In an emotionally charged game between two deservingly ranked teams, ASU was short by a few feet.
No, they did not miss a crucial first down by a few links of the chain nor were they the victims of a botched call.
Unless of course you consider ASU coach Dirk Koetter's call for a run option punt on fourth down a botched call.
Of course Koetter is not directly responsible for decisions made on special teams. Tom Osborne makes those decisions.
However, after watching a field goal attempt vaporize into seven LSU points just 80 seconds earlier, perhaps Koetter should have vetoed the bold yet unnecessary call.
After the game, Koetter admitted that from the first extra point the Sun Devils were having a problem solidifying the right side of the line on special teams.
"We had one player miss an assignment, and his guy came free and made the play," Koetter said. "If he (Chris MacDonald) gets two more steps around the corner he might run for the first down, and the special teams coach is a hero."
Instead MacDonald was creamed, and LSU took its first lead of the night.
From then on out the pressure was on the Sun Devils when it should have been on the coach.
Reach the reporter at mark.saxon@asu.edu.
