C&F has so far eschewed homerism in Theorems and Stratagems, in part on the idea that he would cover South Carolina-related items in his Gamecock roundups and in part on the idea that Spurrier has actually been a pretty good gameday coach at South Carolina.
However, everyone has bad days. Spurrier had a bad day at the end of an otherwise entertaining game against Georgia, and C&F neglected to touch on a couple of critical mistakes during his post-game analyses.
The situation: 4th quarter, about three minutes left, South Carolina down 14-7. The Gamecocks drive to the Georgia 32 and have a second-and-2 to extend the drive and give themselves a key chance to tie the game and send it to overtime.
The Gamecocks have plenty of time to go those last 32 yards. So, of course, they throw the ball three straight times. Chris Smelley throws incomplete to Freddie Brown. Well, that Brown didn't work, so Smelley went to Moe Brown. Incomplete.
Spurrier then calls on freshman C.C. Whitlock to run a wheel route. Whitlock does fine -- until he forgets to run the second half of the route and the ball drops to the ground right where an open Whitlock should be standing.
Now, C&F realizes that Mike Davis ended the game having averaged just 1.8 ypc. And he realizes that Davis had already fumbled away one chance to tie the game. But when you have a second-and-2, you give a runner with an ability to pound the ball and get first downs at least one chance to get the first down. Throwing three times in a row was a stubborn and foolish way to lose a key opportunity to pull the upset.
Not once?
Tony Franklin: I don't need no stinkin' playbook. There has been plenty of blog-ink spilled over the question of Auburn's offense, which averaged 105 yards a point in its attempt to play football against Mississippi State. Technically, Auburn won the agame, though C&F is of the belief that the two teams should be forced to play the game again until someone deserves to win.
Regardless, there are calls to get the ball to Mario Fannin more, pleas to use Kodi Burns more, etc. But, never fear, Auburn fans: Tony Franklin has it figured out.
He needs to get rid of the playbook. Not for a new playbook. He needs to just get rid of playbooks altogether and wing it.
He's going pro-active by not going by the book, or at least some fancy scripted playbook, which never seemed to be his style, anyway."I need to do a better job of going back to my feel and my instinct versus probably more game-planning," Franklin said.
"I've done more game-planning here. I'm going to go back to feel and instinct.
"I've called more stuff off a script in the red zone than I ever have before. I don't need to do it." (HT: ATVS)
Well, since Auburn is playing one of the most talented defenses outside of Los Angeles this week, improvisation seems to be the way to go. Who needs these "gameplans"?
Quick calls. Nebraska's faithful are apparently focused on attire, notably the famed "blackshirts." They're still waiting for the coaches to make some decisions here. Huskers, other fan bases wish they had your coaching issues ... Texas Tech called two dozen running plays Saturday! For 180 yards! This has to be some sort of record for the Leach Era ...