Louisville football: 3 things from Cards loss to Clemson
The Cards just didn’t catch the breaks that were necessary
The margin Saturday ended up at 35, but it was much closer for most of the contest. Just like the Notre Dame game, there are those three or four plays that haunt you afterward. Plays that could’ve swung the game in terms of momentum and the scoreboard. I think that in itself is a positive thing. The fact that you can go back and circle certain moments versus just looking at it like the Cardinals were dominated. Most of these plays came early in the contest.
In the first quarter, Micale Cunningham evaded a steady Clemson pass rush and made a pretty good throw deep down field to Tutu Atwell that should’ve gone for a touchdown. It’s a ball that Tutu catches nine out of ten times. This time, however, it went through his hands and into the arms of a Clemson defender. Turning what could’ve been an early lead for Louisville into a pointless drive.
Micale Cunningham throws an INT on a promising drive to open the game. Looked like Tutu Atwell timed a jump wrong in the endzone.
— Cameron Teague (@cj_teague) October 19, 2019
The other play that’s been hard to stop thinking about: the muffed punt that could’ve been a safety, could’ve been Clemson ball at their own one and could’ve been a Louisville touchdown.
What in the hell? Is this broadcasting crew not going to talk about why that’s not a Louisville safety or touchdown and why Clemson gets it at the 20? What a joke
— Jared Stillman (@JaredStillman) October 19, 2019
Any play that happens in 2019 that makes you literally learn rules is usually a lock to be odd. This one was absolutely that. You would think that because the Clemson returner touched the ball in the field of play and it was ruled as being recovered by the Tigers in the end zone, it would be a safety. But apparently it’s not a safety. The returner has to have full possession of the ball for a safety to be in play there, which makes literally zero sense. Not to mention that the call looked to be made incorrectly anyway.
Seems indisputable to me. This happens every time we play Clemson.... or really any ACC game.
— Mark Blankenbaker (@UofLSheriff50) October 19, 2019
It'll be nice when UofL gets full membership status. https://t.co/whiopzCVxn
You just need to win the 50/50 plays when you’re this overmatched. You need to catch breaks that Louisville didn’t catch.