NC State dropped a 31-28 lead against Vanderbilt in Nashville in one of the most insane, egregious ways imaginable, a total coaching failure that might finally mean Dave Doeren’s seemingly unfireable job is on the line. After Vanderbilt threw an interception near the goal line, trying to drive for a winning touchdown, the Wolfpack had the ball. All they needed was to kill the final six seconds to escape with an upset win. Seriously, six seconds.
The Play That Broke Everyone
So, they got the ball at their own 5-yard line with six ticks left. Most coaches in that spot would just take a safety right away, punt from the 20, and then you’d defend one play from about 60 yards. Risky, sure, but way less risky than what went down. NC State’s plan? Quarterback CJ Bailey was supposed to roll out, run around a little bit to kill time, then fall to the ground and protect the football. What *actually* happened? Bailey ran into a swarm of defenders, coughed up the ball in the end zone, and the Commodores recovered for a win they absolutely did not deserve. You have to be kidding me! It was an epic fumble, a total meltdown.
Blaming the Player Is a Bad Look
Doeren’s explanation? “It’s a play where you roll out, and you don’t get tackled and try to burn as much time as you can and fall to the ground and protect the football. He got hit and didn’t protect the football. The plan was to take the safety, try to run out the clock if we can, but there was no intent to run the football and get hit on that play.” Look, Doeren is basically throwing Bailey under the bus there, and that’s just lousy. Trying to run out the clock that close to the goal line was inherently riskier than just having Bailey take the snap and immediately take a safety. And if Bailey didn’t have crystal clear instructions on what to do, that’s 100% a coaching issue. ESPN Stats & Info reports this is only the second time in 1,047 games over the last 20 years a team has lost while leading in the final 10 seconds with possession. The only other one that comes to mind is that 2015 Michigan-Michigan State botched punt. This one was way dumber, and it’s a massive indictment on the head coach.
Dave Doeren is in his 14th season, known for grinding out a bunch of average 8-5s and 9-4s, never having two truly bad years in a row. He became like a tenured professor. Fans lost their enthusiasm a long time ago and don’t believe he can raise the ceiling. It felt like he was impossible to fire. But after this unbelievably boneheaded loss, you have to wonder if this is finally the egregious coaching failure that makes his job security vanish. What a way to lose a game, and what a way to put your career in jeopardy.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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