Punt that Football!

I am a polemic- that is for certain. As a result, I was thrilled and cheered by the controversery generated- and by the display of guts and honor displayed- last night at the Rose Bowl. Most times, north of 11PM, you turn that game off when USC went up two scores and retire. But last night, a nation shouted “Give us Vincent Young two more times”.

And yes, I was glad to see my old boss Mack Brown get his national championship. He was nice to me. My freshman year in college, I served as the office assistant in the football office- which involved me photocopying just about everything in said office. Coach Brown was always pleasant- particularly considering he coached at Tulane and was absolutely hammered many, many Saturdays.

Beats me if the better team won. I did love Texas and the points in this spot- shouting for two weeks around the office that getting Texas and nine in this spot was an absolute lay-up. I tended to think ultimately this contest was always going to be won by the team ahead when the clock stopped. Last night that was Texas- which I am sure is a huge consolation to all USC fans this morning.

I will start this next part with an admission of bias- I love to punt! Love it. I have season tickets for the Eagles- and it makes me crazy listening for folks hollering “Go For it!” or adamantly arguing for a long field goal try. Not me- I believe in the power of the punt. And that is a reason I love the NFL. Everybody punts.

Accordingly, my only conclusion- outside what you are already reading in the papers- is that college coaches “go for it” way too much. I have no proof- but I feel in my gut teams should punt more. Top-flight college football more and more resembles the NFL- a largely even game largely determined by turnovers and mistakes. When you fail to convert a fourth down invariably you are giving up either a sure three points or handing the ball to your opponent in good field position- an ipso de facto turnover. If you pick up the first down, even then your team is not assured a better scoring opportunity. So, a team risks giving your opponent a true game changing event- either taking points off the board or a “turnover”- in return for a possible shot at a touchdown. Between even teams with hallmarks of competence, I always take the “sure” over the “potential”.

You could thus argue that the ultimate story of this Rose Bowl is that Texas bailed out Mack Brown while the Trojans did not bail out Carroll. Going for it, at mid-field early in the first quarter, is just not smart. Brown gave the Trojans a chance to jump on Texas by two scores before I had opened a second Rolling Rock. Maybe not “game over”- but I do not cherish executing a game plan chasing that offense all night, down a bunch, from the get go. And even if Texas had gotten it- the Longhorns still weren’t guaranteed points.

For heaven’s sake, Texas was still two first downs from a good field goal try. That is just suspect- the risks far outweighed the rewards. I can see it- if USC had conclusively proved itself “unstoppable” or Texas seemed stymied on offense. But only five minutes in? You are the number two team in the country- act with some confidence that your defense can force a stop with at least 85 yards of field position at its back- and that your splendid offense can still score bunches in the 55 MINUTES remaining.

Carroll’s attempt to convert late in the fourth quarter at mid-field was even more suspect. His reward was admittedly high- win the game. But that was a long yard-plus… not a lay-up to convert and real trouble if you miss. The very fact that Texas is so prolific with the football is why you can’t give them the chance to win the game merely by making a big stop and correspondingly finishing a few successive good plays on offense.

Punt the ball. Make them execute a lot of plays, fourteen rather than seven, under pressure, without mistakes. Gosh- just how many teams in three years have driven 85 yards on the Trojans, in a big spot, in a jumpy environment, the past three years? Young is a great player- but driving the ball eighty-five or so yards- quickly- would require a lot of poise and greatness. And not just from Young- but from his teammates. Can’t commit penalties, can’t fumble, catch the ball, run the right routes, pick up the blitzes- again and again. I’d ask him- and his teammates- to demonstrate big-time competence under pressure on lots of offensive plays- and not a mere few.