Fortuna Files: Why not go for it?
Big-game losses won't discount you from the championship race. And now coaches seem to be loosening up in those games.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Twenty-one thoughts on Week 1 as I depart for Miami and another top-10 matchup.
Programming note: We will trot this weekly column out on Sundays from now on, even if this week’s, thanks to the Sunday and Monday games, ends up being something of an abbreviated version. I will also include my FWAA-NFF Super 16 ballot at the bottom every week after this one, as those are not due until all Week 1 games are complete.
1. As Texas players sauntered toward each other to sing “The Eyes of Texas” after losing at Ohio State, freshman defensive lineman Isaiah Coleman dapped up Arch Manning and a few other teammates, practically unmoved by everything that had just transpired for three hours. “Nothing to hang our head about,” he said. “We back to the drawing board.”
2. A few minutes later, Steve Sarkisian essentially said the same thing. His relatively upbeat demeanor after losing a close game to the No. 3 team in the nation was striking, and it will take some getting used to for those of us who would be inclined to immediately write off a team like the Longhorns after a big-game loss like this one. But as Sark said: “These are two good teams. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see them again in December or January down the road.”
3. Here’s my question: Does the lack of crippling consequences alleviate the pressure on these coaches in big games? Texas, despite all of its offensive struggles, went for it on fourth down five times on Saturday, including on its opening drive. That first try ended up being the Horns’ only fourth-down conversion of the day — and the fifth try was out of necessity, on their last offensive snap of the game — but is there something to be said for throwing caution to the wind knowing that, in theory, you won’t be penalized all that harshly for losing against a good opponent?