data-mm-id=”_4r1vp87k5″>It takes a special kind of collapse to lose a game in which your quarterback throws nine touchdown passes, but somehow the Washington State Cougars pulled that off Saturday night in losing 67-63 to UCLA, and in so doing, falling victim to the third-largest comeback in NCAA FBS history. Mike Leach was candid after his team stepped off their home field last night: “We collapsed in every phase of the game: offense, defense and special teams. Every phase."You forgot one thing, Mike. Coaching.Yes, the Bruins deserve to celebrate their victory. It not only saved their season, it may have saved coach Chip Kelly's job, at least for the time being. But an even greater share of the credit for the result belongs to Mike Leach's squad for their hideous, hideous collapse. The offense fumbled four times and lost all four to the Bruins, including the decisive fumble by quarterback Anthony Gordon with a minute and a half to play. The Cougar defense seemingly forgot how to tackle or cover passes, and late in the third quarter, UCLA scored a frightening 28 points in just over four minutes. Leach himself seemed to feel the pinch around his neck. During a Washington State drive in the middle of that UCLA run, one of his coaching decisions may have tilted the game's momentum dramatically in the Bruins' favor for good.By then, UCLA had cut the lead to 49-31, and the game was still in Washington State's control. All the Cougars offense needed was one more score – even a field goal – to re-establish their dominance. The drive stalled with a fourth-and-4 at the UCLA 43, and Leach, having run out of patience, decided to go for it.But at the last second, Leach got cold feet and called a timeout, sending for the punt unit instead.What Leach would have done with that fourth-down call if he had gone for it is anyone's guess, but his decision to chicken out after he had already made the call to go for it sent a clear message to both sides that he had lost faith in his own team to get the job done – a moment of weakness that Chip Kelly and UCLA, much to their credit, pounced on. It was also a foolish decision on Leach's part, because it also meant entrusting the game to a defense that had just given up 14 points on two quick touchdown drives instead of taking a chance with a quarterback that had already thrown seven touchdown passes.Both Leach and Washington State paid the price for his lack of faith.
Related Posts
Josep Maria Bartomeu has resigned as president of Barcelona.
The LaLiga club announced on Tuesday that Bartomeu and the entire board of directors have chosen to step down with immediate effect following a meeting.
Bartomeu had insisted on Monday there was no reason for him to resign ahead of a vote of no confidence against his leadership, which was expected to be held at Camp Nou this weekend.
However, the 57-year-old has changed his mind due to the ongoing institutional problems at the club and the risk of possible exposure to coronavirus that Barca members would face if they went to vote.
4 Only Josep Lluís Núñez (seven) have won more titles (football male) than Josep María Bartomeu (four level with Joan Laporta Agustín Montal) as President eve…
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang emulated an unwanted feat last achieved by his current head coach, Mikel Arteta, when he was sent off in Arsenal s Premier League match at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
After opening the scoring for the Gunners in the first half, Aubameyang was sent off midway through the second period with the score at 1-1.
A poor tackle from the Arsenal captain on Max Meyer was initially punished by referee Paul Tierney with a yellow card, but a VAR review resulted in Aubameyang being sent off.
As a result, Aubameyang became only the third Arsenal player to score and be dismissed in the same Premier League match and the first since Arteta also saw red at Selhurst Park in October 2013.
3 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the third Arsenal player to s…
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe combined superbly to inspire Paris Saint-Germain to a 3-0 Ligue 1 win at Ajaccio on Friday.
The defending champions were without the suspended Neymar, leaving it up to the two other stars on their forward line to send PSG six points clear at the top. They did so in style.
Mbappe, who recently slammed reports of him wanting to leave the club as completely false , cut a frustrated figure for much of the game even after breaking the deadlock in the 24th minute.
He was teed up by Messi for that opener before missing a series of chances to claim a hat-trick.
However, a commanding PSG display was eventually reflected by the scoreline as Mbappe and Messi linked up brilliantly for the latter to make it 2-0 before the long-time Real …
Journalist has told that Liverpool are interested in signing N’Golo Kante from Premier League rivals Chelsea in the summer transfer window. The France international defensive midfielder is out of contract at the Blues at the end of the season, and the Reds reportedly want to bring him to Anfield.
O’Rourke said: “It’s a deal they’ve looked at, hoping that they can maybe persuade Kante to leave Chelsea on a free transfer. We all know about Liverpool’s need for midfield reinforcements.
“It looks like it’s going to be a big rebuild job in that engine room for Jurgen Klopp’s side and Kante, with his experience and know-how, is a winner.
“Wherever he’s been, he’s had great success. To get someone like that on a free transfer would be an ast…
Arsenal will face the MLS All-Stars, who will be coached by Wayne Rooney, in a friendly in July.
The annual MLS All-Star Game sees a squad made up of players from across the league come together to face an opponent.
For the last two years, the MLS All-Stars have played a Liga MX All-Stars team, with the team from the United States top tier emerging victorious on both occasions.
However, the 2023 edition will see the MLS All-Stars return to playing a European club, with Arsenal appearing in the exhibition event for a second time.
The Gunners beat an All-Stars side that included Andrea Pirlo, Kaka, Didier Drogba and David Villa 2-1 in San Jose in 2016.
This year s match will be held at Audi Field in Washington, D.C, with England s joint-record goals…
Newcastle United are in advanced talks with Manchester City over the signing of Kalvin Phillips in the January transfer window, according to . The report has noted that Juventus are also in talks with City regarding a potential move for Phillips.
Phillips has struggled to make an impact at City since his move to the Etihad Stadium from Leeds United in the summer of 2022. The Citizens, who won the Premier League, the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup last season, are open to sending the England international midfielder out on loan or selling him.
Juventus want Phillips on a loan deal, as the Italian giants are unable to afford the £40 million transfer fee that City would want for the midfielder. Newcastle are able to afford that sum and are also looking for a new mid…
Best Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker:
In what could prove to be a cagey Serie A affair from the Maracana late on Sunday night, Vasco will welcome Athletico-PR to Rio de Janeiro.
Vasco
Starting with the hosts, while Vasco might have managed to claim a much-needed 1-0 victory against Cuiaba last month, it appears that might have just been a minor boost for Ramon Diaz’s downbeat squad. Last seen putting in another worrying display as they slumped to a toothless 1-0 defeat at the hands of Cruzeiro, the one-time River Plate boss certainly has some growing pressure on his shoulders at the Maracana. Although the Admirals might have only made their Serie A return this season, it is no secret that Vasco are seen as a standout contender to be hit with an immediate second-tier retu…
In December 2018, Manchester United fans were adamant that Jose Mourinho s sacking meant he was finished at the top in club football.
A drab style of play, a similarly joyless demeanour in news conferences and seemingly incessant desire to belittle his own players marred his time in Manchester.
Disagreements with Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial were hardly private, while his relationship with Marcus Rashford appeared uneasy at times as well.
Yet, Tottenham paid no mind to the issues – whether that was down to Daniel Levy being convinced Mourinho wasn t finished yet or if he just wanted an entertaining figurehead for his Amazon documentary, who knows, but one has to wonder where the Portuguese can turn now if he doesn t want to try his hand at an inter…
Juanma Lillo has offered insight into Pep Guardiola’s insatiable appetite to keep improving himself and those around him.
Lillo rejoined his fellow Spaniard’s backroom staff at treble winners Manchester City this summer after a year away.
This weekend he will be filling in for the inspirational City manager as the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss takes time out to recuperate from back surgery.
Guardiola is due to return to Manchester after the September international break and Lillo expects him to be as hungry as ever.
“Pep is always very open, moment to moment, and he decides he always wants to improve and implement new things,” said Lillo, who will oversee the team at Sheffield United on Sunday and at home to Fulham next week.
“…
Best Odds: 17/20
Bookmaker:
In what is a heavyweight Europa League affair on Thursday evening, Barcelona will welcome Premier League giants Manchester United to the Nou Camp.
Barcelona
Starting with the hosts, while Barcelona might have come under real scrutiny for losing their Champions League status last year, the Spanish icons are in the midst of an extended purple patch. Picking up some perfect momentum over the weekend as they claimed a 1-0 victory away at Villarreal, the mood in Xavi s camp is at a red-hot high. Now sat in pole position to reclaim their La Liga crown in 2023, the Catalonia-based outfit have continued to gain a string of plaudits on either side of the World Cup break. Claiming this season s Spanish Super Cup thanks to a 3-1 romp against Re…