Historical past is written by the victors. And X immortalizes the doubtful selections of the losers.
Penn State head coach James Franklin made just a few in Thursday night time’s Orange Bowl Faculty Soccer Playoff semifinal — a recreation his Nittany Lions misplaced on a late-game field-goal by Notre Dame’s Mitch Jeter — however none has drawn extra ire than his play-call on that game-winner.
Notre Dame Head Coach Marcus Freeman despatched out the sphere objective unit with 12-seconds remaining on the clock and the ball set useless heart between the hash marks at Penn State’s 23-yard line. Franklin, in response, despatched two gamers again about 15 yards off the road of scrimmage — presumably, in case Freeman had dialed up a pretend kick.
Freeman had not.
9 Penn State defenders rushed on the snap and the 2 edge rushers had been every inside solely a step or two of getting a hand or finger on the ball.
However the snap got here by way of cleanly, the maintain was good and Jeter’s kick crossed the road of scrimmage unobstructed. The 2 defenders backed up close to the 10-yard line watched because the kick sailed overhead and in by way of the uprights to place the Preventing Irish up by three factors.
After the following kick off, Penn State took again over from their very own 25-yard line with simply seven seconds on the clock.
AP
The abrupt finish to the season actually stings, however that didn’t cease a slew of commenters on X from piling on.
“Sometimes you hit the wrong button playing Madden,” quipped one.
“Gotta hand it to James Franklin. He was NOT going to let Notre Dame beat him with a fake field goal,” wrote one other.
Different customers identified that Franklin and firm would have by no means been within the spot of getting to defend towards a field-goal with their season within the steadiness had the Nittany Lions not turned the ball over late within the fourth quarter.
With the sport knotted at 24 apiece and Penn State backed as much as their very own 28-yard line, Franklin dialed up a move that Notre Dame sophomore cornerback Christian Grey intercepted close to mid-field. There have been simply over 33 seconds remaining on the clock on the time.
