Sportsmanship: What is running up the score?

Shane P. Hallam · 09-04-2011, 06:48 PM

Figured this could be a nice debate to have as Akron's coach accused Ohio State of bad sportsmanship after the 42-0 loss.

http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/akron-...ter-game-29838

What is running up the score? When is it allowed? Is there a time to take your foot off the gas in college football?

Personally, I think Ianello was incorrect, but definitely understand the sentiment RIGHT after a game and feeling that way. Later, I'm sure his better judgement would have prevailed, heat of the moment statement. In college ball, I'm torn. It isn't the pros yet, so being up 70 and throwing a lot isn't exactly right. But, if a team has put in their back-ups and wants to give a young QB and WRs some work, I don't see that as being a bad thing...

Bob Sanders Dreadlock · 09-04-2011, 06:54 PM

I've always thought if the losing team continues to put their starters on the field the winning team can do the same. Also in the BCS era i feel like you need to pound a team into the ground. If Ohio State put in their 2nd string and Akron managed to get some points it would not look as good.

sbh15 · 09-04-2011, 07:20 PM

yeah, as far as college football goes, there is no such thing as running up the score. honestly, it would take a pretty severe display to even say i think a nfl team is running up the score.

tjsunstein · 09-04-2011, 08:06 PM

Running up the score doesn't exist in the BCS era when margin of victory counts.

Rob S · 09-04-2011, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjsunstein

Running up the score doesn't exist in the BCS era when margin of victory counts.

Agree with this.

Also, in the NFL running up the score is a moot point. They are getting paid to play, so who the hell cares. Find a new line of work that you are better at if your ego can't handle the beating. I would tell the same thing to someone in finance getting depressed because their MD yells at them....either work to correct your inadequacies and improve or gtfo if you can't handle it.

Hurricanes25 · 09-04-2011, 08:35 PM

What TJ said.

The only time I would have a problem with running up the score is if a big time program was doing it to a FCS team.

hawkeye123 · 09-04-2011, 08:35 PM

mellojello · 09-05-2011, 12:01 AM

Honestly, I don't ever remember Pete running up the score and they blew out a lot of good teams during his era. Pete played to get the W.

Not a fan of running up the score, not at all, but I understand those of you in support of it.

jrdrylie · 09-06-2011, 10:02 AM

Bob Sanders Dreadlocks is right. If the opposing team is still using their starters, still throwing 80% of the time, and still trying to come back, their should be no complaining about running up the score. We saw in the Baylor-TCU game why you can't take your foot off the gas. The clock ticks slower in college than it does in the NFL so comebacks are much more likely.

JoeJoeBrown · 09-06-2011, 10:57 AM

Agree with the sentiment here: Running up the score isn't bad when margin of victory matters.

And if a winning team is playing their 2nd-4th string, but still running aggressive plays, that isn't a bad thing. Those kids worked their asses off all summer as well, and getting some live game play time is a reward.

If you are the losing team and you don't like it, make them stop.

murdamal86 · 09-06-2011, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeJoeBrown

Agree with the sentiment here: Running up the score isn't bad when margin of victory matters.

And if a winning team is playing their 2nd-4th string, but still running aggressive plays, that isn't a bad thing. Those kids worked their asses off all summer as well, and getting some live game play time is a reward.

If you are the losing team and you don't like it, make them stop.

+ rep

i've always maintained that too. You want to get your back ups a chance to run places and get game experience for two reasons: they've worked hard and earned it and also...injuries happen so having your back ups equipped with game experience helps A LOT.

JoeJoeBrown · 09-06-2011, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murdamal86

+ rep

i've always maintained that too. You want to get your back ups a chance to run places and get game experience for two reasons: they've worked hard and earned it and also...injuries happen so having your back ups equipped with game experience helps A LOT.

Exactly! Having experienced, quality depth is what separates the big boys from the rest of the pack.

This Gregg Doyel article is about the Akron coach whining. Pretty topical, even if Doyel is a webhit troll of the highest order.

keylime_5 · 09-06-2011, 11:33 AM

I haven't heard yet exactly what Ianello was upset about. Was it having Carlos Hyde in there trying to get him 100 yards or was it Ohio State continuing to blitz in the 4th quarter up by 6 touchdowns? We had our backups in the game the entire 4th quarter and most of the 3rd quarter. We were passing a lot because we had a true freshman QB and true freshman WRs in the game that we need to be ready to be integral parts of our offense in the conference games.

I think when you have a shutout gonig there's nothing wrong with trying to secure a goose egg on the scoreboard. It's one thing to keep your starters in the game late with a huge lead, it's another to have backups in there and not let up on the gas.

tjsunstein · 09-06-2011, 12:01 PM

If you're a head coach and you're complaining about a team running up the score, that just means you're not doing your job well enough. Stop the other team or start applying for desk jobs.

JHL6719 · 09-06-2011, 12:40 PM

Nobody calls off the dogs faster than Nick Saban does. He doesn't seem to let the "margin of victory" and the BCS dictate his ethics as a coach.

I've seen him do it over and over again, but the best example was probably Alabama being up huge against a top 10 Michigan St. team in the Capital One Bowl about 7 or 8 months ago.

Saban had his 3rd stringers in there before the end of the 3rd quarter and even the 3rd stringers were ripping off huge touchdown runs... prompting Saban to throw his hands up as if to say "what else can I do"...

I don't believe in running up the score, but when you stopped throwing the football at halftime, and have your 3rd stringers on the field busting off 50+ yard TD runs, it's because the other team has had enough and just wants to hit the tunnel.

JoeJoeBrown · 09-06-2011, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHL6719

Nobody calls off the dogs faster than Nick Saban does. He doesn't seem to let the "margin of victory" and the BCS dictate his ethics as a coach.

I've seen him do it over and over again, but the best example was probably Alabama being up huge against a top 10 Michigan St. team in the Capital One Bowl about 7 or 8 months ago.

Saban had his 3rd stringers in there before the end of the 3rd quarter and even the 3rd stringers were ripping off huge touchdown runs... prompting Saban to throw his hands up as if to say "what else can I do"...

I don't believe in running up the score, but when you stopped throwing the football at halftime, and have your 3rd stringers on the field busting off 50+ yard TD runs, it's because the other team has had enough and just wants to hit the tunnel.

Exactly. MSU had given up after getting their arses kicked in the first half.

I remember the OSU-UF debacle where UF owned OSU and Meyer called off the dogs at the end of the 3rd quarter. That game could have been a lot worse.

Smooth Criminal · 09-06-2011, 02:04 PM

Thats a funny accusation considering Ohio State was constantly rotating guys to see what they had with people suspended. Not like they were whipping the ball around late.

But I don't care about running up the score at all. Margin of victory and style points matter, so go for it. If you have a problem with it, stop them.

jth1331 · 09-06-2011, 04:14 PM

To me in college football, running up the score would be like having your starters in the 4th quarter passing the ball up 6+ scores.

fenikz · 09-06-2011, 04:21 PM

only time I consider it running up the score is if they game is entirely over say up 24+ with 2 minutes left

ellsy82 · 09-07-2011, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Sanders Dreadlock

I've always thought if the losing team continues to put their starters on the field the winning team can do the same. Also in the BCS era i feel like you need to pound a team into the ground. If Ohio State put in their 2nd string and Akron managed to get some points it would not look as good.

Pretty much agree with this guy. You have your BCS reputation to look out for. That will or won't get you into the BCS championship game. Its important, and should never be overlooked. Full throttle, baby.

King Carls 5 Year Plan · 09-07-2011, 02:12 PM

so, Ianello thinks that Fickell is paid to protect Akron from any embarrassment. huh, i thought thats what Ianello was paid to do. hey crybaby, its your ******* job to get your players to play their hardest, put them in the best position to win the game and keep your opponent from kicking your ass. it's Fickell's job to kick your ass all the way back to Akron! don't get mad at him cause he's better at his job than you are at yours. with the BCS set up to reward teams for margin of victory and style points, i'm surprised more teams don't try and blow out their opponent. even after BUs have been put into the game, the coaching staff would like to see them running the normal offense. seeing them play ultra vanilla doesn't really give them a good idea of where their younger players are at.

SickwithIt1010 · 09-07-2011, 06:35 PM

I dont have any problem with a team throwing and running their offense late in the game as long as they put their back ups in. What is a team suppose to do? Run the ball or kneel 3 times and punt half way into the 3rd quarter? Tell the other team to playing some god damn defense and make a stop.

tjsunstein · 09-07-2011, 06:59 PM

If I were a Head Coach, I'd score 100 if I could because of the BCS. Even when teams do put their backups in, they don't go through practice like everyone else just to run some sweeps and dives in game action, and play prevent on defense. They need to run the plays the starters would because eventually one of those guys is going to be needed to fill in and it's a great learning experience.

mellojello · 09-08-2011, 03:24 AM

It's bad karma to kick a man when he's down and defeated. But hey, if it makes you feel better about yourself and others will think more highly of you, kick a man, a woman, a child, or the elderly. Might as well break some bones while you're at it because it's good practice. It's their problem if they are weak.