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Home > Blogs > RedHawk rumblings | Miami University sports news > Archives > 2009 > October > 19 > Entry
Miami coach looks at last weekend’s non-sack
By Pete Conrad
One of the more unusual developments in a play in recent memory for Miami University football took place in the first quarter of last week’s 28-7 loss at Ohio when strong safety Jordan Gafford had Bobcats quarterback Theo Scott wrapped up in his arms and after a few seconds released him without taking him to the ground.
Scott, still on his feet, scrambled far to his left and threw an incomplete pass but was hit out of bounds and Miami was penalized with a personal foul. A few plays later the Bobcats scored their first touchdown.
“We get a roughing the passer penalty on No. 93 (Martin Channels),” Miami coach Michael Haywood said, “so instead of third-and-100 they have first-and-goal (at the 3-yard line).”
The genesis of Gafford’s part in the play is the NCAA’s desire to protect its quarterbacks by creating stricter rules about hitting and tackling quarterbacks.
Gafford apparently was trying not to commit a personal foul because he thought Scott might have gotten rid of the ball.
“The quarterback does a good job of faking throws by pumping his hands,” Haywood said, who added that he told Gafford afterward “If you think that’s happening, look up and club his hand (to knock the ball loose if it’s still there). They can’t call it if you club his hand.”
It’s ironic that the play ended with a personal foul by another player when a personal foul was exactly what Gafford was trying to avoid.
Haywood did not rip Gafford for the mistake. In fact, he made it clear that Gafford, a team co-captain, “is a great kid and wonderful player” who rarely makes mistakes.
Besides, it’s difficult to blame a player whose instinct was not to throw an opposing player to the ground unnecessarily and perhaps hurt his own team with a red-zone penalty.
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