[teejers1]

"With 3 minutes to go, I would have been thrilled with the idea of the opportunity that was available with 3 seconds left.
With 2:35 left to go, I also would have been thrilled to know that Williamson only needed to punch a short FG from an indoor venue with 3 seconds."

Those are red herrings, and you surely must know that.

The question is this:  with 45 seconds left and Stanford with the ball at OSU's 17 yard line and 3 TOs, would you be "thrilled" with the opportunity that was available with 3 seconds left?  (i.e., Stanford no closer to the end zone or a GW FG try)?  That is the question.  And what is inexcusable, imo, is the complete forfeiture of even trying to improve the situation.

I happen to think play action would have worked.  But forget that.  Why not run the ball again?  Get a first down, use a TO, and run it again.  Don't get a first down, then maybe you let the clock run down and take your shot.  But to not even try?  That is just flat idiotic.  And it really put a damper on what otherwise was a terrific game by Stanford and an admirable job by the coaching staff preparing the team for the game.

[teejers1]

"With 3 minutes to go, I would have been thrilled with the idea of the opportunity that was available with 3 seconds left.
With 2:35 left to go, I also would have been thrilled to know that Williamson only needed to punch a short FG from an indoor venue with 3 seconds."

Those are red herrings, and you surely must know that.

The question is this:  with 45 seconds left and Stanford with the ball at OSU's 17 yard line and 3 TOs, would you be "thrilled" with the opportunity that was available with 3 seconds left?  (i.e., Stanford no closer to the end zone or a GW FG try)?  That is the question.  And what is inexcusable, imo, is the complete forfeiture of even trying to improve the situation.

I happen to think play action would have worked.  But forget that.  Why not run the ball again?  Get a first down, use a TO, and run it again.  Don't get a first down, then maybe you let the clock run down and take your shot.  But to not even try?  That is just flat idiotic.  And it really put a damper on what otherwise was a terrific game by Stanford and an admirable job by the coaching staff preparing the team for the game.