By Michael Hollingshead
I admit it; I sat there waiting for something bad to happen.
Down 20-13 with less than five minutes left and the Cougars driving in hopes of scoring the tying touchdown, I figured a fumble, an interception or a series of penalties would once again thwart BYU''s hopes.
Don''t get me wrong, I wasn''t pulling for UNLV, but things like that just happen this year.
But this time they didn''t.
Instead, BYU went error free for the final four minutes, pulled out a game-tying TD as Matt Berry pushed across the goaline on third down and scored again in overtime for a much needed win.
And to be honest, I never had that sick feeling in my stomach sensing a screw up. I don''t know where it came from, but ever since I can remember, I''ve had this innate sense of pre-cognition relating to BYU miscues.
When they''re going to fumble, I''ll call it a play before. When we get to the 3-yard line on a huge pass play, I know we won''t be able to punch it in before we kick the field goal. My friends can''t stand it. Neither can I.
But Saturday, my feelings were mute, and the Cougars finally got something to work for them.
The secret to their success?
Against the Rebels, coach Gary Crowton made the best, and most likely painful, play-calling decision of his career: He gave it up. Co-offensive coordinator Robbie Bosco took on the full responsibility and guided a mistake-rattled offense to its first win in three weeks.
Of course, give credit to the players who were able to execute the plays, but things worked because they were the right plays.
Bosco realized what tools he had, what his players could do and, most importantly, what plays the offense could execute. The result: a 27-20 victory just in time to restore hopes for a winning season and possibly a bowl.
Perhaps the biggest on-field victory of the season was the call for the quarterback keeper on third and inches. Fans have been waiting for it for two years, but someone in the coaching staff thinks it''s repulsive.
With BYU driving for the final touchdown, Berry got the call twice and twice he converted, the second time being good for a touchdown with 29 seconds left.
Crowton was thinking deep pitch, but fortunately he wasn''t allowed to call the play.
Instead of trying to throw the deep ball on first and second downs, Bosco called for Berry''s strength: short hitch patterns and passes in the flat that move the ball.
While Crowton stood there salivating over the playbook like a Mormon wanting to break his fast, Bosco was making smart, consistent calls.
Crowton was thinking halfback pass, Bosco called an off-tackle run to Whalen for 11 yards.
'No Gary, you can''t have any cereal until we break our fast.'
Crowton was thinking screen pass, Bosco called a tight-end crossing route.
'Young man, get your hand out of the cookie jar, we are not eating yet.'
Saturday, Crowton finally took on his role as a head coach and managed the game - both sides of the ball - and didn''t get caught up in the nitty gritty of each play call.
Crowton admits it was the right thing to do:
'It helps me see the whole game,' he said. 'I can get a better picture of the game.'
Let''s just hope the fast continues through the next three games. Keep the cookies locked up, hide the milk and don''t let Gary wonder into the kitchen.