Coach Rash at Beechwood has something he has done in these really lopsided games. As many have pointed out, you can't tell kids not to play. If Beechwood is still moving the ball at will on offense late in a game, he will tell the officials to call a penalty on the offense, especially if they score a TD. I remember a playoff game a couple of years ago when Beechwood had their freshman team on the field for the last series of the game and they were going in for the score. I know there was at least one TD called back by penalty in the drive and there may have been two. Anyway, that is one way to keep from running up the score without telling your players to stop playing.

I can definitely see that side of it, especially at Highlands. The Highlands backups and JV could probably beat a varsity team that their one's were beating by 45+. What I don't like is when a losing coach leaves his one's in and then starts marching up and down the field on the winning team's reserves. I don't mind an extra series ... maybe two but then get your reserves in. Second, and more important, I think it is really unfair to the kids on the losing team sidelines to not get into the varsity game. They are working their tails off too and the coach should let them get a taste of Friday night lights.

 

I agree with you. I've often wondered why a coach so far behind would do that (although, as I pointed out above, I'm glad when he does it). I mean seriously, if your 1s are scoring easily against the winning team's 2s, are your 1s really getting any thing out of it? I don't think so. I really wonder why a coach would keep his 1s in during a playoff game (including when Mueller did just that in a blowout loss to Rockcastle back in 02). I appreciate the fact it's the last game for the seniors and may be their last opportunity to play football, but if it's about building a program to success, I'd leave my 1s in for a series or two, call a time out, replace the senior starters hopefully to a big round of applause from the fans for all the efforts and sacrifices made by the seniors, and get the next year players into the game to get them some experience on a Friday night for next year. I'm sure some will disagree with that thinking, but I've always been a "program before players" kind of person.

The Boyle fake punt against Highlands didn't bother me one bit. We should have defended it. Plus for the Highlands players returning, it taught them a valuable lesson and provided great motivation for the following year. Good things can come out of bad things if you just look at the situation from a proper perspective.

 

If more teams had this attitude there would be a lot less need for a running clock.

I agree with you. I've often wondered why a coach so far behind would do that (although, as I pointed out above, I'm glad when he does it). I mean seriously, if your 1s are scoring easily against the winning team's 2s, are your 1s really getting any thing out of it? I don't think so. I really wonder why a coach would keep his 1s in during a playoff game (including when Mueller did just that in a blowout loss to Rockcastle back in 02). I appreciate the fact it's the last game for the seniors and may be their last opportunity to play football, but if it's about building a program to success, I'd leave my 1s in for a series or two, call a time out, replace the senior starters hopefully to a big round of applause from the fans for all the efforts and sacrifices made by the seniors, and get the next year players into the game to get them some experience on a Friday night for next year. I'm sure some will disagree with that thinking, but I've always been a "program before players" kind of person.

There are a few teams out there that don't have any two's.

Sure. But throwing the ball increases the chance of scoring quickly. Thats why people throw the ball. If you are running the ball with your 2nd team and they cant stop it, then i'm sure its been a frustrating night...kind of like what cov cath experienced a week ago. When you have a large lead with a running clock, run the football. Its that simple. If you need to work on throwing the ball with your ones with a 40 point lead, why did you wait so long? With a three or four TD lead, thats different. If you're JV throws the ball against JV's, that can be considered ok. But then there is Saturday morning, right....

 

I can see your point, but the practice isn't for the current game, but the next one, or maybe several games out. It's the poor sportsmanship comment that rubs the wrong way....if you're blowing teams up, in particular late in the season when you might be pushing toward a state championship, then its' quite possible you need to work on your weaknesses in game situations as much as possible. As for the Saturday mornings, well that doesn't always work, just ask the HHS JV this year. 2 of the last 3 weeks Saturday's have been a toss up, so the JV, or in this case 2nd team, are getting less practice and those are the guys that have to step in if something happens to the 1's. I'm not saying that I like throwing the ball with a 40 point lead, but to call it out as poor sportsmanship discounts what the bigger picture might be. I enjoy the discussion though, unlike some others I've seen on here that have broken down. Thanks for the banter ! :banana:

Two things that the running clock helps are a) frustration cheap shots and b) just general safety. If a team is getting killed its only natural that the players will get more frustrated as time goes on. Emotional cheap shots increase as the losing team tries to fight back somehow - players tend to get 'chippy'. Its not right, but it is what happens in some cases. Also, if the mismatch is that bad then the teams may be a physical mismatch on the field. And the risk of injury increases as the game goes on. If was merely about embarrassment or running up the score - who cares. You can always just turn off the score and quit adding TDs on the scoreboard if that is the issue. But there are actual safety considerations for mercy rules in physical sports.

Two things that the running clock helps are a) frustration cheap shots and b) just general safety. If a team is getting killed its only natural that the players will get more frustrated as time goes on. Emotional cheap shots increase as the losing team tries to fight back somehow - players tend to get 'chippy'. Its not right, but it is what happens in some cases. Also, if the mismatch is that bad then the teams may be a physical mismatch on the field. And the risk of injury increases as the game goes on. If was merely about embarrassment or running up the score - who cares. You can always just turn off the score and quit adding TDs on the scoreboard if that is the issue. But there are actual safety considerations for mercy rules in physical sports.

 

This post gets back to my original question.

 

I don't disagree with the notion of a running clock. I just wondered about it in the context of "Coach A would never put a beat-down on Coach B"; when it always seemed to me that the running clock would help address the bolded that BGC brings up.

There are a few teams out there that don't have any two's.

 

Then obviously my comment would not apply to them.

This post gets back to my original question.

 

I don't disagree with the notion of a running clock. I just wondered about it in the context of "Coach A would never put a beat-down on Coach B"; when it always seemed to me that the running clock would help address the bolded that BGC brings up.

 

Tie back to your original question and my other comments - I vote sound philosophy.

 

The running clock allows (if they chose) the winning team to pull its starters without much fear of a miracle comeback. They know the clock will keep that from happening. So it at least gives them the option to 'go small' and by doing so maybe the other team can 'go small' as well and allow some lesser used seniors and underclassmen into the game. For the losing team the running clock is again a friend because if they do this and are still getting scored on the clock will still keep the score in double digits. Lets face it - getting beat and beat bad is one thing. But getting the century number or above hung on you is something that will hurt really bad for a while.

 

 

 

I scenario that I though about is this - theoretically you could let the coaches agree to NOT go running clock and maybe put the 2nd string or JV squads in and let them get some snaps. But that assumes a lot of real time communication between teams. Also, you do not really want an a formal HS varsity contest to become a scrimmage. So I think the letting the clock run is good. But I do believe it should only be in the 2nd half. At least get to half time under normal clock.

As of late, it hasn't been an issue for Fort Campbell, but last season there were plenty of folks that thought Fort Campbell was running up the score.....even with most of the starters out.

 

Later.