This is an interesting discussion. My view is that CC handled the weather conditions very well. My impression is that UM handled the weather conditions fairly well too. I suppose, as this discussion points out, it is possible that UM didn't address the cold properly. The cold appeared to be impact JJ's throwing in that he wore gloves. My guess is that the gloves did impact his throwing. I think the ball slipped out of his hand when he threw the pick, and the gloves probably impacted that.
However, the biggest difference in the game was the 5.5 minutes near the end of the 2q when CC scored 3 TD's and UM didn't score. I supposed this could have been influenced by weather, but it certainly wasn't caused primarily the cold. The wind had some influence, but no more than is often the case in football.
The sequence of the 2d q went like this. UM finishes a 7-46 by turning it over on 4th down on the CC 27. CC goes 3 and out and punts. UM has a 7-36 drive and turns it over on 4th down at the CC 36. CC drive 69 yards in 12 play with 6:06 to go in half. UM goes 9 yards in 3 plays, and has a 34 yard punt. CC takes over on its 44 goes 56 yards in 4 plays. The CC qb has 2 runs and a TD pass. TD at 3:08 left in half. CC kicks off to 2, Henderson has short return, and he gets an unsportsmanlike penalty. UM starts from its 8. UM gets minus 2 yards in 3 plays, and has a 33 yard punt. CC starts on UM's 35. CC scores in 5 plays.
That barrage by CC put UM in a hole that it couldn't get out of. The wind held up several of the longer JJ passes and shortened several of Shaw's punts, but I don't think the weather or cold was the primary cause, or even much of the cause, of what occurred in this short period of time. It was more the good play of CC, the good field position of CC, and the inability of UM to convert on 4th downs and move the ball from closer to their goal line.
