UW's Vegas Bowl Debacle: Sarkisian Crapping out as Husky Coach

Sark cost this team that game by not challenging the spot on that 4th and 1. The defensive line actually stood up Southwick and stopped him comfortably short of the marker. Who knows how a review will go, but the Huskies would've had a decent chance at getting that overturned. That was probably the most boneheaded coaching mistake of the season for Sarkisian. At least ask for a measurement. They have to give it to you, and it doesn't even cost a timeout. I know we've talked about that play, but it just kills me that our coach doesn't have the game awareness to understand that 4th and 1 deep in the fourth quarter of a one point game is sort of important.

Another reason that play troubles me is that it indicates that he's repeating old mistakes. Remember the UCLA game from his first year? The tight end catches a pass near the goal line that was obviously trapped. Sark conserves his timeouts, and doesn't challenge. Neuheisel wisely snaps the ball ASAP, scores, and goes on to win the game. The original problem was that when Sark was hired, we all complained that Washington was not a 'learn on the job' kind of program. The new and much bigger problem is that four years along, we're finding out that Sark isn't even doing that. He's not learning on the job. He's prone to the same gameday mistakes that plagued him in Year 1. This is bad.

I am not at all convinced that he will get much better, or that 2013 will be special. He will peak out as an occasional 8 or 9 win guy, but Seven Win Steve is just who he is. And that might just be good enough for this fanbase, as long as everybody has a nice time at the game. Stomp your feet all you want, Sark will be head coach here as long as he wants, as long as he can keep the December bowl losses rolling in.

You're assuming that there's no such thing as an inaccurate ball spot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY1b5zsHR-I

The 4th and 1 play is around 2:14:10. If you watch the scrum, the ball is in Southwick's left hand and you get a pretty clear look at where he is. He gets stopped initially, but then gets a second push. He gets lost in the shuffle from the angle of the original broadcast. The camera angle that we have is certainly inconclusive, but the replay booth would be able to use multiple angles.

The key is that the guy who has the best look is the line judge(s). Watch the line judge come running down from the top of the screen to spot the ball. He's inches short of the 32 the ENTIRE time. The second line judge runs up from the bottom of the screen and is closer to the 32, I'd even say right on the 32.

No, I don't think the officials conspired to screw Washington. I think it was too close to call accurately at full game speed, and that alone warranted a challenge.

It's totally plausible that UW loses the review. But the replay official might well have noticed that the two line judges came up with slightly different spots and been forced to make a call. We'll never know, and the fact that we'll never know is entirely Sark's fault. Washington had all 3 timeouts, and there was 2:36 on the clock. Sark could've easily afforded to risk a single timeout to clear the question up. If it was our last timeout, I get it. Hold on to the timeout and give your offense a chance. He had 3.

By the way, Washington ended the game with one timeout. Sark took it into the locker room with him.

DeLarry said:

Sark cost this team that game by not challenging the spot on that 4th and 1. The defensive line actually stood up Southwick and stopped him comfortably short of the marker. Who knows how a review will go, but the Huskies would've had a decent chance at getting that overturned. That was probably the most boneheaded coaching mistake of the season for Sarkisian. At least ask for a measurement. They have to give it to you, and it doesn't even cost a timeout. I know we've talked about that play, but it just kills me that our coach doesn't have the game awareness to understand that 4th and 1 deep in the fourth quarter of a one point game is sort of important.

Another reason that play troubles me is that it indicates that he's repeating old mistakes. Remember the UCLA game from his first year? The tight end catches a pass near the goal line that was obviously trapped. Sark conserves his timeouts, and doesn't challenge. Neuheisel wisely snaps the ball ASAP, scores, and goes on to win the game. The original problem was that when Sark was hired, we all complained that Washington was not a 'learn on the job' kind of program. The new and much bigger problem is that four years along, we're finding out that Sark isn't even doing that. He's not learning on the job. He's prone to the same gameday mistakes that plagued him in Year 1. This is bad.

I am not at all convinced that he will get much better, or that 2013 will be special. He will peak out as an occasional 8 or 9 win guy, but Seven Win Steve is just who he is. And that might just be good enough for this fanbase, as long as everybody has a nice time at the game. Stomp your feet all you want, Sark will be head coach here as long as he wants, as long as he can keep the December bowl losses rolling in.

God, I remember that UCLA play.

And I am glad Larry saw the the same thing I did. Sven, not so much.

vadawg said:

BAMA, I understand the OP's point, but to have over 50% of the posts on this thread be about that specific situation, to prove the point that Sark makes the same mistakes over and over is....?

Sark has shown very little ability to change his ways. The discipline is so lacking it's pathetic, as is the lack of toughness (physical and mental) of the team. And as DJ pointed out, the bodies of the team is underwhelming.

The reason there's a focus on that play is because 15 second stretches of video that crystallize exactly why a coach is not up to the job are actually very rare. If I were arguing that the officials robbed UW and focused on the ball spot to support that, you might have had a point. That would be a clear case of whistling past the graveyard. No, that discussion was focused completely on Sarkisian's mismanagement of the situation, and its consequences.

This issue at the end of the LV Bowl was a case in point explaining why Sarkisian is not the guy, and never will be. Never can be is probably more accurate. I'm not sure it's something he can learn; the guy just doesn't have head coach DNA. Anybody with a reasonable feel for the game would have managed that situation in a manner that at least put the team in a position to win.

That's the larger arc I think you're looking for, and that's what the spot discussion was all about. It was Sark in a nutshell: The man is a piss poor game manager with horrendous instincts, which turns him into a heavy liability that has to be overcome, even in games where the team is otherwise competitive.

you all act like the Sark 10yr extension isn't on the horizon....i mean, shit.....look at romar. UW loves mediocrity.

I agree with the criticisms of Sark but don't agree with the conclusion and especially the part about Mora. I wanted Mora badly in 2007. But thats over. Tonight is his second blowout against a mediocre opponent. Derek you are a great writer so please put aside your bias.Mora is no Chip.

Some great posts here on the 4th and 1. He had 3 TO's so definitely should have challenged, though one poster correctly pointed out that the guy who made the call was the only guy with the good angle on the play. And no BSU was not dicked on the 3rd down play. The guy caught the ball with his back to the line. The ball was clearly short.

The other huge management snafu was not calling TO after the 2nd to last play. Call TO so you have 30 seconds left. Instead, they let the clock run 10 seconds and then waste a down! The lack of time is why Price forced that throw. Otherwise he would have checked down or threw it out of bounds.

Sark won't be fired because the 2012-2013 teams will have enough talent to win 8-9 games. It's totally unrealistic that hes fired. Also, the HHB crowd isn't aware that expectations are much higher. Most fans are upset about 7-6 three years in a row. Sark's seat will get really hot if he doesn't win 9 games next year.

Clearly coaches on the Carroll tree have a big problem with discipline and keeping their teams motivated. This is Sark's biggest shortcoming as everyone now knows it. He needs to figure this out.

UW will improve because of better talent but Sark has shown no reason to believe he is a championship coach. That is the problem. With USC down, sanctions coming from UO, the next few years are a golden opportunity to place us back in the top 3 consistently. Unfortunately, Sark is not the guy who can take advantage. He'll be good enough not to get fired.

ACSlaterDawg said:

I agree with the criticisms of Sark but don't agree with the conclusion and especially the part about Mora. I wanted Mora badly in 2007. But thats over. Tonight is his second blowout against a mediocre opponent. Derek you are a great writer so please put aside your bias.Mora is no Chip.

Some great posts here on the 4th and 1. He had 3 TO's so definitely should have challenged, though one poster correctly pointed out that the guy who made the call was the only guy with the good angle on the play. And no BSU was not dicked on the 3rd down play. The guy caught the ball with his back to the line. The ball was clearly short.

The other huge management snafu was not calling TO after the 2nd to last play. Call TO so you have 30 seconds left. Instead, they let the clock run 10 seconds and then waste a down! The lack of time is why Price forced that throw. Otherwise he would have checked down or threw it out of bounds.

Sark won't be fired because the 2012-2013 teams will have enough talent to win 8-9 games. It's totally unrealistic that hes fired. Also, the HHB crowd isn't aware that expectations are much higher. Most fans are upset about 7-6 three years in a row. Sark's seat will get really hot if he doesn't win 9 games next year.

Clearly coaches on the Carroll tree have a big problem with discipline and keeping their teams motivated. This is Sark's biggest shortcoming as everyone now knows it. He needs to figure this out.

UW will improve because of better talent but Sark has shown no reason to believe he is a championship coach. That is the problem. With USC down, sanctions coming from UO, the next few years are a golden opportunity to place us back in the top 3 consistently. Unfortunately, Sark is not the guy who can take advantage. He'll be good enough not to get fired.

I pretty much agree with all that Slater, except I didn't want Mora badly in '07...I mainly just wanted Ty gone.

As of now, it seems like nine wins is about his ceiling. And 9-4 isn't a bad season, but it shouldn't be anywhere near the ceiling. I can see them going 9-4 or maybe blowing a game vs. an inferior team and ending up 8-5 next year, Sark staying, and in 2014, they'll win six or seven, and the excuse will be injuries, youth, schedule, or any combination of those three.