Colorado tried a 2-point conversion because Mike MacIntyre thought it was first-and-goal
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:
Colorado's Steven Montez 19-yard touchdown run. 2-pt conversion No good. USC 31, Colorado 20 3:23 4th quarter pic.twitter.com/ANFO54wzQh
— RalphieReport (@RalphieReport) October 14, 2018
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.
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.
Explaining the 2-pt conversion attempt: refs never signaled the TD on Montez run. #cubuffs thought they were running a 1st-and-goal at the 3, not a 2-point conversion. Didn’t know until after that play what happened. Even in press box, they announced 1st and goal. Odd sequence
— Brian Howell (@BrianHowell33) October 14, 2018
We literally didn't know that Colorado scored a touchdown and the INT was on the 2 point try.
— Ryan Abraham (@insidetroy) October 14, 2018
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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