The Hokies lost an exciting Sugar Bowl, but not from an overturned TD in OT. I know it's easy to grasp onto that instance and say we got cheated, but in all fairness the ball did touch the ground. I don't agree it was enough to overturn the call either, but that wasn't the real problem. The Hokies painted themselves into a OT corner that shouldn't have even happened.
The first big mistake: roughing the kicker. The Hokies should have gotten the ball back, but instead Michigan got 7 points that never should have happened.
The second, and most egregious mistake: botched trick play. The Hokie defense had been man-handling Michigan for the most part. With the score tied, in the fourth quarter, and on 4th down, Beamer decided to not be Frank Beamer for a play and tried a fake punt that failed harder a Peyton Manningless Colts team. There were two other and better options to choose from in this case: 1) punt the damn ball, let the defense shut down Michigan like it had been doing all game, get the ball back, score, win, go home. 2) Give it to Thomas and let him smash through for that 2 yard gain. In any other game that Beamer has ever coached, he would have gone with option 1. I really don't understand the play call.
There were other mistakes, of course, like fumbles and interceptions, but those things happen. But the two problems listed above should never have happened.
But I don't want to sound like I'm ragging on the Hokies too hard. For the most part, they played an excellent game. Wilson couldn't get much going, but Thomas and the receiving crew were on their game. And the defense really only had one big mistake the whole game, when Whitley went for the the interception instead of the tackle, and let a touchdown go.
And for our third-string kicker to come out and hit 4 of 5 is pretty damn good. I know he feels bad about missing that last one, but in my opinion, he should be proud of his performance.
