I came into this game thinking that I'd be OK if the Horns stayed within 2 scores of USC. Instead, they lose by 3 in double OT and I feel like I'm going to throw up. I haven't felt this sick after a loss since Cal.
If I were on the defense, I'd be pissed. The defense played their best game in several years, and the offense looked horrid. I'd be more OK with that if it were a talent issue or something. But it wasn't. The talent was there. Chris Warren III is averaging 6.7 ypc throughout his career, and he gets 4--FOUR--carries in one of the biggest games of the year. We line up for 4th and short on several occasions, and Warren is kicking dirt on the sidelines. We try and ram the ball in from the 3 yard line with our 2nd string QB rather than our 255# bowling ball of a running back. I lay the majority of blame for this loss on Tim Beck. He is shaping up to be a worse hire than Shawn Watson. I don't think it'll happen, but I think Beck needs to be let go during the bye week, just like Bedford should've been let go during the bye week last year.
Also, we have GOT to stop shooting ourselves in the foot. Too many penalties, too many botched snaps, too many special teams miscues (looking at you, Reggie). If the offensive playcalling was better, we would've won handily. If we didn't have so many self-inflicted wounds, we would've won handily. Instead, it's another loss.
Overall though, I'm encouraged by what I saw on the field. The defense has made the Maryland performance look like an anomaly. Sam has gotten quite a bit of big game experience. Now if we can stop shooting ourselves in the foot at inopportune times, we might be able to overcome the ineptitude at OC and come away from this season with a decent record.