This year in college football has had so many great moments. But if there has been one constant negative it has been the bone head coaching moves 
that costs the players the game. Coaches are paid millions of dollars to simply get it right. If any other CEO made moves to cost their company substantial money or recognition their job would be on the line.
To see some of these mistakes you almost have to be somewhat like a forensic accountant or attorney. You have to watch the tape closely and see any moments before the final gun where you knew the game was over. As I write this article, the final gun has yet to sound in the Utah State-Ohio game, but the game was decided with two just pathetic stupid moves that handed Ohio the game.
The first came with 5:20 left in the 4th quarter. Ohio had a 3rd and 4 pinned in at their own 5 yard line. On the 3rd down call, Ohio’s quarterback Tyler Tettleton was forced out of bounds well short of a 1st down that would have forced them to punt from their own end zone. But as the whistle blew I knew what that yellow flag meant. For reasons I will never understand, Utah State’s Weak Side Linebacker Bojay Filmoeatu came flying across the line of scrimmage a half second before the snap.
This caused an automatic 1st down and kept the drive alive. Here is where I would usually wait for the comment box below my article fill up with people telling me I was wrong. Well let me explain because I see this game deeper then most. Yes it is true Ohio did in fact punt the football eventually. But that was after several more 1st downs.
And that punt resulted in Utah State taking possession inside their 10 yard line instead somewhere around midfield. If that same punt would have occurred several minutes before there would be a 40-yard difference in field position. So you could say at that point Bojay’s bonehead offsides play was the in fact the reason Utah State lost the game. Until I saw the next mindless decision that in fact did cost the Aggies the game.
Utah State was held in check on the possession after the punt. They were facing a 4th down and 13 at their own 5 yard line up 6 points with 2:12 left. And they punted from their own end zone………. Enough said…… Think about it……….. Think some more………….. Ok now I will explain how that move by coach Gary Andersen was the direct reason they lost the game.
With 4th and 13 at the 5, did the coach ever consider taking a safety there? They were up 6 points. A safety makes it 4 Ohio would still need a touchdown to win the game. And Utah State would also get a free kick from the 20 yard line forcing Ohio most likely to go 80 yards instead of 50 for the win. So many other things could have happened forcing Ohio to run that many more plays to go in Utah State’s favor.
It turned out as I was writing this article Ohio scored with about 40 seconds to go and in fact won the game by 1 point. If they would have just taken the safety who knows what might have been ? But as a coach you are suppose to clean up your players mistakes and give them the best chance to win. Last time I checked 80 yards to score 7 was a bit more difficult then 50 yards with 2 minutes left. I am merely a high school coach. Also a guy who studies more film then anyone I know. I mean I love watching hours and hours of it at a time.
While others look for the more modern flag football approach I go back and watch tape from the 70’s and 80’s when I look for ideas for new plays. Everyone else is currently working on defending 5 wide quick strike offenses. What happens when I walk in with the triple option or double tight and just smash it down their throats. Defenses aren’t built to stop that anymore.
Bojay Filmoetau with 5:20 left I knew I would remember your name post game .Yes this loss is pretty much 50% your fault. Gary Andersen come on you just have to do a better job. Not taking a safety there just shows you weren’t in the game mentally. And you’ll fly home with a loss to Ohio now because of it. 60 minutes usually comes down to one or two plays. Didn’t need tape for this. This was just obvious.
