Watching College Football Games

For most fans, Saturdays are special, especially when it comes to watching games from can to can’t. It wasn’t always like that. Growing up, we only got to see “our team” play on TV a couple of times a year. The rest of the time, we had to listen to the games on radio.

That changed in 1984, when Georgia and Oklahoma sued and beat the NCAA under the Sherman Antitrust statute for the rights to negotiate their own TV contracts. Soon after, almost every game was broadcast.

It’s been said quite often not to plan weddings, reunions or even funerals in the South on Saturdays, IF you want anybody to attend. This is where “Rent-a Dad” and “Rent-a-Friend” does their best business.

For years before football season, I hosted a “Football 101” class with the subtitle” How to watch and understand college football games.” This isn’t at all meant to minimize fans’ understanding of the game but to simply give those readers who might be interested a different way to watch and appreciate an added way to enjoy the greatest game on turf.

One of the first things to look for are the number of defensive players “in the box.” The “box” is the area from the offense’s tight end to the other tight end. Usually there will be either 6 in the box or seven in the box. Watch the games tomorrow. If there are 5 or 6 in the box, the offense will usually run the ball. If the box is “loaded” with 7, look to pass.

Today’s game is a game of “matchups.” In 1986, Joe Kines Bama defense played with the same defensive personnel: 3 down linemen, 4 linebackers and 4 defensive backs. Every down. Now, each side of the ball is seeking a match-up in their favor. There are scouting reports indicating the “weak link” on defense. Offenses will use movement and motion trying to get a favorable match up. This is where offensively Lane Kiffin, Steve Sarkisian and Jeff Brohm are in a class of their own.

This is also where “personnel groupings” come into focus offensively. If ever at a game, look for a defensive assistant on the sideline, holding up a yellow card with a 2-digit number on it. The first number indicates the number of running backs in the game. The second digit indicates the number of tight ends in the game.

For example: Alabama might start the game with 12 personnel. This means they will have one running back and two tight ends in the game. By doing quick math, that means the Tide would have two wide receivers in there. The next play might be run using 11 personnel. One of the tight ends would go to the sideline and an extra wide receiver enters. In true passing situations, look for 10 personnel: one running back and no tight ends. That means 4 wide outs would be spread over the field.

In 10 personnel, sometimes the team uses what’s called “empty.” This means the running back splits out as the fifth receiver. Teams try to get a mismatch with a slower linebacker covering a fast running back.

Now, go to the defensive side of the ball. Defensive assistants in the press box have charts in front of them, indicating the jersey numbers and their offensive positions. For example, numbers 82, 89, 80, 38 and 49 are all tight ends. The defense matches the offense personnel. Five defensive backs is called nickel. Six defensive backs is called dime personnel. New rules allow the defense to take their time and substitute matching personnel.

As far as the type of offensive system, the vogue style today is called RPO (Run, pass, option,) The quarterback reads certain defensive players and reacts to their actions to decide whether to run the ball or pass it. For example, if the “read” is the linebacker and he rushes in to tackle the running back, the quarterback pulls the ball and throws a quick pass in the area that was vacated by the linebacker. If the backer retreats, the QB hands the ball off.

If the quarterback is deep, it’s called shotgun. If he is closer with a running back nearby, it’s called “pistol.” When watching the game, look for the center to point and indicate the player who is the “Mike” linebacker. Mike means middle backer. This tells the linemen who to block. In some offenses, the quarterback will make the call. Listen closely and you will hear him point and say: “54 is the Mike.”

As for jersey numbers, today there are multiple dual numbers (two different players wearing jersey number 13). It’s permissible BUT they can’t be on the field at the same time. On offense, it’s mandatory for there to be 5 players wearing jersey numbers 50 through 79 on the offensive line. These 5 players are ineligible to catch passes.

Speaking of scoring, always look to obtain the following leads: 9 points, 17 points and 25 points. Nine means a 2-score lead, 17 means 3 scores and 25 equals 4 scores. Often, a team might be up 7-0 and on the one-yard line about to score. Many coaches will kick a field goal to go up by 2 scores. Trailing by two scores totally changes the  play calling strategies.

The most overlooked football factor involves the use of timeouts. Each team is given 3 timeouts plus the 2-minute warning at the end of the first half and end of the game. Tomorrow, watch how important timeouts are at the end of the game. In last week’s Ohio State loss to Texas, the Buckeyes were out of timeouts and couldn’t stop the clock late in the game. If they hadn’t wasted timeouts earlier, the offensive strategy would have been quite different.

For the wives who want to impress their husbands, walk into the man cave and proclaim in your loudest voice: “Anybody with half-a football brain can see that we are in 13 personnel, and they are playing 5 in the box. Why are we continuing to throw the ball? It would be different if we were in 10 personnel. Just not 13.”

You will be nominated for “football wife of the year.”

I would vote for you.