What On Earth Was Rick Neuheisel Thinking?

So Saturday afternoon, I am watching some college football. Bouncing between UCLA @ Tennessee, Houston stunning Oklahoma State, and Notre Dame @ Michigan, I finally land on UCLA @ Tennessee. UCLA leading in the last minutes of the game by 6, believe. UCLA makes a goal line stand and gets the ball back with less than 2 minutes to go at their on 2 yard line.

Here's where I couldn't believe what I was seeing out of a seasoned somewhat successful veteran college coach like Rick Neuheisel of UCLA. The Vols had 2 timeouts to use. I immediately agreed with my Sound Off Sports co-host, The Official Scorekeeper (who I was on the phone with at the time keeping him updated on the game as he was coaching little league football), that all UCLA had to do was run 3 quarterback sneaks, force the Vols to burn their timeouts, then take a safety on 4th down and free quick back to the Vols from the 20 yard line with well less than a minute left in the game. This was simple. For a high school coach this was simple.

For Rick Neuheisel, no it wasn't simple. UCLA turns and hands the ball off 5 yards deep in the end zone. Hey Rick, you want the safety but on 4th down not 1st down. You need to run some clock and make the Vols burn timeouts. On 2nd down, UCLA runs wide and barely gets out of the end zone again. Not only did they risk the safety but the fumble by handing the ball off. Sure enough, the Bruin running back fumbled and after review it was determined that UCLA recovered it. Two bullets dodged so surely they will quarterback sneak on 3rd and long then take the safety. NO! UCLA runs a naked bootleg with the quarterback deep in the end zone trying to throw then trying to run out and he gets stuck for the safety and a fractured jaw. This stupidity in play calling, that caused the safety on 3rd down instead of 4th down, left the Vols 30 to 40 more seconds that UCLA could have run off before taking the safety on 4th down.

All I could ask was what the heck is going on? UCLA did punt from the 20 and in the end were able to win because Tennessee's quarterback was not competent enough to move the ball in the final seconds. However, UCLA's coaching staff tried in every way to keep Tennessee in the game and give it to them. Absolutely no excuse for not taking the quarterback sneak three plays in a row, then taking the safety on 4th down.

As, Rick Neuheisel critiques his players while watching film on Sunday, I hope the Athletic Director will walk in and critique Rick on his horrendous and almost loss causing decision making in the final 2 minutes.