[CTcard]

The problem was this--with everyone in the stadium knowing that we were going to throw the fade, OSU could have sold out for a pick, knowing that a two-point defensive extra point was there only real chance to win at that point. 

Not sure I liked the call, but disagree with the details here.

First of all, OSU never adjusted their coverage. Stanford liked the big receiver one-on-one with the tiny db matchup so they kept going at it. To some extent it worked - OSU never defended the play properly.

One problem with the play, as has been pointed out on this board, is that under the circumstances and NCAA rules, there is not a significant penalty for PI at that point. The clear strategy for OSU was to tackle the receiver repeatedly until they got a bad throw from Chryst - which finally happened on attempt #4.

Given that actually intercepting the ball would require a post-up/leap (which generally ends with the players falling to the ground, or at least standing and wrestling the ball), the chances for returning the PAT try for two points the other way don't seem any higher than picking up a fumble.

While we weren't completely crushing them at the line, it does seem that getting 0.75 yards on a power run would have been a good bet - less certain about 3 yds (i.e. had we tried that on the first go-round).

[CTcard]

The problem was this--with everyone in the stadium knowing that we were going to throw the fade, OSU could have sold out for a pick, knowing that a two-point defensive extra point was there only real chance to win at that point. 

Not sure I liked the call, but disagree with the details here.

First of all, OSU never adjusted their coverage. Stanford liked the big receiver one-on-one with the tiny db matchup so they kept going at it. To some extent it worked - OSU never defended the play properly.

One problem with the play, as has been pointed out on this board, is that under the circumstances and NCAA rules, there is not a significant penalty for PI at that point. The clear strategy for OSU was to tackle the receiver repeatedly until they got a bad throw from Chryst - which finally happened on attempt #4.

Given that actually intercepting the ball would require a post-up/leap (which generally ends with the players falling to the ground, or at least standing and wrestling the ball), the chances for returning the PAT try for two points the other way don't seem any higher than picking up a fumble.

While we weren't completely crushing them at the line, it does seem that getting 0.75 yards on a power run would have been a good bet - less certain about 3 yds (i.e. had we tried that on the first go-round).