But seriously think about what it would be like as players on a team if in the game your head coach tells a player to NOT take the quick TD when a play breaks open because it would be
taking the lead "too fast" . . . when you are behind!! It is completely different then the VT game when CPJ purposefully worked very slowly down the field in a
tied ballgame so as to score with no time on the clock. Also, same with telling the defense to just let UNC score "because it was inevitable" and "everyone knew they were going to drive down the field and win it with no time left." Yes, we fans all felt that way. But seriously try and think about being the head coach and telling your defense to just let UNC get a TD in one play intentionally? That is to give up a lead intentionally! CPJ did this "let them score" against UGA that one game because we were down (losing!) by a point at the time . . . and Richt admitted to being outcoached there because he had not told his offense to just get a first down and take a knee rather than run in for the TD.
Seriously, it is unfathomable for me to think of a head coach saying that to his defensive players and coaches. Talk about causing a rift between "o" and "d"?
It is totally different at the end of a game when you are
losing first (hence Smelter can't take a knee) and then have a lead (hence the defense can't "let" the offense score quickly). The game played out where the Defense
had to stop UNC to get the win. Sure, none of us had
any confidence that they could actually do it. But you cannot be a head coach of a
team and do what us fans may want even if it seems coldly rational and pragmatic as a way to win. (Lots of italics here, I feel strongly about this I guess
).