Category: Clark Kinney

Why did Miami run the ball with 34 seconds left in the game when the opposing team had no timeouts?

By: Clark Kinney

If you haven’t already heard, Miami lost to Georgia Tech this past Saturday. It was an awful loss though, not because they played particularly bad, but rather because of an awful coaching decision made by the Miami staff that ultimately cost them the win. The undefeated Miami Hurricanes were winning and looking to improve to 5-0 on the season up 20-17 with 34 seconds left in the game, only needing to take a knee. However, the coaches decided to run the ball and the running back fumbled, giving Georgia Tech the ball with 26 seconds left and no timeouts. Four quick plays later, Georgia Tech scored and won the game. 

Miami had opted not to kneel the ball in every one of their first four games this year and they had won all four, but those games were not one score games like the Georgia Tech game. Miami’s head coach is Mario Cristobal, and he takes full ownership in the play call and loss. Perhaps the craziest part about all of this is that the exact same thing had happened to Coach Cristobal before. Coach Cristobal was the head coach at Oregon in 2018 when they were winning by 3 against Stanford with the ball, chose not to kneel to secure the win, ran a play, fumbled, Stanford tied the game, and then Oregon lost in overtime.

Why would you not just take a knee and secure the win? I simply do not know. Did they not have Victory Formation in the playbook? I don’t know either. What I do know is that Georgia Tech is not very good, and Miami will likely now not have a chance in making the College Football Playoff. On ESPN’s “First Take” earlier I heard one of the people say not only will they not have a chance to make the College Football Playoff, but that play call also cost the school millions of dollars because of the money that comes from winning and being a College Football Playoff contender.

 If I were Miami’s athletic director, I was seriously consider firing Coach Cristobal. I would, at least have him on a short leash and tell him if you lose 2-3 more you are done. He should be undefeated right know, and that is the only reason I would most likely not fire him immediately.

How good is DJ Uiagalelei?

by Clark Kinney

First of all, I am a Clemson fan and I may be a little bias. DJ Uiagalelei was the number one pro-style quarterback in his class coming out of high school, topping C.J. Stroud at number two who ended up being the number two overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He should be good right?

In his freshman year at Clemson he did not see much time on the field because we (Clemson) had Trevor Lawrence as a starter; however, when we traveled to Notre Dame for a huge matchup, Trevor Lawrence had Covid and could not play so Dabo gave DJ the start. The tigers lost this game in double overtime but DJ played well with 2 TDs and 439 yards passing. That was pretty much the extent of what we saw from DJ that year.

The next season rolled around and the next great Clemson starting quarterback was ready to go. Dabo was comparing him to Cam Newton with his running capabilities but even a better passer. We fell to Georgia first game of the year 10-3 and DJ had no touchdowns and a pick-six. The rest of the year was mediocre for the Tigers and especially for DJ but I still thought he would eventually be good. 

He started again the next year for Clemson in front of five-star Cade Klubnik but again just was not great but showed signs of being decent. I still thought he had some skill. My thoughts on his skill all changed when I went to the South Carolina vs. Clemson game last year. I had watched him play before in person but not as close as I did then because of where I was seated. I was right behind the Clemson bench where I could easily see all of our quarterbacks warming up. I am not kidding when I say this…he could not throw a spiral. It wasn’t just warmups either, it was the whole game. He would drop back to throw it to a receiver and just throw a duck like it was awful. Also, I am no expert but you would think since he was big he would run hard but no. He would try to juke out linebackers and then get tackled from behind . by a defensive linemen because he is slow and not quick at all. Dude you are not Johnny Manziel. You are 6’4’’ 250+ lbs., just use your size, lower your shoulder, and run them over. 

So, “How good is DJ Uiagalelei?” Not good. He cannot consistently throw a spiral or even use his size to his advantage. If he learns how to do those two things at Oregon State, he probably will be good but I don’t see that happening.

Are the Colorado Buffaloes a legit college football playoff contender?

To put it shortly, no. However, they are a very good college football team and anything can happen. Here’s why the Buffaloes will not make the college football playoff:

They have one of the hardest schedules in college football including Oregon, USC, Oregon State, UCLA, Washington State, and Utah. These are all currently top 25 teams in the country including 5th ranked USC, 12th ranked Utah, and 13th ranked Oregon. With only four teams making the college football playoff, it is very difficult to get in with one loss, but it can be done and usually happens with one out of the four teams per year. Making the college football playoff with two losses is unheard of and has never been done in the four team college football playoff era. I have my doubts about Colorado being able to beat Oregon, Utah, and especially USC.

Colorado opened the season by stunning everyone and beating TCU 45-42 who was a top 25 team to start the year but dropped after the loss. It was a great win for Colorado nonetheless, but TCU is just not that good and Colorado’s defense gave up 42 points to them. That is the real kicker, the Buffalo’s defense. Offensively, they have weapons including Deion Sander’s son, Sheduer Sanders, a four star running back out of high school, Dylan Edwards, and a five star out of high school and receiver and corner, Travis Hunter. Defensively, Travis Hunter is a very good defensive back but personally, no one else jumps out to me. After allowing 42 points in week one, Colorado’s defense responded in week 2 by holding Nebraska to only 14 points. However, Nebraska’s offensive coordinator is Marcus Satterfield who was the Offensive coordinator at South Carolina last year but was fired for doing an awful job. The only reason the Buffaloes held Nebraska to 14 points is because Nebraska’s offense, along with their offensive coordinator, is terrible. 

The Colorado Buffaloes will not make the college football playoff and are not a legit team due to their mediocre defense.