Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock
Published: 9/7/2006 2:11 PM
Last Modified: 9/7/2006 2:11 PM
Here's proof that college football coaches aren't as smart or well-prepared as a lot of people think they are:
1, UAB punted the ball away to Oklahoma in the closing minutes last week.
2, OU caught the punt, then handed off to its star tailback twice.
The NCAA's new clock rules – which are meant to shorten the game by starting the game clock and the play clock as soon as the ball is placed on the ground instead of at the snap of the ball – caught a lot of coaches off guard.
But apparently Watson Brown and Bob Stoops had things on their minds for the season opener other than clock management.
Here's what happened:
With 2:29 to play in the game, trailing the Sooners 24-17 with no timeouts left, UAB faced fourth-and-12 at its own 31. Not good odds there, to be sure. But better odds than punting the ball away with no chance to get it back. Which they did.
OU punt returner Reggie Smith, a terrific talent who had a terrific game but didn't play the position last year because he couldn't consistently catch the ball, was back to catch it. Smith, who nearly fumbled on his previous return, brought the ball back three yards. From there, Adrian Peterson, who did fumble earlier in the game, rushed off right tackle for six yards, then off left tackle for one yard. Stoops then called timeout with 25 seconds left, and QB Paul Thompson took a victory kneel as the clock ran out.
Here's what could have happened:
Reggie Smith could have dropped the catch or fumbled the return. Peterson could have fumbled again (he's been known to drop a football or two from time to time). UAB could have thrown a pass over the middle (remember the Baylor game last year?) and sent it to overtime.
Here's what should have happened:
Even under the old clock system, UAB should have gone for it on fourth down with no timeouts. What's the worst that could happen? They fail and the Sooners run out the clock. What's the best that could happen? They get a first down, continue the drive and send the game into overtime.
Stoops should have told Smith to get the heck away from the football. Watching the football roll around on the ground, don't you know, takes time off the clock. And after Smith did field it, Stoops should have told Thompson to take a knee on first down.
One UAB punted, the game was over, unless the Sooners manufactured a disaster. Even Stoops didn't think UAB would punt; he left his first-team defense on the field anticipating a fake.
But a lot of folks in the press box knew, as the punt was hanging in the air, that the Sooners could wipe the clock clean, especially with UAB out of timeouts. And a lot of folks also knew there was no reason for OU risking a fumbled handoff, a fumbled carry – or even an injury to Peterson, which would cost OU more than just a loss to UAB – as the clock ticked away.
College football coaches are, truly, a pretty smart bunch. They're survivors, and they adapt a lot quicker than your typical sportswriter. These guys can recite more football on one play than I can remember from my four years of playing in high school, and it takes the rest of us more time to hiccup than it it takes for them to process thoughts about the game.
So don't expect any sideline pigskin gurus to be caught unaware of the new clock this week. If the same exact situation occurs, you can bet Washington's Ty Willingham will go for it on fourth down, and you can bet Bob Stoops will tell Smith to stay away from the ball, then tell Thompson to take a knee.
– John E. Hoover
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
