College GameDay host blasts Miami coaching decisions vs. Georgia Tech

Miami seemed to have its game against Georgia Tech won last weekend until a costly coaching decision, followed by a fumble and bad defense, led to the Yellow Jackets pulling off the stunning win in the final seconds.

The Hurricanes could have taken a knee and ended the game as Georgia Tech had no timeouts left and there were less than 40 seconds remaining. Instead, they ran a plan, fumbled, and Georgia Tech scored a few plays later.

ESPN College GameDay host Rece Davis blasted Miami head coach Mario Cristobal and his staff for not taking a knee and ending the game when they had the chance.

“This is the quintessential ‘dumb loses more than smart wins.’ … You’re not quite sure how to run out the rest of the clock. There’s 33 seconds at the end of the play. It was third-and-10. Take the knee, drain it, let the clock run down. You don’t have to punt it,” Davis said on the ESPN College GameDay podcast.

“A coach’s job – over and over again they say, ‘We want to put our players in position to be successful.’ And when you bring risk into the equation, unnecessary risk into the equation, you are not doing that. And you are putting yourself in jeopardy of becoming the 2023 Patron saint of ‘dumb loses more than smart wins.'”

Miami snapped the ball from the Georgia Tech 30 with a 20-17 lead and 34 seconds remaining. Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke took the snap and handed the ball off to running back Donald Chaney Jr., who was stripped.

Chaney’s elbow was close to being down on the play. However, after a review, officials determined that “the ruling on the field stands.”

Georgia Tech took over at its own 26 with 26 seconds remaining. Seconds later, Yellow Jackets receiver Christian Leary caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Haynes King with two seconds remaining to lift Georgia Tech to the win. Leary beat Miami star safety Kam Kinchens on the play.

“Not only did you put Donald Chaney Jr. in position not to be successful, you also put [safety Kam Kinchens) not in a position to be successful, because he’s on the sideline. He thinks the game’s over. He doesn’t think he’s coming back in. Now you have to be ready; I understand all of that. But mentally you think your job is completed and you’re getting out of there with a victory,” Davis said.

“And then they make a decision that puts you in a bad spot and they pay for it. Quintessential ‘dumb loses more than smart wins.'”

There is still plenty left for the 4-1 Hurricanes to play for, but there’s no doubt that Saturday’s loss was disappointing and could have been avoided.

“Now instead of Miami talking about their undefeated start and this great showdown that they’ve got coming up against North Carolina, now we’re talking about Mario Cristobal mismanaged the clock against Stanford in ’18, Mario Cristobal burned a timeout on the first play of the game against Auburn a few years ago. … And now look what he’s done at Miami,” Davis said. “And that is the discussion, instead of your team.”