BOCA RATON – FAU offensive coordinator Travis Trickett would like another shot at making what became a controversial play call.
Leading 21-16 in the third quarter and facing a fourth-and-1 at the Thundering Herd 20 in Saturday’s loss at Marshall, and with FAU enjoying success running the ball between the tackles, Trickett opted for a toss sweep to Kerrith Whyte, who slipped while making a cut and lost three yards.
“No question I wish I had that call back,” Trickett said.
“They were submarining us on the goal line in short yardage – like diving – but no question as soon as we didn’t get it, I said, ‘My fault.’ I told the kids, ‘My fault.’”
With Trickett once again expecting Marshall defensive linemen to go low to take away the legs of Owls’ offensive linemen, there figured to be more room on the perimeter.
Trickett said that play call was one of three calls he would like to have back from the Marshall game, but did not divulge the other two.
Media and fans expressed criticism of both the play selection and the personnel. Running backs Buddy Howell and Devin Singletary were both on their way to eclipsing the 100-yard mark, while Whyte had only one carry in the game prior to the play.
Trickett said Buddy Howell was dealing with a sore shoulder, which factored into the call.
“At the end of the day, bad call, we’ve got to get a better call,” Trickett said. “It’s not the kids, though. It’s not Kerrith Whyte. It’s not the kids. It’s on me.”
FAU rushed for a season-high 281 yards against Marshall, but three points in that situation would have allowed the Owls to attempt a short, game-tying field goal in the closing minutes rather than being forced to try to convert a fourth-and-3.
That play resulted in Kalib Woods dropping a Jason Driskel pass that would have given FAU a first down. The Owls never got the ball back, losing 27-21.
On Monday FAU coach Charlie Partridge said the decision forego the third-quarter 37-yard field goal attempt in favor of taking the chance on picking up the first down was the right call.
“The way we were running the ball it really felt like we had a good shot to get the play,” Partridge said. “We ran an outside play. We’d been running inside so much and with that formation we had run early in the game they had shown they were pinching everybody inside, so that was the reason behind the play call that we made.”
Woods, too, had the back of his offensive coordinator, bringing up the third-quarter call on Wednesday without being prompted.
“That fourth-and-1 play where we were ran the pitch, people don’t understand why that play was called or people don’t understand why Kerrith was in, not Buddy,” Woods said. “I think every time we ran that play this year it’s been positive yards.”
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