw."  Good fortune is a good thing, and it was with Stanford on that last drive.

Having said all of the above, I watched the entire game in the early a.m. today and the running calls were more defensible given what transpired in the 1H.  Still, that third series on the last drive had me screaming at the TV in disgust . . . and then Mills and Fehoko bail out the Cardinal.  Nice! But more fundamentally, great win for team and coaches and program!

[teejers1]

It was vintage Shaw.  Which is a good thing.  Running out clocks is something they used to do with regularity.

Guys, Vintage Shaw is run, run and then convert on 3rd and 3 or fewer.  
Yesterday, in the clinching drive, Stanford's first series converted a 3rd and 8 (after Mills scrambled and made an improvised toss to a covered Fehoko just past the sticks, and then took a shot).  The chances of Stanford converting 3rd and 8 generally - and then after Mills is pressured out of the pocket - have to be less than 30%.

On the third series of that drive, after two telegraphed runs in heavy formation netted .5 yards, Stanford converted on a 3rd and 10 on the Fehoko one-handed grab.  The chances of Stanford converting 3rd and 10 . . . well below 50%.

It's fair to say that Stanford was fortunate to convert either third down, let alone both.

The point is to temper talk about vintage Shaw (at least with respect to that last drive).  Converting third and longs is not "vintage Shaw."  Good fortune is a good thing, and it was with Stanford on that last drive.

Having said all of the above, I watched the entire game in the early a.m. today and the running calls were more defensible given what transpired in the 1H.  Still, that third series on the last drive had me screaming at the TV in disgust . . . and then Mills and Fehoko bail out the Cardinal.  Nice! But more fundamentally, great win for team and coaches and program!