UW’s Chris Petersen isn’t alone: ‘The Chart’ is a common football coaching tool

SEATTLE – When it comes to late-game clock management, Oregon State coach Mike Riley isn’t much different from Chris Petersen and most others in college football.

He consults the almighty.

“You’ve probably heard of the chart,” Riley starts, and oh, how we’ve heard of the chart.

It’s become a topic of consternation and debate this week around the University of Washington, after a late fumble cost the Huskies in a 27-26 loss at Arizona last week.

Should Petersen, the Huskies’ coach, have instructed quarterback Cyler Miles to take a knee instead of handing the ball to running back Deontae Cooper with 1:33 to play? No, Petersen said, because the chart said otherwise.

Ah, the chart. Petersen is facing perhaps the most harsh criticism of his nine-year coaching career this week for adhering so strictly to it, but the truth is that the chart is a guiding principle for most every college football coach.

Do we take a knee? Run another play? Run one play, then take a knee? And after scoring a touchdown, do we kick the extra point, or go for two? Well, what does the chart say?

The exact structure might vary from program to program, but these charts are all designed to calculate the same factors and, as it pertains to late-game scenarios, they are to ultimately dictate whether a team should run another play or simply have the quarterback take a knee.

How much time is on the game clock? Is the clock running? If so, how much time will be left by the end of the play clock? What down is it? How many timeouts does the opponent have?

The formula itself – combining the down, clock and timeout situations – is calculated in the offseason in an attempt to ensure these decisions are made quickly and with conviction. Then, it’s put in graph form and included with the rest of the game plan.

One person on staff, usually someone seated upstairs, is responsible for maintaining and properly interpreting the chart when the time comes.

“It’s hard to do the math in a moment’s notice,” Riley said. “So we use the chart.”