Should Vanderbilt have kicked a field goal with one minute left in the game'

Franklin Petr
Sports Reporter

Kicking the 48-yarder was a no-brainer. Bryant Hahnfeldt makes that kick
consistently, and so you have to go with the odds. Yes, he missed it this time, but show me a kicker who never misses. The players and coaches still have immense confidence in Hahnfeldt, so expect the same call in similar situations later in the season. As coach Johnson said in his press conference, “You don’t make it on fourth down, and you don’t have the chance to win the game; I thought it was the right call before the kick, and I still do today.”

Jambu Palaniappan
Assistant Sports Editor

With the myriad of special teams mistakes committed by the Commodores throughout the game, calling in Bryant Hahnfeldt was absolutely the wrong move. Coach Johnson needed to trust his offense and at least attempt to call more aggressive plays in the minute leading up to the field goal attempt. There was still a minute left on the clock, and the Dores had a first down in Razorback territory. Instead of calling conservative plays, the Dores needed to get closer to the end zone and allow Hahnfeldt a chance at a higher-percentage field goal.

Jarred Amato
Sports Editor
If Vanderbilt had decided to go for it on fourth down and failed (which is more than likely), the loss would have felt a whole lot worse. When you have a chance to win the game, you have to take it. Nobody is calmer under pressure than Hahnfeldt. He thought he would make it, Bobby Johnson thought he would make it and so did we. The wind just happened to pick up at the wrong time.