tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759057101816208790.post3530715443504858045..comments2023-05-30T07:49:25.987-04:00Comments on The Sports Rippers: The Absolute Worst Coaching Decision EverW.F. Slingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144402457062127302noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759057101816208790.post-83552425046862987482009-11-24T17:38:58.392-05:002009-11-24T17:38:58.392-05:00Of course it was a surprise. Things that make abso...Of course it was a surprise. Things that make absolutely no sense can often surprise.<br /><br />Fine, the defense was tiring. But the score wasn't exactly 64-63. Harvard had seven points the entire game.<br /><br />And yes, if the odds of converting the fake punt were better than the the opposition scoring, you do it. Of course, I'd like to see the conversion rate of fake punts on 4th-and-22. I can say with absolute certainty that in 20-plus years of watching football, I have NEVER seen a team intentionally fake a punt needing 20 yards or more. (Not to mention the absolutely moronic idea of trying it on your own 25 yard line holding a lead with 2:40 left.)<br /><br />It's the worst decision ever. <br /><br />And if I had been the punter on Yale, I would have told the coach there is no way in hell I'm faking it. If he wanted to kick me off the team after I booted the ball down the field, so be it.Norwood Bucknerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02450801480042359649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759057101816208790.post-76238627625467320912009-11-24T14:09:22.939-05:002009-11-24T14:09:22.939-05:00Hey - it was a poor decision. Possibly moronic. ...Hey - it was a poor decision. Possibly moronic. And I'm not defending it.<br /><br />But before we all congratulate ourselves on being smarter than a Division II-A football coach, even if it is Yale, or for that matter an NFL coach, a couple of quick thoughts.<br /><br />First, I saw this play a couple of times. It was a well-planned play, with three blockers. It was a surprise, apparently to Tim Murphy and the Haardvarks as well. It took a seriously great play by a Harvard defender to cut through the block to make the stop. I'm not sure you count on that, even in the Ivy League; the plays and the play-calling are generally better than the players. In other words, this should have worked for thirty or forty yards. It didn't because of a blown block. That happens.<br /><br />Second, though Yale's punter was apparently tops in the Ivy league who was having a great day, the Yale defense was tiring and, apparently, hurting as well. They've done that in the second half all season. Harvard was rolling. I'm not sure the coach trusted his defense as much as his offense. Is that his fault? Maybe - but that's a call you make based on personnel and the tenor of the bench, which we can't know.<br /><br />If the odds of converting a fourth down with a well-called surprised play were greater than the odds of preventing Harvard from scoring, then you call it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759057101816208790.post-56763918341747796482009-11-22T10:03:00.900-05:002009-11-22T10:03:00.900-05:00Yeah, it was bad, but I just don't think the H...Yeah, it was bad, but I just don't think the Harvard-Yale game is big enough to merit a name change. And what about Les Myles conceding LSU's game to Ole Miss by having them spike the ball as the last half second expired? signed, Myles McNamaraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com