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KF admits to taking the ball on coin flip

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Hawkmanic23

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Mar 11, 2026
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83Hawk said:
Yes. If you score a TD right before the half and another to start the second half, that is potentially 14 straight points without the other team having a possession. That can break a game wide open.

But if the other team is able to do that, then you could be behind the 8 ball right quickly.

Just my opinion. If you disagree, that's fine.
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Or, a team can turn the ball over the last possession of the first half and again to start off the second half, which can also hurt their mo-jo.
 
H

Hawkmanic23

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ChicagoHawk2020 said:
It’s not about the literal time, it’s about the time in the game where you have the opportunity to score on two consecutive possessions and take time off the game clock before the opponent even touches the ball. The move that gives your team the best chance to win is to defer, which is why literally every coach in major football defers besides KF.
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That right there is how KF gets in their heads. 😉
 
vamchawk

vamchawk

Sophomore
Aug 15, 2006
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from Sharp Football Analysis

Conclusion​

Deciding whether to receive or defer the opening kickoff is a decision that can influence the outcome of games on the margins. These margins might not seem like a lot, but in a game of inches, they become the difference between a close win and a loss. Receiving the ball to start the second half results, on average, in an extra point on the scoreboard and a 12% chance of stealing a possession. A lot of factors play into how different coaches prefer to start out each game, but teams will generally receive a slight advantage by deferring to the second half when given the chance.
 
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85Bears

85Bears

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Aug 31, 2019
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Advantages to receiving opening kickoff
    • Scripted Plays: Offensive coordinators spend all week designing a specific sequence of "scripted" plays for the opening drive. Receiving first allows the offense to run these highly rehearsed plays while fresh, catching the defense off-guard. [1, 2]
    • Psychological Edge: Scoring on the opening drive puts the opponent at an immediate scoreboard disadvantage. Statistically, NFL teams that score first win roughly 66% of their games. [1, 2]
    • Silencing the Crowd: For an away team, marching down the field and scoring immediately can instantly deflate an energetic home crowd and neutralize their home-field advantage.

2. Maximizing Offensive Volume
    • Extra Possessions: On average, the team that receives the opening kickoff gets about 3 extra plays and half a drive more over the course of the first half compared to the team that defers. [1]
    • More Total Points: Data indicates that receiving the opening kick yields an average of 0.6 extra first-half points. If an offense is highly explosive, maximizing its time on the field early can dictate the entire flow of the game. [1, 2, 3]
 
LetsGoHawks83

LetsGoHawks83

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With the right matchups and the right offenses, it can make sense.

But when your defense is far better than your offense most years.... I like starting on defense.

Especially at home, kick to the north endzone and let Kinnick get full throat loud down there. 3 and out on defense, punt return on.

Then you have the COMPLETE opposite start of the game momentum killer against OSU. Turnover that puts our defense on their heels out of the gate.
 
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KurtWarner

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Nov 30, 2025
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More times than not over the years we take the ball and act like they really aren't trying to move it. So many times it's been 3 and out. If you take it, atleast be aggressive and try to score
 
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3-D_chess

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MeetTheFerentzes said:
Iowa should kick off to start the game AND to start the 2nd half. I seriously think this strategy would help them win games.
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Silliness.
We need someone who isn't in their 70s. He has been given 28 freakin years to show something other than ForgetaBOWLs.
Tweeks around the edges aren't the answer and every sober person knows that.
 
7and5baby

7and5baby

Sophomore
Sep 22, 2018
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I wonder what our average points attained on the first drive is (against non OOC cupcakes)? I bet it's like 0.52 :mad:
 
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