Doba questioned

Washington State football coach Bill Doba’s coaching decisions have been questionable to Cougars fans.

After winning the coin toss last year against USC, we elected to kick off and not receive the ball to the No. 1 offense in the country. Result, 90 seconds later: USC 14, Cougs 0.

This year against USC, we chose not to throw deep to try to get back in the game. Result: The game was over after the first quarter.

Against Stanford, with 4:55 remaining, coach’s call was for us to punt on their 48-yard line although we needed two scores. Booing by the fans changed the coach’s decision and we scored a touchdown with a chance to win.

Against UCLA, we went conservative late in the game and ended up losing another one we should have won. Against Arizona State, Doba took points off that would have tied the game, although the defense was playing great and momentum was in our favor.

Games in which we had big leads by halftime (Oregon State, UCLA) were erased by the end of the game by adjustments made by the other teams’ coaching staffs.

Close games, in part, are won by coaching decisions. What does this say about Doba? Or is it bad luck and second guessing?

Gregory Ruff

Spokane