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Colorado tried a 2-point conversion because Mike MacIntyre thought it was first-and-goal

Colorado Buffaloes head coach Mike MacIntyre took responsibility for a puzzling call late in the USC game. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Mike MacIntyre took responsibility for a puzzling call late in the USC game. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

During Colorado’s attempt at a comeback Saturday night against USC, CU coach Mike MacIntyre made a puzzling decision.

After a 19-yard touchdown run by Buffs quarterback Steven Montez with 3:23 to go, MacIntyre perplexingly kept his offense on the field for a two-point conversion — a try that failed. Montez’s score cut the USC lead to 31-20, so going for two in an effort to make the deficit nine points instead of 10 did not make a whole lot of sense.

Here’s the full sequence:

After the game, which USC won 31-20, MacIntyre was asked about the decision and he explained that he was unaware that Montez’s run had been ruled a touchdown. Instead, he thought the two-point conversion play was first-and-goal.

For real.

“We got totally screwed up on that and I’ll take complete responsibility for that,” MacIntyre said. “It was just a screw-up there on our part.”

In response, a reporter informed MacIntyre that folks in the press box did not know Montez scored either. Still, MacIntyre took responsibility.

“That’s correct. It was confusing to all of us,” MacIntyre said. “But that’s something where I have to make sure I stop and ask. It’s a confusing situation. It’s my fault.”

MacIntyre’s explanation is a bit strange because the ref, after a few seconds, clearly puts his arms in the air to signal a touchdown.

(via FS1)
(via FS1)

At the same time, it seems like the public address announcer may have called it “first and goal,” which is the way it was announced in the press box.

At the very minimum, it seems like there was some sort of communication issue from the officials on the field. If the score had been closer, an error like that could have proven costly for the Buffs and created yet another controversy for the Pac-12.

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