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People always say this, but it is actually true? Has any coach ever been fired for missing too many fourth downs?
by symbaton 13y ago
People always say this, but it is actually true? Has any coach ever been fired for missing too many fourth downs?
- slg 13y agoI can't think of one off the top of my head. Mike Smith was under a lot of pressure a little while back for his aggressive decisions on 4th down (that were statistically correct IIRC) but wasn't actually fired. However, the obvious counter to your question is how many coaches really go for it frequently on fourth downs? Most coaches just follow the conventional wisdom unless they are already in a desperate situation like Ron Riviera or they have built up a lot of good will like Bill Belichick.
- hkmurakami 13y agoSo it sounds like fans and the media need to grasp EV first before coaches will be allowed to take the appropriate risks.
- judk 13y agoNot even missing too many. Just missing more visibly, compared to coaches with equivalent records.
- spinlock 13y agoAsk Nick Saban how trying to kick a field goal with 1 second left in the Baylor game is working out for him. There are plenty of people saying that any other coach would be fired.
- aero142 13y agoNick Saban can call any number of schools right now and be the highest paid coach in NCAAF. He has a reputation for going for it on 4th down and taking risks. Also, it was Auburn, not Baylor.
- javanix 13y agoThat particular outcome had happened less than 5 other times in the history of the modern NCAA. 99/100 times that game ends with either an Alabama win or O.T. He hardly made a controversial decision.
- spinlock 13y agoThe bar that I was watching the game in exploded when that happened. You wouldn't believe the number of people calling him all sorts of names for making that call. And, I think it was a good call too. The point is that being risk averse is the right way for a coach to keep his job.