Coaches demand so much of their players. I go absolutely berserk when coaches betray their hard-working troops with brain dead decisions that cost them the game. Consider UConn’s 28-24 loss in Annapolis last Saturday. UConn fell behind 21-0 then heroically fought back — especially commendable when one considers that Navy employs the time-grubbing triple option. UConn has driven down to the Navy half-yard line with 17 seconds left. UConn burns its last time out before their 2nd down play. Coach Bob Diaco inexplicably calls a run. The run is stuffed and worse, the Huskies take their sweet time getting back to the line of scrimmage. The Navy defense did not seem to mind this casual approach and went along with the program. The Huskies did not run another play. Ballgame!!
Obviously, UConn should have thrown on 2nd down and, if necessary, on 3rd down. There would still be time for a 4th down and if Diaco then wanted to run the ball, fine. His excuse was so lame after the game as to induce massive scorn. He would not even take accountability for the game management travesty he had just perpetuated. For a program struggling to become relevant, this defeat was devastating. If you were in Las Vegas and bet on UConn +4, PLEASE let College Football Odyssey know. We will personally contact the athletic director on your behalf and see if we can negotiate a deal for you.
If I was a member of the Storrs police department, I would have had no choice, upon Mr. Diaco’s return, but to arrest him for theft. Being fair-minded, I would have accepted any reasonable bail request.
IDIOCY Part 2: Boise State has 1st down at midfield with 4:54 remaining and a 31-21 lead against Washington State and their lethal passing attack. Milking the clock seems prudent — especially when you have the talented Jeremy McNichols at running back. First down: Pass incomplete down the field. Second down: Pass incomplete down the field. Third down: Yet another pass: This was picked off. On WSU’s next play, Luke Falk threw a bomb to Gabe Marks. Success for perhaps the best pass/catch tandem in the USA. 31-28. Bryan Harsin and his staff finally started to run the ball on their next possession with success. However, if not for some time clock mismanagement by WSU in the last minute, Boise’s horrific play calling at the 5-minute mark could easily have cost the Broncos the game.
Since College Football Odyssey has a strong preference to be positive, we end with kudos to two coaches who shined on Saturday.
True confessions: I am not a big Todd Graham fan . Two reasons: I really disliked the way he treated Pitt, bolting for ASU after only one year. Also, he has gone so ballistic on some of his players during games. I did not fancy ASU’s chances against Texas Tech in Tempe last Saturday. The Sun Devils were unimpressive for 3 quarters the previous week against the Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona (I have always wondered if the NAU women sports teams should be called the LumberJills). I was unimpressed with new QB, Manny Wilkins. For the Red Raiders, Graham unveils a new offensive weapon. The Sun Devils effectively ran Kalen Ballage out of the “Sparky” formation (Everybody else calls it the Wildcat but that would be a major problem in nomenclature given the nickname of their Tucson archrival). After Ballage scores a NCAA-record 8 TDs, Arizona State prevails 68-55. Nice job, Mr. Graham!
College Football Odyssey has been very hard on Derek Mason for the manner in which he has repeatedly mishandled his QBs, in tragicomical, musical chairs fashion. His fast, confidence-sapping QB shuffles have previously caused us to wonder if he should even be in the same zip code as his QB corp. Against Middle Tennessee, Vandy starting QB Kyle Shurmur starts out 0 for 7. The old Derek would have yanked him. Evidently, there is a new Derek. Shurmer is allowed to stay in, completing 13 of his next 14 throws. A shocking offensive outburst from the Commodores ensues, with no small assist from Ralph Webb’s 211 rushing yards. Vandy’s 47 points in the game would constitute an explosion for most teams. Given Vandy’s repeated and historical offensive challenges, 47 points would seem to require some successful black magic. New Derek, you rock!!
Todd the Bod
A point needs to be made on Coach Idiot Graham, never to be forgotten, nor ever to loose the tag Coaching Buffon. Part of his Buffoonery is his narcissistic coaching style where evidently his coaches don’t feel like they can talk or communicate with him during the games evidently. I’m referring to last seasons Bowl Game with West Virginia. ASU could and wasn’t able to stop WV offense. ASU took the lead with a late TD with say 1 minute and 14 secs left. Now up 5 against a team you can’t stop, the smart thing to do would be go for 2 and try to get up 7, what good does an extra point do and being up 6. Well Coach Narcissistic Buffoon knew better than anyone else in the stadium and watching on TV that night as he went for 1. After a successful kick the Great One was up 6. One small detail that Buffoon boy forgot, his team couldn’t stop the lads from WV. Sure enough they scored and kicked the extra point and beat ASU by 1. Unforgiveable, and no one should be coaching at this level if you can’t figure out the score. I talked to a friend of mine who coached in the NFL, and of course came up the college coaching ranks, said it made no sense since during ASU’s drive to take the lead, most teams have assistants discussing what play they are going to call if they score. Good job Buffoon Coaching Boy, go back to Pitt