Dawson Odums knew the question was coming, and a justifiable response would be required.
Moments after Norfolk State lost its seventh one-score game in the last 11 months, the veteran head coach — in an important fourth season — took it upon himself to explain to the press why he decided to attempt a two-point conversion that eventually fell short in a 24-23 loss to Florida A&M 24-23 in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.
The reasoning? He could see his players — most of the 84 who returned from a season ago, including 18 starters — had given everything beyond their physical limits.
Their bodies just couldn’t withstand much longer the toll needed to compete for nearly 60 minutes against the defending HBCU national champions that had landed second-half haymakers and body shots on them after falling behind by two early touchdowns.
After the would-be game-tying extra point by Grandin Willcox was blocked by FAMU — only to be wiped out due to an offsides penalty — Odums called timeout and decided to take the lead and possibly win from the 1-yard line.
“I went for two because I felt a lot of guys starting cramping,” he said. “I don’t know if we would have had enough gas to finish that football game.”
It seemed reasonable that the Spartans, which had rushed for 227 yards on 5.3 yards per attempt up to that point, could get the 36 inches it needed with 6:29 left in regulation to retake the lead. After all, running back Kevon King capped off a workman-like 9-play, 73-yard drive with a TD seconds earlier.
But the Florida A&M defense stiffened, and linebacker Aric Horne turned back Norfolk State quarterback Jalen Daniels on a keeper at the line of scrimmage.
𝗡𝗢 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗!
The Dark Cloud Defense stops the 2-point conversion attempt!
FAMU – 24
NSU – 23
📺 https://t.co/dNh4z5uTdl (ESPN+)
📻 https://t.co/cWHCUvVKGp
📊 https://t.co/IYCVrkuJ47#FAMU | #Rattlers | #RELOAD | #REPEAT pic.twitter.com/C1KPavsJ94— Florida A&M Football 🏈 (@FAMU_FB) August 25, 2024
Odums admitted that the blocked kick, combined with a poor snap and hold on a field goal attempt in the second quarter, also influenced the choice to go for two in that critical spot.
“Our offense had been playing well, and I can live with that decision because we didn’t come down here to play football game,” said a defiant Odums. “We came down here to win a football game. And that’s the mindset that I’ve always coached with, and that’s the mindset of our guys to play with.”
Said linebacker Dylan Long about the team’s decision to go for the two points:
“I trust my coach (Odums) fully,” he said. “So, whatever decision is made, we are going to ride with it.”
