Al Golden Channeled His Inner Butch Jones

Al Golden made a poor game management decision. Miami had the ball on 4th and Goal from the five, trailing Cincinnati by 11. More than four minutes remained.

Miami needed a touchdown, a two-point conversion, and a field goal to tie the score. Whatever happened, the Hurricanes needed to score, get the ball back and score again. The order of the scores was irrelevant. Instead of taking the available field goal, Golden went for it on 4th down to get the touchdown. Miami did not convert. Game over.

How did Golden explain this gaffe? He used the nonsensical Butch Jones excuse. Miami was “playing good defense” and babbled something about the wind. (Video here)

Not only does Golden not explain his decision. It’s not even clear from the response he understood the question.

Close games can come down to one “or two plays.” Sometimes, a ball gets tipped the wrong (or right) way. Luck is indifferent. That happens.

One or two key decisions can also decide close games. In this case, Al Golden lowered the probability of Miami winning, because he didn’t understand a field goal scored first counted the same as a field goal scored second. Bad decisions are preventable and inexcusable.

Keeping track of time, timeouts, and situational scoring isn’t a “skill-set.” It’s common sense. Even if Al Golden or Butch Jones can’t deploy that in the moment, schools can pay someone who can for them.