Oh yeah same here. I'm not one to cry about poor officiating either but that game was looking REALLY fishy! The Best East had nothing to gain and everything to lose by West Virgina losing that game. With EVERYTHING on the line and playing at home, losing a game like that is definitely the very defintion of a choke job.
yes, Choked completely. They crumbled under the pressure of a big game. All they had to do was bet a 4-7 team. I understand it was a rivalry game....but Pitt had been terrible all year. No excuse. :geaux: :crystal:
Here's a different angle. West Virginia just might not be that good. Pitt played above their heads, and West Virginia couldn't handle it. Let's put this in terms of LSU's season. Flynn's been hurt twice. Early Doucet out for almost half a season, at least that's how it felt. Dorsey is playing hurt. Beckwith. Will Arnold. Francois "ineligible." AND every team that LSU has played has been FIRED UP to beat the #1/2/5 team in the country. Yet, LSU did not lay an egg to Tulane, or LA Tech, or Ole Miss, or Miss State, or MTSU. Kentucky and Arkansas are good football teams going to bowl games this year and each have stronger Heisman candidates (in my opinion) than White. So... No, WVU didn't choke. They're just possibly not that good. We'll find out against Oklahoma. I know who I'm picking...
I don't call it choking when you are learning how to play as #1 who everyone wants to beat. We struggled with it a little this year. LSU has never played as #1 until this year. I thought we handled it pretty well. But I don't think we are where we need to be like say Miami or USC playing week in and week out as #1. We are close handle close games very well. Our next step is to handle the Arkansas and Kentucky type of games. Then we are undefeated.
Why you choose to make this about Bama I haven't a clue. The thread, which you started, is about WVU. Again, I go back to the point of how their team was handling the situation in the 2nd quarter. Their fans were in a state of shock. The players looked bewildered on the sidelines. Their coach, wasn't showing a bit of confidence but "living the game like it was on his shoulders." A coach, doesn't do that. They focus on the task at hand instead of lamenting each and every mistake they make. The team, responds to the coach and WVU did just that. Is it because they haven't been in this situation before? Perhaps so. It seems a likely possibility considering the big lead they jumped out on Georgia and then hung on to win.
I figure OU is going to put it on WV in the Fiesta Bowl. I don't see how WV will be emotionally ready to play, even after a month off. That was a devastating loss.
I'm not choosing to make this about Bama. Bama is used as an example which should give you an example you know first hand knowledge about. I understand your sensitivity anytime Bama is used based on what is happening at your school. My point with this thread is there is a lot more to how a team plays. Calling a team chokers is disrespectful and an easy tag to put on a team. I enjoy the analysis watching an individual or team grow into a dominate winner. There are important steps along the way to reach being a dominate program. LSU is continuing it's pursuit with success to being a dominate program. A good coach started the "process" and a very different good coach is building on that success. It is what it is.
What, are you kidding...like a fat guy on a chicken bone! They were more worried about losing than trying to win!!!! :tigereye::tigereye::tigereye::tigereye::tigereye:
Sensitive? No. Making a comparison between Bama and LSU didn't make sense to me. As I stated. Calling a team chokers? If I'm not mistaken, you brought the idea up as a question so calling the thought disrespectful doesn't make sense as well. What you haven't addressed is the demeanor, easily evident, on the sidelines of WVU. They had their chance, they fell apart. Pitt played a very good defensive effort in that game. No doubt. But, if you look at the whole of the situation falling apart is synonymous with choking.
ESPN kept playing those 2 "phantom" holding penalties on the WV - Pitt hightlights all evening. I think the refs have nowhere to hide. And Rodrigues' grief filled looks of horror on the sidelines and his almost breakdown at the post game press conference really made me feel sorry for them. But their loss is our gain. We went through that emotional scenario last week. :wave:
