[Humble_Opinion]

Seattle had been running the ball up the middle on NE the whole game. They stuck with it and it was clear on that last drive that they had New England on the ropes. I don't care that NE had brought in extra defensive linemen and were daring Seattle to throw. Belichick knew the script that Seattle follows on the goal line and even Pete Carroll admitted that they had decided to stick with that script by running on 1st down and then throwing on 2nd in this sequence.

If it's me - I play man-to-man football and I line my big boys up and let the game come down to the battle in the trenches, especially since I've been running it down their throats all game long. It's a half yard guys... no way Marshawn doesn't pick that up.

[ballcoach15]

The odds are that he would have scored, but we'll never know. I am just happy the pass was intercepted.

This is one of those "feel good" stories that happen from time to time. The DB that intercepted the pass was an undrafted free agent from West Alabama, a D2 school somewhere in Alabama.

[JK37]

I only want to see the play being run. I could care less what a defensive player is doing on the sideline. NBC probably showed more sideline stuff than they did stuff between the hash marks.

Sports at all levels now have too many "dog and pony" shows during the game. College basketball may be the worst. The split second there's a stoppage of play, the PA Announcer comes blaring thru the speakers with something "just to make noise" or the band starts making noise. Now granted a pep band adds something to a game, but they need to pick their spots.

I have always wondered if the NCAA requires schools to make a lot of noise during TOs, so that fans cannot holler at the Refs.

I would love to go to a game and the PA system conks out immediately after starting lineups are announced, and never works again.

Sometimes I feel a little this way. The NBA is the worst, in my opinion. But it's all about entertainment. If the fans don't enjoy it, sport as we know it ceases to exist. You don't really want that ballcoach. And you sound like an old hag the way you're going about pursuing it.

[JK37]

West Alabama, a D2 school somewhere in Alabama.

Dadgum, I was about to guess it was in Mississippi.

Somewhere, probably in the western part of Alabama.

[ballcoach15]

I may be old hag, but I go to ball games for one purpose: to see the game, whether it be basketball, football baseball or softball.

Even worse than college games, are Minor league baseball games. I almost despise going to those anymore because of all the dog and pony shows between innings.

If I want music I go to a concert. If I want a dog and pony show, I go there. If I want to see a Goat Roping, I go there.

[BJWilliams]

Seattle had been running the ball up the middle on NE the whole game. They stuck with it and it was clear on that last drive that they had New England on the ropes. I don't care that NE had brought in extra defensive linemen and were daring Seattle to throw. Belichick knew the script that Seattle follows on the goal line and even Pete Carroll admitted that they had decided to stick with that script by running on 1st down and then throwing on 2nd in this sequence.

If it's me - I play man-to-man football and I line my big boys up and let the game come down to the battle in the trenches, especially since I've been running it down their throats all game long. It's a half yard guys... no way Marshawn doesn't pick that up.

Amen

[Chris Lang]

I may be old hag, but I go to ball games for one purpose: to see the game, whether it be basketball, football baseball or softball.

Even worse than college games, are Minor league baseball games. I almost despise going to those anymore because of all the dog and pony shows between innings.

If I want music I go to a concert. If I want a dog and pony show, I go there. If I want to see a Goat Roping, I go there.

You're in the severe minority.

Minor-league baseball especially is marketed as family entertainment. You take away the promotions/music/mascots, etc., and your kids are bored to tears after an inning or two. We live in an ADHD culture, and no sporting event will keep anyone's attention any more. The extracurriculars are part of it now.

[Purple Haize]

I may be old hag, but I go to ball games for one purpose: to see the game, whether it be basketball, football baseball or softball.

Even worse than college games, are Minor league baseball games. I almost despise going to those anymore because of all the dog and pony shows between innings.

If I want music I go to a concert. If I want a dog and pony show, I go there. If I want to see a Goat Roping, I go there.

You're in the severe minority.

Minor-league baseball especially is marketed as family entertainment. You take away the promotions/music/mascots, etc., and your kids are bored to tears after an inning or two. We live in an ADHD culture, and no sporting event will keep anyone's attention any more. The extracurriculars are part of it now.

This is why you are Lynchburg's Own - Beard of Knowledge!

[ballcoach15]

Chris, that is true with minor league baseball. they market the dog and pony shows more than they market the baseball team. they want families to come more so than they want baseball people, I guess they do it for attendance building. I go just to see the prospects in the minors.

[Chris Lang]

The promotions are the constant with minor league baseball. The players change too much to market any individual. Baseball people will come regardless. You don't have to sell to them.

[ATrain]

The promotions are the constant with minor league baseball. The players change too much to market any individual. Baseball people will come regardless. You don't have to sell to them.

This. I knew many regulars at Hillcats games who were baseball people, mostly older, there with their friends. The families would pack it in on family nights and the 4th of July.

[ballcoach15]

Every year I make the mistake of going to a minor league game when it's Fireworks Night. this has happened to me in Lynchburg, Danville, Burlington,NC, and Durham,NC. All last season at that. I will try to be more selective on my games this summer.

When it's fireworks night, there's more non baseball fans than usual there, and many distract my enjoyment of the game.

[lynchburgwildcats]

There have been 105 passes from the 1 this season, zero of them were intercepted until last night. Lynch has been given the ball 5 times at the 1 and only scored once. Pete Carroll is one of the most aggressive coaches in the game and the only reason that Seattle was playing in second consecutive Super Bowl was due to their aggressiveness. You don't ask someone that aggressive to be conservative on the biggest play of the game. In hindsight, everyone can look at that play and say it's a bad call. That's easy. Personally, I just see it as the most aggressive coach in the game letting his QB try and win the Super Bowl. That one play didn't decide the game, there was so much more that led up to it.

Seattle played an insane game yesterday and it was easily one of the best Super Bowl's we've had in a long time. Commercials were mediocre. I thought the half-time show was amazing, except for the sharks.

It wouldn't have been a bad call if Wilson had made a good pass. Instead, he threw it to the one spot where Butler had a chance to make a play on the ball.

[lynchburgwildcats]

I have always wondered if the NCAA requires schools to make a lot of noise during TOs, so that fans cannot holler at the Refs.

lol Seriously?

[ballcoach15]

Why is it that the split second there's a TO, the arena is filled with excessive noise, from either PA guy or Pep Band. It's like there's a rule against even 1 second of silence.
I have seen the PA announcer's "book" before. Every TO is programmed in, telling him exactly what to say and when.

[Humble_Opinion]

Every year I make the mistake of going to a minor league game when it's Fireworks Night. this has happened to me in Lynchburg, Danville, Burlington,NC, and Durham,NC. All last season at that. I will try to be more selective on my games this summer.

When it's fireworks night, there's more non baseball fans than usual there, and many distract my enjoyment of the game.

Ballcoach, if it weren't for those people buying tickets just to see fireworks then you likely wouldn't have the opportunity to watch live baseball. Minor League teams need revenue to operate too... You should be thankful that there are morons out there willing to spend $10 a pop to watch some stupid fireworks show for 10 minutes.

[Humble_Opinion]

Why is it that the split second there's a TO, the arena is filled with excessive noise, from either PA guy or Pep Band. It's like there's a rule against even 1 second of silence.
I have seen the PA announcer's "book" before. Every TO is programmed in, telling him exactly what to say and when.

Would you rather have the PA ad lib every timeout? Hand him a bottle of scotch and let him have at it... sounds like a quality entertainment opportunity to me.

[Humble_Opinion]

Back to the topic at hand... I have to say I respect the heck out of Russell Wilson now after reading his twitter lately. Also have to say that I respect Richard Sherman too. The dude played with torn ligaments and now has to have Tommy Johns surgery as a result.

[ballcoach15]

There would be nothing wrong if the PA guy just remained silent during some of the TOs.

[RubberMallet]

the numbers say that they were ok to call a pass play there. lynch is not normally a slam dunk from the 1, its 2nd down, an INT is so highly unlikely, and the pats D was completely set up for run. this is all an overreaction as usual. sean peyton was nuts until it worked and then they were amazing. butler made 2 game saving plays. thinkgin to tackle kearse and then that magical INT. thats what it was. we are all butt hurt about the play call when that dude made a ridiculous play.

i would of probably prefered a different play maybe but manning and brady have made a living on the slant from the 1 yd line. of courese that wr he threw it to is booty.

everyone was also all butthurt at belichek for not calling an int. it was probably just more evidence of his gneius. why give them time to prepare. he out thought capt swagger and it worked. even bill knew brady wasn't a miracle worker with 30 seconds.

[RubberMallet]

lol at the dude complaining about all the pageantry at a superbowl and at promotional events to get anyone ANYONE to come out for lame as all get out minor league baseball games.

[lynchburgwildcats]

Why is it that the split second there's a TO, the arena is filled with excessive noise, from either PA guy or Pep Band. It's like there's a rule against even 1 second of silence.
I have seen the PA announcer's "book" before. Every TO is programmed in, telling him exactly what to say and when.

I know it's hard for you to believe that not everyone is the same as you, but most of the people in attendance want this stuff. And some of that stuff helps pay the bills with the sponsors.

It's not because of some ridiculous (and non-existent) NCAA conspiracy...

[VAGolf]

Seattle had been running the ball up the middle on NE the whole game. They stuck with it and it was clear on that last drive that they had New England on the ropes. I don't care that NE had brought in extra defensive linemen and were daring Seattle to throw. Belichick knew the script that Seattle follows on the goal line and even Pete Carroll admitted that they had decided to stick with that script by running on 1st down and then throwing on 2nd in this sequence.

If it's me - I play man-to-man football and I line my big boys up and let the game come down to the battle in the trenches, especially since I've been running it down their throats all game long. It's a half yard guys... no way Marshawn doesn't pick that up.

He didn't pick it up 4 out of 5 times this season, so I'm not sure what you're basing that opinion on. Also, it WAS NOT clear that that they had Seattle "on the ropes" on that last drive. The only reason Seattle was at the goal-line in the first place was because of an incredibly lucky catch. In fact, when you consider how unorganized Seattle was in that final drive, I believe Bill Belichick didn't call a timeout to force Pete to have one more thing to worry about. Seattle was not in control of that last drive, it was a miracle they got to the goalline.

Pete Carroll called that play with the anticipation that either it would be a touchdown or an incomplete pass. Interceptions don't happen at the one, they haven't all season. You can't/shouldn't anticipate something that hasn't happened.

Secondly, he had only one time out left. If he runs the ball on that play and doesn't get in (which is much more likely than some of you want to think), than he has to burn his last timeout and has to throw on the next play.

Just as not every home run being the result of bad pitch, not every interception is the result of a bad throw or a bad play call. Sometimes athletes just make incredible plays.

[BJWilliams]

We can agree to disagree on this sweat. I would have something in my goal line package with 7 of my biggest guys with one simple goal...when the ball is snapped, find a guy in the opposite jersey within an inch of the ball, hit him so hard he can see God and pave the way for the running back.

[bluejacket]

He didn't pick it up 4 out of 5 times this season, so I'm not sure what you're basing that opinion on. Also, it WAS NOT clear that that they had Seattle "on the ropes" on that last drive. The only reason Seattle was at the goal-line in the first place was because of an incredibly lucky catch. In fact, when you consider how unorganized Seattle was in that final drive, I believe Bill Belichick didn't call a timeout to force Pete to have one more thing to worry about. Seattle was not in control of that last drive, it was a miracle they got to the goalline.

I have no clue why the "lucky catch" makes any difference. Move past that. Seattle called their 2nd timeout following that catch (which should not have been called because the clock was already stopped; Seattle wasted a timeout following an incomplete pass on 1st down earlier in the drive, too). 1st down was a four yard run to the 1. Lynch was denied 4 of 5 times at the 1 yard line and the Seahawks are statistically poor when running at the goal line during the season. But Russell Wilson was 1 for 1. And New England's defense gave up TDs on 4 of 5 attempts from the 1 yard line. Only Washington and Philadelphia were worse in 2014. Run the ball.

Pete Carroll called that play with the anticipation that either it would be a touchdown or an incomplete pass. Interceptions don't happen at the one, they haven't all season. You can't/shouldn't anticipate something that hasn't happened.

Interceptions at the goal line haven't happened this season, but they have happened in the past. I am not disagreeing that it was an unlikely play. But in that situation, the defense is going to attack any short pass to the goal line; they are going to blow up any short slant to the middle of the field. If you are in that situation, you absolutely should not call that pass play.

Just as not every home run being the result of bad pitch, not every interception is the result of a bad throw or a bad play call. Sometimes athletes just make incredible plays.

In this case, it was a combination of things: a horrifying play call, a slightly poor pass, a wide receiver who never should have been passed to, and a great defensive play.