Empty the Call Sheet (Nov. 3)
Yogi's weekly Sunday newsletter written each week on the plane home from his game
We have two sons, Zayn and Makaiye. They love to play with every type of ball, tackle one another relatively often and build things. No surprise there, as their Mom is an accomplished designer who has built cars, video game controllers and most recently, pet products with her amazing company KindTail.
I love peeking around the corner at Zayn and Makaiye as they build Legos. They get so immersed in it, seemingly in flow state, and at the end are so proud of that day's project. And at some point, almost every time they build something an errant football knocks it down.
What follows is an element of surprise, frustration and sometimes resolution. After a few tears they eventually begin to rebuild their proud sculpture. As they both continue to grow I’ve recently noticed that when they see it fall to the ground, they’ve taken a breath and begun again.
As I’ve watched college football over the past 10 weeks, the same can be said for coaches early in their tenures. DeShaun Foster, Jedd Fisch and Kenny Dillingham have been building their respective programs in their own unique fashion. On one level, they are building the framework and foundation to a beautiful structure and simultaneously they are navigating a version of our sons’ Lego projects where an errant football knocks it over every single week. Those head coaches might argue every single day.
But like any leader, or any builder, they continue to stack days, or Lego’s one day at a time.
This past weekend all three of those programs watched as their foundation became a bit stronger, their core a bit tighter and their home a little bit more connected.
I was in Lincoln, Nebraska as the Bruins went into one of college football's most iconic stadiums and took it to the Cornhuskers. It was Nebraska’s 402nd straight sellout and on Halloween weekend the place was rocking. At times, so were the Bruins. They started the game with 14 and 11 play drives to take an early 10-0 lead. That would grow to 27-7 before Matt Rhule’s team clawed back, with a chance to win it on their final drive. The Bruins would make a phenomenal interception to seal the game and give DeShaun Foster a signature win in his first season as head coach.
In the West Coast nightcap, the Washington Huskies jumped on the USC Trojans early only to watch Lincoln Riley’s team run the ball with efficiency in the 2nd half and take the lead. As things looked to fall apart, this UW team found a way to score and then make the back-to-back 4th down stops in the Red Zone to seal the win. Their victory would give Jedd Fisch and his staff their second signature win as they rebuild this proud program in his first season as head coach.
Sandwiched between those games was 2nd year coach Kenny Dillingham’s squad visiting Stillwater, Oklahoma. 16 years go, I called my lone game at Oklahoma State when Brandon Weeden was their quarterbrack and that stadium is as loud as you’d imagine when you see it on television. Saturday’s game had a weather delay at halftime that was 2 hours and 39 minutes and Coach Dillingham kept his team focused and prepared to execute regardless of circumstance. The man who was executing was Cam Skattebo, who once again led the way with 153 rushing yards and 121 receiving yards, which was the 3rd most scrimmage yards by a Sun Devil since 1996 (the 2nd most being Skattebo earlier this season!). Most importantly, it also meant that the Sun Devils would be going bowling and also confirmed that sport media is often wrong when it comes to preseason rankings. The outside felt this program was going to struggle mightily, as they were chosen to finish 16th in the new 16-team Big 12 Conference. Coach Dillingham and his staff created their own narrative, trusted their rebuild and when adversity showed up, they didn’t flinch.
UCLA, UW and ASU have all fallen on challenging times over the past year in college football, none similar to one another. UCLA hired a coach who never called a play but had always excelled leading the players he coached and the teammates he competed with. UW had to replace a coach who led them to the National Championship game and returned only 2 starters from that team. ASU had to navigate NCAA sanctions and the fallout from their previous staff. Yet regardless of circumstance, the men leading those proud programs chose to look at their situation, assess what the next, right step was and take it.
Or as my two sons would say, built it, one Lego at a time.
Some quick takeaways from this past Saturday:
Ethan Garbers told our Big Ten Network crew that he was clocked at 19.7 mph on his 49-yard touchdown run at Rutgers a few weeks ago. Saturday, he took one 57 yards although it did not finish in the end zone. I don’t think it was at 19.7 mph but I know I can’t wait to ask him what it was.
Cam Ward is so much fun to watch. On upset alert, Miami was down 28-17 in the 3rd quarter only to go on a 36-3 run to end the game. With a month left before casting my Heisman ballot Cam Ward is easily on it.
It was a good weekend to be a Coug. With Texas Tech beating Iowa State, Pitt losing to SMU and Clemson losing to Louisville, Washington State walked out of this weekend in as good of shape as they could have asked for 48 hours ago. With the first College Football Playoff Rankings to be released on Tuesday night, the Cougs should be squarely in the conversion for that final at-large berth. Will style points matter? The committee always says no but with this unique situation it’s a worthwhile conversation. We will have that Monday on the Y-Option podcast.
Speaking of Tuesday, it is also Election Day. Let’s all do our civic duty and vote. I’ll be taking our boys to the polls with me. My Dad used to take us and I’m competing to carry on that tradition.
Chip Kelly is STILL an elite playcaller. I watched the Ohio State vs Penn State game back on my flight home and how he attacks defenses with his run game is a thing of beauty. More on that this week on the Y-Option podcast as well.
Indiana is for real. Let’s assume the CFP committee thinks that too, as what Curt Cignetti has done in Year 1 is fascinating and unheard of for anyone in Year 1 at a place that is not a blue blood. If they win again this weekend against Michigan at home, Y-Option’s co-founder Jim Thornby will finally explain how B1G tie-breakers work.
The Ducks remain the most improved team in the nation. They went into the Big House and made it quiet with relative efficiency. Lookout, as Dan Lanning’s squad continues to get stronger as the weeks go by and look like the nation’s best team.
Dan Lanning with Dillon Gabriel following Oregon’s 38-17 win at Michigan (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
I’m off to our oldest’s flag football game where we lead the league in high fives and fist bumps, but have struggled moving the ball. Wish us luck.
It’s wild to think we are in November and I’m sure wherever you reside this week will be one of stress, maybe some anxiety and some excitement. Whether that's due to college football, the election, or your kids Lego project I’d offer one piece of advice–stay steady.
Much love and many thanks,
Yogi
Lincoln Riley's failure of imagination is astounding. As if three line plunges and a feeble pass inside the 10 yard line was not bad enough, the decision not to kick a field goal with over 5 minutes to play and being down only 5 points strongly suggests that someone else should be calling the plays.
I listened to Lincoln Riley's misbegotten post game presser a few minutes ago. The old bit about "so much went right.....but unfortunately we lost" Someone needs to tell Coach success in football is measured by WINNING games. I remember heavyweight boxer Jerry Quarry saying after one of his many close losses in a big fight, "I feel like everything is coming together." A disgusted member of his team commented, "there's something wrong with Jerry that can't be fixed." I finally understand exactly..... and I mean exactly.... what he meant.