great coaching

Just watched the end of the Chick-fil-a Bowl. (That's the Peach Bowl for you fellow bowl name purists out there.) In light of how the game ended, I find myself kinda wishing the Hogs had been able to swipe Tommy Tuberville away from Auburn. Let me explain...

The game is in the first overtime. Clemson had the first possession and kicked a field goal, so the score is 20-17 Clemson. Auburn faces a 4th down and a half-yard or so at the Clemson 15. The announcers are adamant that Auburn should play it safe and kick the field goal to send the game into another overtime period. But unlike the announcers, Tuberville has guts. He goes all-or-nothing and keeps his offense on the field to go for it. They run a quarterback sneak straight up the middle and get the first down. Three plays later, an Auburn runningback jogs into the end zone. Game over, Auburn wins 23-20.

You see, real coaches go for it in such 4th down situations. Coaches who just take the safe, easy way out are basically either too scared to put the game on the line or not confident enough in their own players to come through. Rolling over and sending a give-up message is a good way to lose, but sending a message of confidence by being aggressive and challenging one's players to step up wins games. Beyond that, it makes for much more exciting football. Somewhere, Gregg Easterbrook is smiling right now.