[Goose]

Why do you say "game over?"  is there some reason Cal wouldn't have scored the TD it did with more time on the clock to do so?

You are right, they could do what they did and then the question would have been do they go for the tie and play OT, or go for the win. I do think that needing a TD instead of a FG could have made a difference, in that it would have put more pressure on them, but that is certainly unknown. Still, I think Shaw's choice is reasonable, even if that is not what I would have done.

If one wants to look at a more extreme example, consider Jonathon Swift's decision against WSU.
https://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/2019/...aways.html

I don't agree with the decision or with the articles take on it. I say you punt the ball, but going for it is reasonable. Reasonable decision, bad outcome for both Stanford and Oregon State.

[Goose]

Why do you say "game over?"  is there some reason Cal wouldn't have scored the TD it did with more time on the clock to do so?

You are right, they could do what they did and then the question would have been do they go for the tie and play OT, or go for the win. I do think that needing a TD instead of a FG could have made a difference, in that it would have put more pressure on them, but that is certainly unknown. Still, I think Shaw's choice is reasonable, even if that is not what I would have done.

If one wants to look at a more extreme example, consider Jonathon Swift's decision against WSU.
https://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/2019/...aways.html

I don't agree with the decision or with the articles take on it. I say you punt the ball, but going for it is reasonable. Reasonable decision, bad outcome for both Stanford and Oregon State.