Posted on 01/03/2006 7:41:05 AM PST by beyond the sea
Late last night, or early this morning, some kind of stimulant, coffee was much needed. I was watching this great Bowl game, West Virginia vs. Georgia.
It was a near epic performance by both teams. Georgia falling behind 28-0 early fought back and nearly won the game.
But around midnight, after about four hours of viewing this game, my 59 year old eyes were closing, and I needed something to keep me awake..... so to the kitchen, the little 5 inch black and white tv on ABC to make some coffee.
By the time I got back in the bedroom it was about time for the moment of the night.
"The Mountaineers saved their biggest surprise for the end. Georgia was poised to get the ball back (with about a minute and a half left to play) when West Virginia dropped back to punt on fourth-and-6 at the Bulldogs 48. Phil Brady (punter) hauled in the long snap but took off running, gaining 10 yards on the fake and a game-clinching first down.
Georgia had been moving the ball very easily on nearly every possession in the second half. This was a gutsy call by the West Virginia coach, to let the kicker take the chance of going for the first down if he thought it was indeed there. (Georgia's defensive line on the punt return peeled back, so the kicker went for it.)
It was a great play to see.
Heres the question to you ........... how many NFL coaches, in a big playoff game, would have the guts to do as the West Virginia coach did?
I know one who would not ......... and I live in Pittsburgh, PA.
What do you say?
football, fake punt (bowl)........... ping
Bell Belicheck would do it. Heck, he broke out the "drop kick" in the game against Miami last week, and that hasn't been used since 1941!
I wouldn't be surprised to see him do it in the playoffs.
Schottenheimer. /major sarcasm
none that i'm aware ... too many hassles to encounter if they lose the game ... it is more honorable to lose with the idiotic (and oxymoronically termed) "prevent defense"
I dunno Cower decided to try an onside kick to start a half, after publicy announcing he might do it in the press the week before....
Perhaps not the brightest move, but you could definately say it was ballsy.
I was at the Cowboys/Chargers game in 1980. Tom Landry called not one, but THREE fake punts that night. Danny White was great in those three fakes. Helped Dallas win the game.
That was an incredible game. Talk about a roller coaster ride!
fake punt, GUTS, (maybe) NUTS ....... football ping!
How far was that drop kick? I just saw it out of the corner of my eye.
Btw, Belichick is a genius.............. I know, he kicks Cowher's ass every time he gets a chance.
It wasn't far, less than 30 yards maybe, but who would have even thought to call, much less had the guts to try it.
Slaton broke the Sugar Bowl record of 202 yards set by Pittsburgh's Tony Dorsett against Georgia in 1977. (I was at that game!) Slaton's 1,128 rushing yards this season were the second highest for a freshman at West Virginia, behind Avon Cobourne's 1,138 in 1999.
Bill Parcells would call that in a heartbeat...The "Tuna" is known for those sort of calls.
;-)
He was the roommate of my next door neighbor when they went to Pitt. Marty ---- real nice guy......... but soooo conservative.
;-)
Nah.
Beginning the second half of a regular season game at Indi. is NOT the same as pulling it off in a BIG playoff game.
The bigger the game, the more conservative Bill has gotten in the past........ much to the Steeler's demise.
What did you think of last night's fake punt?
I thought it was beautiful.
It was an extra point after a touchdown. It never would have been attempted in a critical game. The Patriots pulled Tom Brady after the first quarter and never really took the game seriously. It was quite a different scenario than having a bowl game on the line. Cudos to WVU.
Yes, it was a great game. Rodriguez is a pretty damn good coach.
He did it against Dallas in the SB.
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