I asked it out loud before the punt, I asked it after the punt, and I'm still asking it: why did we even have someone back there to try to field that punt? It opens the door to a very bad thing happening that can cost you the game...and it did. Who cares if the punt rolls another 15 yards, possession is all that mattered. Run clock, and at worst give CMU the ball back with little time and a long field. Instead...
I agree with your view, but I'm not sure it would've made much difference the way CMU picked our defense apart. In all likelihood, we would've gone with three runs which probably wouldn't have gotten a first down. They likely would've had the ball back around their 30 with about two minutes to go. It would've improved our chances, but I'm not sure it the outcome would've been any different.
I grant you that, we still could have lost. But I think the odds of them going 70 yards in 2 minutes is less likely than 37 in 3 minutes. It's so frustrating that they came up with the big defensive stop we needed...then gack it away on a fair catch attempt of a punt. So, so frustrating.
I am sure Mr. Carrie is sorry he disappointed you so much. He, being a CB, I am sure has learned that in the 70-80 snaps he might be involved in, some will go against him. He will usually have about 3 seconds to wonder what happened then regroup and go again. Fans need to learn how to do this.
He's a senior that has played some really good football in his time here in Athens. He's an important player and has had some big plays for this team this season, including as a punt returner. He doesn't need to be reminded that, in that situation Saturday, there is one thing you simply can't do. He knows what that thing is, and it still happened. What I was questioning at the time, and still now, is why did we even put a returner back there? Obviously the punt could roll and result in worse field position, but we would retain possession. Worst case scenario we take over at the 20 instead of the 40. We would get the ball with under 3 minutes to go and have every chance to let our line and backs ice the clock and the game. Putting a returner back there brought the chance of a muff into play and it bit us in the rear mighty hard.