The Best Moment in Coaching

This is video after last night's game between Louisville and Rutgers.  Louisville's QB and Offensive coordinator embrace after a tough emotional win on the field.  This is for me the best moment in football, not just winning a tough emotional game but the bonds that have developed between players and coaches.  As you watch the video listen near the end a man says, "This is what people don't see."  And it's true, most people never see after an emotional win or loss what happens between coaches and players.

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Funny to Think About Now

So one advantage to moving back has been the ability to watch some classic football games.  Here are a couple things that stood out to me this past week that really kind of made me chuckle about the offense side of the ball.

I was able to watch the 2005 Fiesta Bowl between Utah and Pitt on ESPN Classic.  It was near the end of the game when Brent Musberger asked his co-announcer Gary Danielson if Urban Meyer was going to have trouble running his spread offense in the SEC?  Well Gary of course replied that he thought so because of the speed of the linebackers and d-line.  Why does that give me a chuckle?  Well 5 years later the spread offense like Urban Meyer is alive and well in the speedy SEC.  Seems like commentators forget for all the speed on one side of the ball, the other side will have it too.

The second game I saw was the 1993 Rose Bowl game between Washington and Michigan on the Big Ten Network (yep even the west coast gets this channel).  In the second quarter Washington is driving for the go ahead touchdown and Brent Musberger (man that guy has done a lot of games) is commenting on the passing game for the Washington offense.  At this particular point they were 10 of 12 passing with 188 yards and one touchdown.  Their run game was ineffective as Michigan had basically everyone in the box.  Right after he says this, Washingon runs the ball being stuffed on two straight runs.  Brent then comments that Washington fans are probably thinking, stop running the ball and just pass it!!!  Next play, Mark Brunell passes for a touchdown and Washington goes ahead 21-17.  This made me chuckle because of how insane it would seem to coaches now doing your offense that way.

It is just kind of funny to see how football has changed since that 1993 bowl game.  Offenses more spread out and defenses not stacking the box as much (Washington was basically like a 5-3 that game).  I think at some point the tighter formations will make a return but just interesting to see how much the game has changed from even just a few years ago.

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Oklahoma State's Unique Hand Off on the Jet Sweep

I have been looking for clips online of the Alamo Bowl so that I could show you what I mean by unique handoff in the game.  Unfortunately I haven't been able to find it yet.  They would bring a receiver in motion and then instead of handing the ball off, the QB would just overhand toss the ball to the receiver going in front of him.

Why would Oklahoma State do this?  Well I can think of one reason right now.  How many times in a game have we seen where there is a fumble on the read hand off that leads to a turnover.  Instead if the toss to the receiver is dropped it isn't a fumble but instead an incomplete pass that doesn't result in a turnover.

Does anyone have any clips of the play being run in the bowl game or not?  I really would like to post video here on the site to show.  It happens in the first half.

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Opening Night of College Football

Unfortunately tonight I will probably miss some games since I will be at the young guy's game.  However I hope to get home and watch the end of the Utah/Pitt game.  I think this will be a good game but also a tough game for Pitt.  Utah always plays tough at home and they want to prove that the decision to put them in the Pac-10 was a correct decision.

The other game I want to see is also the Hawaii/USC game.  You have to wonder how USC will do this season, they still have talent and am sure they will win this game.  But you do wonder how they will look when it is all said and done tonight.

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Crazy Trick Play Run By Steve Spurrier

I think this is the first and only time I have ever seen this trick play from the 1993 Sugar Bowl vs West Virginia.  I don't know if I would ever run this play but it is basically the star burst kickoff return during a play.

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Some Of College Football's Most Amazing Plays

Here is a video of some of the best college football plays over the year near the end of games.  Where it allows the team to win sometimes in the last second.  How many of these moments did you get to see live??

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This is Too Sad

This is a player that I got a chance to coach against 3 years ago.  He was one of the highest rated players coming out of the state of Utah and was a Parade All American.  He decided to go to University of Colorado and is now facing legal issues.  He has since been dismissed from the team and is now facing all this trouble.  Just sad to see this happen to someone with so much potential.

Four months after being sentenced to six months of work release and three years of probation for violating the conditions of a deferred sentence he received for his involvement in a 2008 fight, former University of Colorado linebacker Lynn Katoa has been arrested again.

Katoa, 21, is being held on $2,500 bond at the Boulder County Jail on new third-degree assault and probation violation charges after police say he head-butted a former teammate early Sunday outside Shooters Grill and Bar at 1801 13th St. in Boulder.

Read more: http://www.coloradodaily.com/ci_15532201#ixzz0tza4eoDM
Coloradodaily.com

 I do hope that he can turn his life around

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29 Seniors Signed to Play College Football

Reading this story on ESPN I was impressed that this school was able to get so many kids an opportunity to play football but also get them help to attend college and get their education.  This story is one of the reasons I got involved with coaching football, I want to help develop young men and make a difference in their lives.

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. -- In a world of misplaced priorities and snap judgments, it's easy to dismiss Stephenson High School as the program that can't win a state championship.

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13 Year Old Commit to USC

As I am sure many who follow sports know by now, a 13 year old QB in Delaware was offered and committed to USC.

Lane Kiffin really is getting a jump on recruiting.

No sooner had the Trojans new coach put the finishing touches on the Class of 2010 recruits, that he turned his attention to the Class of 2015.

That's right, 2015.

Thursday evening Kiffin received a verbal commitment from 13-year old wunderkind quarterback David Sills of Bear, Del.

Too young?

Not according to his personal coach Steve Clarkson, who has mentored some of the game's best quarterbacks including current USC starter Matt Barkley.

"His skill set is off the chart," Clarkson said. "I've never seen anyone at his age do what he's been able to do."

The commitment, which was first reported by ESPN's Shelley Smith, has happened in college basketball previously, but is unprecedented for college football where it's harder to project how a player as young as Sills will develop physically. Clarkson says that won't be a problem.

"He's already six feet as a 13-year old," Clarkson said. "And he's breaking down NFL footage."

Clarkson said the scholarship offer emerged after he called Kiffin to discuss a quarterback recruit for next year's class.

Clarkson said Kiffin asked him his opinion of the recruit and Clarkson said, "You might call me crazy, but you've known me a long time, right? And when I said if there was going to be a LeBron James of football it'd be Jimmy Clausen that turned out to be a pretty good prediction.

"And when I said Matt Barkley had the potential to be as good as Jimmy, he ended up winning Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior and starting at USC as a freshman, right?

"Well, I've got a kid now who is better than all of them and he's in Delaware. You gotta take a look at him."

Clarkson then directed Kiffin to a video of Sills that is making the rounds on YouTube.

Kiffin watched it and called him back immediately.

"He was like, 'This kid is incredible. How old is he again?'

"I was like, 'That's the problem, he's 13.' "

A couple of hours later, the Sills family called Kiffin and they spoke for the first time. USC had always been Sills' dream school, according to his father, David Sills IV.

"I'm as shocked as anybody," Sills' father said. "I was just talking with friends yesterday about what it'll be like four years from now when David goes through the recruiting process. I never expected this to happen so soon.

"But David's always wanted to go to USC. I mean, is there a better place to play football in the country? How can you pass up the best offer you're ever going to get?"

The younger Sills, who is an seventh-grader at Red Lion Christian Academy in Bear, Del., has been training with Clarkson for three years. They meet about once every six weeks at various locations around the country. Sometimes in California, where Clarkson is based. Sometimes in Delaware. And sometimes somewhere in the middle, if Clarkson is conducting a clinic.

"Steve and David hit it off immediately," David Sills IV said. "If there's ever anything David is doing wrong, Steve can fix it in like 10 minutes."

Still, 2015 is a long time from now. A lot can change.

"Well, we're going to be out to California in a few weeks and we'll meet Lane then," Sills' father said. "We're excited to meet him. And we're excited to verbally commit. Hopefully it all works out in the future."

 Alright here are some of my thoughts on David Sills committing so young.  Hopefully this kid pans out as he still has a few years to go.  What happens if this kid blows up as he gets through puberty and can't play QB.  I don't know how I feel about a kid committing so young, can he keep his humility as he gets older?

Is Lane Kiffin going to still be at USC in 5 years?  This to me is kind of crazy to even think that they are doing this now in football.  First college basketball and now college football?  What happened to letting kids be kids while growing up?

I really wish the NCAA would step in and ban this type of practice and make this a violation.  BTW USC did this in basketball a few years back.  Also, anyone at USC remember Todd Marinovich?

Also the football coach that referred him calls himself Dream Maker?  Wow you have to be pretty confident that you will get every kid a scholarship.  Just a crazy saga that makes people think coaches are nothing but leaches.

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Boy was I wrong

Well I thought TCU was going to win their game last night against Boise State. I was so wrong it wasn't even funny. Boise State did a great job had a great game plan and came out and won the game. No excuses they were just the better team last night against TCU.

That is why you play the game for a reason. Everyone thought TCU was the better team and they didn't get it done. Congrats on the perfect season Boise State.

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TCU vs Boise State

Quick Thoughts on the game tonight. TCU I think will win this game. I don't know though as I haven't been at any of the practices. This should be an interesting game as either team really is playing for their conference bragging rights. Which non AQ conference is the best. A win here and this really helps the Mountain West in the eval period.

BTW I enjoyed Morning Joe today as he forgot I guess that TCU beat Clemson which beat a SEC team in this bowl season. Anyway I don't have much more to say just that I hope this is a good game.

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Thoughts on the Sugar Bowl

Well compared to the Rose Bowl this BCS game was to me dull.  I am not a fan of either team but wanted to see how Cincinnati would do with Brian Kelly gone.  How would Florida do with Urban Meyer's announcement??

Unfortunately for Cincinnati this was an embarrassing game.  Would it have made a difference that Brian Kelly was there?  Would it have mattered that the interim coach had been hired as the head coach?  Would it have mattered if Cincinnati was playing for the National Title??  I don't know to be honest with you.  I think that with all that happened at the end of the season there very well could have been a let down on Cincinnati's side.  You never know how a team will respond to such an emotional event.

Look at Florida, they came out on fire.  Is Florida that much better than Cincinnati?  Is the Big East that bad??  Where was the offense that was showing on the field tonight?  That defense was awesome; was the one suspended player for the SEC Championship Game that big a difference in this game?  Is the SEC just that far ahead of the other conferences?  Again I don't know.  One game does not give you the answer.

Take heart though Cincinnati, look at what has happened to Ohio State in the past.  Today they beat Oregon and won a BCS bowl.  Look to your future.  What happened yesterday is in the past.  I hope those underclassmen get to work to prove a point next year.

Florida, way to show up for this game.  You very easily could have had a letdown after not playing in the BCS National Championship but you didn't.  Gator fans the future is bright in Gainesville look out SEC.  But again where was this offense and defense against Alabama?  That could mean that Alabama is really really good and Texas could be in real trouble.

However you play the games on the field and never know what could happen during a game.  I would have liked to see how TCU stacked up against Florida during this game though.  But here's to the next BCS game and hopefully a non blow-out.

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Thoughts on the Rose Bowl

Well the Oregon Ducks lost to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.  Just a few quick thoughts:

1. Ohio State's defensive line controlled the game from the outset.  Oregon just couldn't get their running game going for big plays.  Or control the line for the passing game.  It happens and unfortunately this just wasn't the right game to have this happen.
2. Conversely, Ohio State's O line was able to get the running game going.  I don't think either team played exceptionally well but in the end Ohio State made the plays to win.
3. Jim Tressel going outside his norm.  Taking chances and being aggressive in his play calling.  Came out throwing the ball more than usual and caught Oregon off guard.
4. Oregon went a little conservative.  I didn't see some of the plays I have seen all year from the Ducks in games.  Where did those plays go to?  Was it that the front 4 for Ohio State controlled the line that well?  I don't know all the game planning so I will refrain from criticizing too much what happened in this game.  I just know I didn't see as wide open an offense I had seen in the past.
5. The fumble out of the back of the end zone by Oregonwas a killer.  When that fumble occurred that really was a killer.  Most likely Oregon goes into the end zone and then just needs a field goal to win the game.
6. Shots down field.  I don't know again all the game planning but it seemed like Ohio State was moving up focused to stop the run on certain downs.  Check to a play that allows you to take a shot down field.  I think if that had been done, Oregon forces Ohio State to have to pull back opening up the running lanes I think.
7. Ohio State will be good in the future.  If Tressel lets Pryor play the way he did in the Rose Bowl?  Look out college football cause then Ohio State might have a chance again for the National Championship game.

I am not a college coach so I don't want to second guess too much the coaching decisions.  Like I said these are just my thoughts on the Rose Bowl.  I hope the National Championship game is a good one

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