HEARING: Anonymous Coaches React to KU's Final Play

What college football coaches thought of KU's trick play to end the Liberty Bowl

There isn’t a clear answer for KU's final play in the Liberty Bowl. The design led to a wide-open player in the end zone. It also put a cold backup QB on the run with an insane game on the line. So rather than break down the play myself, I set out to learn what CFB coaches thought about the controversial ending.

The following conversations took place off the record in exchange for honest opinions. I'm keeping the coaches anonymous but passing along what I'm HEARING on the final play. Some coaches also shared opinions on KU’s future. The following quotes come from:

• 1 head coach

• 1 power five offensive coordinator

• 2 offensive assistants

• 1 former Jayhawk who played in the NFL

• UPDATE: Another former stud KU player added his opinion after this posted. Adding it to the “on the play call” section below.

Alex Gold @AlexGold

Jalon Daniels led the team back and you have the backup QB make a decision to decide the game. Unreal

On the play call:

• "I have no issue with the call.. I get it"

• "Was with someone who said 'why is the backup QB throwing it when the starter has made every play in the 2nd half?' and I think they were 100% right"

• "Wouldn't have taken the ball out of Jalon's hands"

• "I want Jalon touching it"

• "Your QB is having one of the best games in KU history and can’t be stopped in the 2nd half. You decide to let the backup QB come off the bench cold and make a throw? Yeah, I don’t like that one."

• "Daniels is one of the best QBs in the country when healthy, and they took the ball out of his hands."

• NEW QUOTE: “Don’t love taking it out of JD’s hands, but also don’t hate the call. Get one of KU’s fastest players — who also happens to be a QB — on the outside with speed to either run or throw.”

On running out of 2-point conversions:

We good? @gifhawk2

Lance basically said they ran out of two point plays. They ran too many. “You don’t have 6 two point plays on the play sheet.” I just… sigh.

• "Yes and no. You have 3-5 yard gains in other places on your sheet."

• "You have 3rd and 3-or-4 yard calls"

• “It makes sense to me”

On KU’s performance and future:

• "Really impressive game by those guys nonetheless. It says a lot about that team and the group of seniors, Kenny Logan & Co."

• "Don’t expect a Big 12 championship next year, and don’t be surprised if there is a backslide. But the long game for the program is very good"

• "The program is on its best footing since week 4 of 2009"

• "K-State is doing well, but you can beat them on a recruit 8 out of 10 times when you are winning."

And my personal favorite quote about KU and the final play:

• "No use in criticizing. KU is building a program and it’s showing. To get to a bowl game in year two, be down by 25 to an SEC team, and take it to triple OT… it sucks to lose, but as a KU fan, you have GOT to be bullish about the future!"