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+----- Thread: Speaking of the wishbone... (/thread-8476.html)
- Galactus - 06-18-2003 11:48 AM
I caught on ESPN classic last week a replay of the Southern Cal-Oklahoma game from 1981 in Los Angeles. USC had Marcus Allen and won 28-24 (I remember this game). Great intersectional game......the kind we don't get as much anymore. Anyway, Switzer and OU were running that classic wishbone.....and I mean to tell you, the Trojans could not stop it. I had forgotten how irritating and effective that danged wishbone was. I always hated those Switzer OU teams.......they were every bit the taunters and hot-doggers I remember them being......no class.
Anyhow.....it got me to remembering when college football caught up with the option oriented offenses. Teams like Miami in the late 80s just CRUSHED the wishbone with their speed. Soon, other teams caught up as well. I remember the Citrus Bowl in '88 when Clemson shut Switzer's bone completely down.
Who thinks the wishbone could work today? My opinion is that is would not......despite Switzer's claims a couple of months ago on ESPN radio that it would.....if he were running it. I just can't see that offense beating the top defenses in the country to the corners like it used to.
- Gamecock Jay - 06-18-2003 11:59 AM
To answer your question I think it could work if you could get the people to run it and that it was not the exclusive play in your playbook.. You have to have something to keep the safety and cornerbacks honest. Woody at CU would have been great in the wishbone because he could throw it just enough to keep them on there man. Just running the option-no but mixed in-yes.
- Galactus - 06-18-2003 12:07 PM
Yeah, I agree. That's the phenomenal thing about those OU teams. THAT'S ALL THEY RAN. Over and over again.......teams knew it was coming and they could not stop it. But I don't think that would work today.
- Lindsey - 06-18-2003 12:20 PM
I think the wishbone can work today if you have exceptional speed, great hands(no fumblitis) and a QB who can sell it.
The best I saw of the wishbone offense was 4-6 yds per carry with no big runs. Imagine how worn out even the fastest linemen are after a couple of quarters...of course the rules above do apply.
I would be curious to see how todays defenses could stack up against the better OU wishbone attacks.
- 1st and Goal - 06-18-2003 01:17 PM
The wishbone would not work in this day and age. There is simply to much speed on defense nowadays.
I don't like the wishbone or the option for that matter. Never have. The biggest problem with them is that if you are down by 14, 17, 21 and those are your primary offense's, it's damn near impossible to mount a comeback.
One example (I forget the year) was a USC-CU game up in tater town. Patrick Sapp was their QB and we were up big in the second half. They couldn't mount a serious comeback threat because they couldn't pass the ball very well. I was at the game and I remember that weak passing attack. I consisted of little dump passes and curl patterns and Sapp couldn't complete 1 out of 7.
I'm glad we don't use them alot.
- Galactus - 06-18-2003 02:18 PM
Yeah, you're right about that, 1st and goal.
That was one thing about those OU teams.......if you could ever get them down by 10 or more points, they had problems. Of course, they rarely ever were behind in most games!
I find the wishbone fascinating to watch, but I wouldn't want USC to ever go to it. I don't think there's any way for it to succeed in the SEC.......I think Holtz is doing the right thing in turning the offense over to Skip. The option attack Lou has tried on an occasion or two hasn't really shown us much.
- SamuraiTater - 06-19-2003 05:44 AM
Switzer's last two OU teams were true triple option teams. Probably the last there will ever be in college football. Jamelle Holliway was an elusive runner, but he was equally dangerous with his arm. They didn't rely on defense to win every game. They scored a good many points.
I remember a Barry Switzer quote which I read in The State the day before the game, "If we can hold the tigers to two touchdowns, our offense is sure to outlast them." :D :D :D
As I recall, on the last play of the game, Holliway took the snap and rolled out of the pocket to his right. He picked up his pace in an effort to distance himself from a freshman linebacker who was coming around the end on his blind side. But that freshman ran a 4.4 / 40 and quickly closed the gap. He yanked Holliway down by the back of his collar as an errant pass sailed harmlessly out of bounds. You might remember him. His name was Kirkland.
Final score: Tigers - 13 Sooners - 6
- 1st and Goal - 06-19-2003 07:54 AM
Don't you just love ESPN Classic?
- Galactus - 06-19-2003 09:31 AM
Samurai,
I remember that game distinctly. I have to tell you, that is one of the few times in my life I've ever pulled for Clemson. But I absolutely HATED Switzer and the Sooners........they were a classless bunch.......gang rapists and drug dealers. They were also famous for taunting their opponents on the field........and as I remember, there was some taunting going on before that Citrus Bowl.
Anyway, I knew the Sooners were going to have trouble with Danny Ford's defenses. Sure enough, they did. I thoroughly enjoyed that game.
I also loved it when Switzer whined and moaned after the game and acted like a complete moron. In a lot of ways, that game closed the book on the wishbone in major college football.Ford's program wasn't exactly clean......but at least Ford acted like a human being and was usually humble. Switzer was the lowest of the low, IMO.
The guy I remember running the bone the most is J.C. Watts.......big afro and all........hard to believe the guy is a politician today. He was the Sooner QB in the late 70s......
1st and goal,
ESPN Classic is the main reason I got digital cable. I watch it all the time. Especially during the summer when I'm anxious for football!!
