# Random Sports Thoughts

**URL:** <https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617>\
**Category:** Sports\
**Created:** [April 14, 2021, 8:43pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617 "2021-04-14T20:43:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 5

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tommie.frazier](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@tommie.frazier](https://community.goactuary.com/u/tommie.frazier)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 3:27am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617/81 "2023-09-26T03:27:38Z")

</div>

It is hard to not be suspicious of endurance recirds broken by that much. I read her background was mid distance track events before jumping to marathon. But between the new shoes and ither stuff…idk

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/dr_t_non-fan)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 7:03am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617/82 "2023-09-26T07:03:32Z")

</div>

It’s a flat course, perfect for new records.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Funemployed](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/funemployed/32/417_2.png) [@Funemployed](https://community.goactuary.com/u/Funemployed)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 2:02pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617/83 "2023-09-26T14:02:25Z")

</div>

Naming his football team after the local baseball team that would go over a century without a championship was the worst idea George Halas ever had.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![1695814](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/1695814/32/38506_2.png) [@1695814](https://community.goactuary.com/u/1695814)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2023, 10:28pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617/84 "2023-10-08T22:28:40Z")

</div>

[red] I can see why the Jets-Broncos got the afternoon game. It’s very entertaining. [/red]

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![1695814](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/1695814/32/38506_2.png) [@1695814](https://community.goactuary.com/u/1695814)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 2:06am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617/85 "2023-10-24T02:06:07Z")

</div>

I’m sick and tired of the sports commentators telling me “analytics say to [blah blah blah]”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tommie.frazier](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@tommie.frazier](https://community.goactuary.com/u/tommie.frazier)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 2:17am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617/86 "2023-10-24T02:17:07Z")

</div>

i would prefer they just tell us that it is objectively better to do something. i bet the high jump announcers had a field day with fosbury. we know better, so do better. why is that hard to understand?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/dr_t_non-fan)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 3:08am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617/87 "2023-10-24T03:08:05Z")

</div>

The audience is football-watchers. Keep them happy and put the NERDS!! in their place.

QED

(Bottle drop, smahes to smithereens)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![twig93](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/twig93/32/527_2.png) [@twig93](https://community.goactuary.com/u/twig93)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 1:02am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617/88 "2023-10-25T01:02:55Z")

</div>

Eh, I appreciate it when they differentiate between “conventional wisdom” and “statistics”. 🤷‍♀️

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![1695814](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/1695814/32/38506_2.png) [@1695814](https://community.goactuary.com/u/1695814)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 1:50am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617/89 "2023-10-25T01:50:25Z")

</div>

I see your point. I’ve just heard the phrase/reasoning too much lately…especially for situations that are 51-49. These analysts think they’re offering some great insight but they’re actually just serving up nothingburgers with extra nothing.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![twig93](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/twig93/32/527_2.png) [@twig93](https://community.goactuary.com/u/twig93)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 1:54am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617/90 "2023-10-25T01:54:45Z")

</div>

Yeah, I suppose the circumstances matter.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Actuary321](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Actuary321](https://community.goactuary.com/u/Actuary321)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 2:09am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617/91 "2023-10-25T02:09:44Z")

</div>

Or where sample size is limited and the majority of the times something happens there is a bigger reason that the team did one thing vs another. I mean I don’t understand why every team doesn’t go for it on 4th and less than 2 yards. The analytics say you are much more likely to make it. Not even a 51-49 deal.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/dr_t_non-fan)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 4:19am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617/92 "2023-10-25T04:19:24Z")

</div>

But if the team doesn’t make it, coach will have to answer questions.

Thing is, you go for it early in the game, deep in your own territory ( a classic no-brain punt decision) and you don’t make it, you’ll still get the ball back seven or so times. Score then instead. Not only that, but you’ll get the ball back quicker.  
And your defense will be fresher.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kid\_Rock](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/a4c791/32.png) [@Kid\_Rock](https://community.goactuary.com/u/Kid_Rock)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 5:08am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617/93 "2023-10-25T05:08:11Z")

</div>

…and analytics don’t actually SAY anything

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![3rookie](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/3/e0b2c6/32.png) [@3rookie](https://community.goactuary.com/u/3rookie)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 12:20pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617/94 "2023-10-25T12:20:43Z")

</div>

> [@Actuary321](#):
>
> Or where sample size is limited and the majority of the times something happens there is a bigger reason that the team did one thing vs another. I mean I don’t understand why every team doesn’t go for it on 4th and less than 2 yards. The analytics say you are much more likely to make it. Not even a 51-49 deal.

Not every 4th and 1 is equal. 4th and inches \<\> 4th and 4 feet. NFL \<\> college, and the offense/defense of each team are not equal. I mostly ponder NFL decisions, as college as too much variance between teams.

Field position absolutely matters, as one must consider what is the probable outcome of a drive. What is the drive outcome of converting a 4th and 1 from one’s own 25? If one is still likely to punt 70% of the time even after converting, then this was a large risk. There are many variables that “analytics” do not consider.

But teams, in general, should go for it on 4th down more than they do.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![twig93](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/twig93/32/527_2.png) [@twig93](https://community.goactuary.com/u/twig93)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 2:58pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617/95 "2023-10-25T14:58:50Z")

</div>

> [@3rookie](#):
>
> teams, in general, should go for it on 4th down more than they do.

And they’re going for it far more than they used to. But I agree still probably not as much as they should.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/dr_t_non-fan)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 3:26pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617/96 "2023-10-25T15:26:06Z")

</div>

> [@twig93](#):
>
> And they’re going for it far more than they used to.

Counting number is nearly double what it was from 1992 to 2021, though it dropped in 2022.  
Disclaimer: only 28 teams in 1992.  
Now, if you have fewer 4th downs, there will be fewer attempts, so the percentage is a more telling statistic.  
Should also check number of punts and FG, though a small number of them are taken on Not 4th Down.  
In 2022, teams punted anywhere between 57 and 96 times.  
OK, after an exhaustive search, I found average punts per game, whole league:

 ![image](https://community.goactuary.com/uploads/default/original/3X/9/5/951adb55ee16e8840840dbdf80d7b5bd1c98b647.jpeg)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ArthurItas](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/arthuritas/32/63_2.png) [@ArthurItas](https://community.goactuary.com/u/ArthurItas)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 4:09pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617/97 "2023-10-25T16:09:27Z")

</div>

This page has some kicking stats, including average FGA/game. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/NFL/kicking.htm](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/NFL/kicking.htm)

Looks like that recent drop in punts is not due to more FGA.

Looks like that odd spike in punts for a few years in the 70’s may be related to a drop in FGA attempts over that period. No idea why that might have happened.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/dr_t_non-fan)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 5:50pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617/98 "2023-10-25T17:50:26Z")

</div>

Is that when they put the goal posts to the back line of the end zone?  
1974, says Google.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![joejam](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aca169/32.png) [@joejam](https://community.goactuary.com/u/joejam)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2023, 12:02am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617/99 "2023-10-26T00:02:13Z")

</div>

My favorite is when a team has the ball on the 19 and they start talking red zone stats.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Actuary321](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Actuary321](https://community.goactuary.com/u/Actuary321)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2023, 8:33am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617/100 "2023-10-26T08:33:48Z")

</div>

Some of us remember that was even a thing. 🙂

[Previous page](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617.md?page=4)

[Next page](https://community.goactuary.com/t/random-sports-thoughts/2617.md?page=6)
