Do Penalties Bring Success?

[sandgk]

According to Terry Bowden's calculations that surely is true.

April 10 ? An interesting look at the NCAA stats ? How many times have you heard the saying that penalties will get you beat? The truth of the matter is that a lack of penalties will get you beat even quicker. Of the top 10 teams in college football last season in least yards penalized, six of them had losing records. With that list including such teams as Northwestern, Virginia, Vanderbilt, Navy, Air Force, and Stanford, it looks like the lack of penalties points more toward how smart you are than how good you are. Incidentally, the national champion Florida Gators finished the season ranked 109th out of 119 schools in least yards penalized and only one team in the final top 10 made it into the top 35 least-penalized teams.

Interesting point that last line, especially when it is contrasted with the high hanky rate for the champion UF team.

Problem is his rhetoric in the red font is only correct if you look solely at the BCS rankings - which have the 10th ranked Oklahoma team (who them lost to Boise State and dropped to 11th in AP and USA Today polls of January 9th). Still, it is interesting that a team can play good disciplined football and still have success - Sooner or later. :)

It is also an interesting cut-off point, that count of 35 teams. Guess which team ranked 36th in the nation in fewest yards given up to penalties?

Hint: You are reading this on a site dedicated to that team, the Buckeyes also ranked 19th in the nation in fewest total penalties (same as TSUN) in total penalties per game.

Guess that argument which fits the aphorism, "if you aren't cheating you aren't winning" needs a little honing eh, Terry?

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

I suppose I could understand the argument as it relates to aggressive penalties (like offsides, or halo violations and the like) and to a lesser extent celebration penalties.

 

[HailToMichigan]

This must be why Terry is the only Bowden not stalking a sideline. I doubt there's anything to this other than coincidence.

 

[Zurp]

I'd like to see a breakdown in penalties. My guess is that a majority of penalties are blocking calls or false-starts - both offensive penalties. Typically, the teams that finish high in the rankings are defensive teams - teams that get 3-and-outs, and can get their offenses back on the field. I'd like to see a comparison between average times of possession and penalties.