[Austroturf]

110% on Shaw and his decision to punt on 4th and 1/2 a yard.

Truly gutless on the part of coach Shaw.  He is  awful!

First of all, Shaw punted on 4th and 2 from his own 43, not 4th and a 1/2 a yard. If you are going to serve up a hot take, let's get the facts right. Secondly, we went for 4th and 3 at WSU 32 instead of settling for the long FG, so it is not like Shaw consistently went for 3 or punted in high leverage situations. Third, kicking a FG gave us a seven point lead, and allowed us to tie with 1:25 left, instead of needing an additional 3 points as part of 10 point deficit.

Finally, are we seriously blaming Shaw for not scoring 42 points instead 38 points, as opposed to the defense that gave up 41 points? Seriously?

No fault on the offensive production, although we did get only 10 points in the second half.  Scoring 38 points should have been enough to win.  This was the third game this season in which our defense has given up 38 or more points (ND, Utah, WSU), all losses.  No, this is not the Stanford defense of old; and together with the O-line, that is where the rebuilding needs to occur.  Utah killed us on the ground, WSU killed us through the air, Notre Dame killed us through both.  At least in this game, the offense gave us a chance.  Too bad we could not keep up the pace of the first half and score another 28 (or at least 21).  And we lost the turnover battle (0-1), which ultimately led to a WSU score.  In a close game, these kinds of turns are crucial.  

Very frustrating loss.  Could have been one of those "positive" instant classics.  Now, we can just contemplate what might have been.  The Cougs were beatable; our defense just wasn't up to the task.  And that's perhaps the most frustrating part, because, during the Shaw era, our defense has kept us in so many games and normally been the one truly reliable side of the ball.  But in crunch time, the D could not deliver.  Can I say it again?  Frustrating.  And more so, because it came against Leach.

[Austroturf]

110% on Shaw and his decision to punt on 4th and 1/2 a yard.

Truly gutless on the part of coach Shaw.  He is  awful!

First of all, Shaw punted on 4th and 2 from his own 43, not 4th and a 1/2 a yard. If you are going to serve up a hot take, let's get the facts right. Secondly, we went for 4th and 3 at WSU 32 instead of settling for the long FG, so it is not like Shaw consistently went for 3 or punted in high leverage situations. Third, kicking a FG gave us a seven point lead, and allowed us to tie with 1:25 left, instead of needing an additional 3 points as part of 10 point deficit.

Finally, are we seriously blaming Shaw for not scoring 42 points instead 38 points, as opposed to the defense that gave up 41 points? Seriously?

No fault on the offensive production, although we did get only 10 points in the second half.  Scoring 38 points should have been enough to win.  This was the third game this season in which our defense has given up 38 or more points (ND, Utah, WSU), all losses.  No, this is not the Stanford defense of old; and together with the O-line, that is where the rebuilding needs to occur.  Utah killed us on the ground, WSU killed us through the air, Notre Dame killed us through both.  At least in this game, the offense gave us a chance.  Too bad we could not keep up the pace of the first half and score another 28 (or at least 21).  And we lost the turnover battle (0-1), which ultimately led to a WSU score.  In a close game, these kinds of turns are crucial.  

Very frustrating loss.  Could have been one of those "positive" instant classics.  Now, we can just contemplate what might have been.  The Cougs were beatable; our defense just wasn't up to the task.  And that's perhaps the most frustrating part, because, during the Shaw era, our defense has kept us in so many games and normally been the one truly reliable side of the ball.  But in crunch time, the D could not deliver.  Can I say it again?  Frustrating.  And more so, because it came against Leach.