You way overestimate our chances of both getting the first down and scoring a touchdown on that play. 15%? You basically created the stats to win your argument. FG was the right play, because 95% of the time it means we are still in the fight. When you are the underdog, and you are behind the key is to stay in the game, because mistakes happen when favorites start to feel the pressure. Not sure how you measure that statistically, but nerves are certainly real, and players perform more poorly when they are nervous.
Kicking the field goal kept the pressure on Florida State, and kept us in the game with all of our timeouts. I wouldn't have argued against either call to be honest. I think it was a complete coin flip. I personally like the FG, and not because it is settling. I think it was the wise move given the young makeup of our team, and given the situation and the opponent.
I Think your %'s are way off, and pretty much any argument can be made when you have the ability to make up your own percentages and manipulate the final results. Give me a 95% of staying alive with all my timeouts and let me see what can happen if I can get the ball back, down one score to the school that has played in the national championship game the past two seasons. I am not going to argue against going for it, but I think it is a pretty silly position to argue against the field goal. It was a coin flip.
Long term it is better for this team to have that chance to go down and score. Long term it is better to be able to build on this performance by pitching the down one score to the back to back BCS title contenders. It helps in current personnel, it helps in recruiting, it helps in player confidence. We were a long shot to win that game at that point. The difference in %'s is miniscule, and the long term benefit of being in that game to the last second is monumental.
You kick the field goal. Bravo to Clawson. We are improving, and he seems to be a very competent, hard working, and inspiring coach.