The Cotton Bowl Kickoff Classic

[Spence]

Man I went 0 for the day. This just hasn't been my year.

[donovan]

I just you had been downplaying OSU and the defense...but tonight think I saw what you have been saying...Clemson just had the energy and they were hitting hard. Not sure they are a polished team...but they won.

[Cane from the Bend]

Not sure what to think.

Oklahoma State may have a legitimate gripe about the unevenness of the officiating.
At the same time, I don't know that they really outplayed the Tigers either.
This game felt a little tainted; but, when it's over, it's over.
Some of those flags made a big difference.

In the end, I think both teams played reasonably well, though.
Fun game to watch, none-the-less.

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[Spence]

I just you had been downplaying OSU and the defense...but tonight think I saw what you have been saying...Clemson just had the energy and they were hitting hard. Not sure they are a polished team...but they won.

I think that is right. Clemson has talent. Very unpolished. They play very undisciplined, but they let it all hang out when they play. I thought that Ohio State could have taken the air out of their sails when they got Clemson three and out after the TD, but when Philly Brown fumbled the ball, that gave Clemson new life and they took advantage of it.

Ohio State's defense hasn't been good all year. I thought it would be a close game with Roby and Spence, plus we thought Christian Bryant might be healthy enough to play by this game. Then when they announced Bryant couldn't go it was bad. Then Spence, then Roby - I didn't think it would be close. I really thought the replacements played pretty well. Reeves gave up 2 TD's, but made a few nice plays. Marcus played lights out on the line in Spence's place. And the freshman Bell really only got beat once. He could use some work on his form tackling, but that could be said about most of the team. Ohio State played like they have played all year. You think they have potential, and they did, but they really never put two and two together. I really don't think the game would have been much different had we had the guys we were short. I was kind of surprised by Boyd. He made some really nice plays, but he did lots of dumb things as well. I thought he was a better player.

[Derek]

I thought for a while there that there WAS no defense on either team. It looked like offenses were just running drills.

Last night was the two best bowl games of the year.

[billybud]

I enjoyed both games....I was pulling for Mizzou and Clemson. I watched OSU-Clemson and saw portions of the Mizzou game live (& I Tivo'd it for replay this am).

While I thought that Clemson might get killed...their natural athletic abilities let them overcome poor play. And, as Spence has been saying, Ohio State had some problems that might show up at game time....and they did.

You can not let Sammy have a career receiving night. Tahj Boyd made the same mistakes he has always made when under pressure...but he made just enough good plays.

Mizzou? I did not know what to think pregame....Auburn ran up close to 550 yards rushing on them in the CCG and Okie State can run the ball.

The breaks (penalties, among others) did not go the Cowpokes' way. But it was a great game