FW*Telegram: Pulling 1st String...

LongJim · October 5, 2006

Couple of interesting comments from local coaches on the 'correct' time to pull the starters, and illustration of how trying not to score actually humiliates the other team.

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A Texas lone star would be pulled

By Trae Thompson

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

It's one thing for players to put up big numbers, another for the performance to humiliate another team.

National news was made in Matewan, W.Va., on Friday when running back Paul McCoy ran for 658 yards and 10 touchdowns in a 64-0 victory. There was debate about its status as a national record, but here locally, area coaches were in agreement that something like that wouldn't happen in Texas.

"I don't see that happening for two reasons," said Nolan Catholic coach Joe Prud'homme, whose team has won consecutive TAPPS Division I state titles. "There's very few teams I know of, or am aware of, who'd run it up like that. And two, the game is so sound down here and teams know how to tackle."

Most coaches were careful when discussing the topic, saying they didn't know all the facts and what allowed McCoy to remain in the game. They did say, though, that there is a cushion, varying between a 28- to 42-point lead, when starters would be pulled and backups would be put in.

South Grand Prairie coach David Fisher pointed out that it's important to develop that depth. If an injury occurred, a junior or senior backup would have invaluable experience.

"You need to honor those who signed up to play the rough old game of football," Trinity coach Steve Lineweaver said. "The No. 1 thing is to honor the other kids. That's just kind of the way we feel."

First-year North Side coach Chris Killian said it's important to give the proper effort to help an opponent try to improve. He remembers being in games in which he was "getting his lungs kicked in pretty bad" and an opponent would drive downfield, then down the ball or take a knee near the goal line.

"That's a little disrespectful," Killian said. "If you drive downfield and take a knee, what kind of message is that sending to a team as well?

"You don't want to humiliate a team, but you also don't want to run it up."

gksmith · October 6, 2006

Here is the way I would look at it.

#1 - With a 4 TD lead against an even or inferior opponent, put in your backups and pull the starters in the second half. Texas had the game sealed by halftime against North Texas. Brown put in his backups. That is what you do when you are honorable.

#2 - You can't really tell your team to "not score." If the backups are in the game and they drive down the field...score. Nebaska scored 90+ points against New Mexico or NMSU about 10 years ago. The coach pulled his starters after the 1st quarter. The backups need experience too.

#3 - And this is what I think MTSU did against us. Run out the clock with a knee if the game is sealed and less then 2 minutes left...and you can run out the clock. MTSU had 1st down inside the 10 against NT with a 4 TD lead and :30 left in the game. Take a knee and the game is over. They chose to run up the score in my opinion.

I saw in Sports Illustrated (Oct. 2, 2006, page 34) that a high school coach in Connecticut may get suspended because of running up the score...a RULE in Connecticut High School. The rule is obserd and the coach tried to follow the three rules listed above. I would not go so far as to aprove a "Score Management Rule" like in Connecticut for high school, but I do believe in not humiliating the other team by scoring a TD at the end of a blowout game.