[81alum]

First, a word about the atmosphere.  The temperature was in the mid 70s and it was overcast--surprisingly humid for Palo Alto.  Comfortable all evening without ever becoming cool.  At kick off I estimated that only 1/3 of the seats were occupied, but by the second quarter it looked to me as if over 2/3 were full.  Just as others speculated, at halftime large numbers of people began to go home with their kids.  By the middle of the 3rd quarter the stadium was half full, by the middle of the 4th quarter it was less than 1/4 full, by the end of the game probably 1/10th full.  Those people who were there were not particularly loud.  One positive--the Red Zone seemed to nearly fill up in the second quarter.  Not sure where all the students come from--my guess is mostly grad students and recent alums who can pass for students!  A mini-band was there--it could barely make itself heard but it was better than no band at all.  Its half time show was a spoof on the Republican debates.

Now about the game. 
Positives:
1) We won. 
2) The emergence of Bryce Love.
3) A very stout defense for a second week.
4) Shaw was somewhat less predictable; flea flicker--going on 4th down once, etc.
Negatives:
1) Offense still looked very undisciplined, with numerous penalties.
2) The power run still is not working that well--McCaffrey averaged 3 ypc.
3) Hogan is very streaky.  He was terrible in the first quarter and excellent later in the game.
4) The crowd booed Shaw's decision to punt inside the 40, and booed vociferously when the team failed to prevent the touch back.  As much as I have been critical of Shaw's play calling, our players do not deserve to be subjected to boos in their own stadium.
5) UCF is a very bad team; hard to know where we are based on this win. .

I wish I could say that our good performance tonight convinced me that we will beat SC easily.  It doesn't. 

[81alum]

First, a word about the atmosphere.  The temperature was in the mid 70s and it was overcast--surprisingly humid for Palo Alto.  Comfortable all evening without ever becoming cool.  At kick off I estimated that only 1/3 of the seats were occupied, but by the second quarter it looked to me as if over 2/3 were full.  Just as others speculated, at halftime large numbers of people began to go home with their kids.  By the middle of the 3rd quarter the stadium was half full, by the middle of the 4th quarter it was less than 1/4 full, by the end of the game probably 1/10th full.  Those people who were there were not particularly loud.  One positive--the Red Zone seemed to nearly fill up in the second quarter.  Not sure where all the students come from--my guess is mostly grad students and recent alums who can pass for students!  A mini-band was there--it could barely make itself heard but it was better than no band at all.  Its half time show was a spoof on the Republican debates.

Now about the game. 
Positives:
1) We won. 
2) The emergence of Bryce Love.
3) A very stout defense for a second week.
4) Shaw was somewhat less predictable; flea flicker--going on 4th down once, etc.
Negatives:
1) Offense still looked very undisciplined, with numerous penalties.
2) The power run still is not working that well--McCaffrey averaged 3 ypc.
3) Hogan is very streaky.  He was terrible in the first quarter and excellent later in the game.
4) The crowd booed Shaw's decision to punt inside the 40, and booed vociferously when the team failed to prevent the touch back.  As much as I have been critical of Shaw's play calling, our players do not deserve to be subjected to boos in their own stadium.
5) UCF is a very bad team; hard to know where we are based on this win. .

I wish I could say that our good performance tonight convinced me that we will beat SC easily.  It doesn't.