Well, that didn’t end up the way I thought it would.
McNeese’s long-awaited return to the FCS playoffs was a complete and utter dud that’s still hard to explain these many days gone by.
During the quiet and red-eyed post-game press conference following the Cowboys’ disappointing loss to Jacksonville State, head coach Matt Viator admitted, “it’s hard to explain the game.”
I’m going on the record now to say that when you’ve had four shots at something and failed to win or convert, it’s officially a full-blown physical and mental block, a curse to bear and a posse of monkeys on your back.
McNeese’s playoff futility, now 0 for 5 since 2002, is akin to the Buffalo Bills’ 0 for 4 in the Super Bowl; the Dallas Cowboys’ one playoff win since 1998; Tiger Woods five-year shut-out in the majors; the New Orleans cold slump in cold temps.
Like all the above, the Cowboys have been good enough to be on the doorstep, but can’t seem to figure out how to cross the threshold.
Think of it in another golf analogy. It’s like always getting on the green in regulation, eyeing a birdie putt, but getting the yips and walking off with a bogey or worse.
Maybe that’s the only logical explanation at this point. The Cowboys have the playoff yips.
For you non-golfers, the yips are simply the inability to make even the shortest of putts to finish the hole. The yips are more than just a hiccup of confidence. They’re a complete breakdown of both body and mind.
I’ve got no other way to decipher the myriad of failures and how Viator has been blindsided in post-season games since that 2006 playoff loss at Montana 31-6. The following season, it was a 44-15 embarrassment at home to Eastern Washington. In 2009, it was an equally inept 49-13 defeat to New Hampshire at Cowboy Stadium again.
And now tack on the 31-10 head-scratcher to Jacksonville State, who McNeese had never lost to in seven previous games dating back to the 2002 season, which ironically was the year the Cowboys last won a playoff game.
Holy cow bells, Batman … try to figure this out.
I’m not sure some two weeks later whether Viator has any more revelations or insights. “As far as playoff losses right now, I am kind of at a loss for words. Everything happened kind of fast. I will go back and reassess what we are doing and keep trying to improve on that,” Viator said right after the emotional tug of war that was his fourth straight playoff defeat.
At this point, I’m not sure what good it would do to rehash and break down just how and where the Cowboys lost their second-round matchup against a very game Gamecocks team. I will agree with Jacksonville State head coach Bill Clark, who noted it all started and ended with their defense. I’ll go a step further and say their press, man-on-man coverage in the defensive secondary was the critical difference that swung the advantage and victory to J-State.
That tight man coverage and those schemes shut down McNeese’s passing game, forced nine drops from Cowboys receivers, enabling the Gamecocks to front-load the line and in turn, stop Viator’s attempt to balance his offense with the running game.
It’s obvious the Cowboys aren’t very good in third and long situations, so with no receivers able to get separation, much less catch a pass, and with nowhere to run, Stroud was an easy target for a J-State team-record 11 sacks and two interceptions that produced 14 quick points for the Gamecocks.
There’s your ball game in three paragraphs.
My guess is Viator and his coaching staff didn’t anticipate those defensive backs being in the Cowboys’ hip pockets all night. He also didn’t have enough offensive options or adjustments to dig them out of a 21-0 half-time hole.
And that’s the perplexing thing about this playoff slump. Viator has proven himself time and again to be a great offensive game planner and play caller. This season was exhibit 1-A, with the program’s fourth 10-win season in the last 16 years and a school record for the most points scored in a season.
But when the regular season ends and the post-season begins, Viator and his playbook have hit a brick wall.
Nothing has worked.
The playoff offense has been outscored 155 to 44.
The defense has allowed over 30 points in its four playoff defeats.
The special teams have offered no special plays.
I’m telling you, it’s the yips. I have nothing else to go on.
The Cowboy Stadium home field advantage has been of little help. The Hole has yielded no 12th-man extra punch despite the fact that four of the five recent playoff games have taken place in Lake Charles, dating back to that 35-3 loss to Northern Arizona under head coach Tommy Tate in 2003.
The usually supportive McNeese fans were a complete no-show when this team needed them the most two Saturdays ago. A pathetic 5,036 fans bought tickets to the second round playoff game. But believe me, even fewer were in attendance at what was easily the biggest game for McNeese in five years.
I was stunned at the meager turnout. Cold weather or not.
One thing you didn’t hear from the coaches and players after this matchup were any thank-yous to the fan base for their support. There was none, besides the 4,000 or so brave hearts who did show up.
I didn’t see this kind of fan apathy or this complete breakdown coming. McNeese had a record-setting offense led by the Southland’s offensive player of the year in senior quarterback Cody Stroud. The defense is now schemed and coached by defensive coordinator Lance Guidry, who most recently devised FBS defenses for bowl games and matched wits against Nick Saban and Alabama a few years ago while defensive coordinator at Western Kentucky.
Assistant coach Slade Nagle reenergized the special teams that produced four touchdowns from punt or kickoff returns.
Despite losing starting cornerback Guy Morgan to a knee injury in the Lamar win, McNeese finally had all hands on deck and few on the injured reserve.
And to top it off, the Cowboys earned a No. 6 national seed by virtue of their impressive 10-2 regular season and a first-round bye.
While J-State was beating up on Samford 55-10 Thanksgiving week in the first round, the Cowboys were warm and cozy, chowing down on home-cooked turkey and dressing.
Conventional wisdom and the thought that their luck had to finally turn all pointed to a McNeese win. This would be the year they could cut the anvil from around their necks.
“It’s on me as a coach,” an emotional Viator said following the game. “In this business, you win and you lose. The disappointing thing to me, because it’s my fault as the coach, if you lose, then you want to lose playing your best.”
Stroud would have none of that. The unquestioned senior leader of this team said this playoff loss was on the players, not Viator. “This game was on us (the players). We didn’t make the plays to win the game,” Stroud said, fighting back tears.
The players are right to have that critical light on them. I think they felt the heat of the spotlight after a three-year hiatus from the FCS national tournament, and the pressure to win one for their coach. Much like the three other playoff teams, this year’s crew simply did not play very well.
How else to explain nine dropped passes. Nine.
Viator cautioned the media that these players and this team had nothing in common with his previous playoff woes. That woeful 0-3 record (prior to Jacksonville State) was his burden to carry and his alone.
His now four playoff teams have all been outplayed, and he and his staff have been outcoached each time.
Harsh but true. The reality in the coaching business is your skills and successes are clearly seen in black and white. You are judged on wins and losses. Viator’s track record has many more wins than losses, ranking him near the top, with the highest winning percentage among all McNeese head coaches with this many years at the helm.
Viator adheres to the adage that you must possess a thick skin and a short memory to survive in his profession. He knows he’ll be judged and open to criticism by the fans and media throughout the off-season. “That’s what you sign up for. People will judge it (the season and playoff loss) on how they want to judge it.”
I tend to view sports and accomplishments through a larger lens, and not from just one game or even four playoff failures.
No matter your history, winning tradition or talent pool, I don’t think you can win, or even contend, for national championships every year. It’s unrealistic in today’s game.
At the same time, the Cowboys should have been more competitive, better prepared and executed at a much higher level in those recent playoff debacles, including the latest, which is still fresh on everyone’s minds.
Viator knows that better than anyone.
He is a workaholic and perfectionist. He’ll go back to the drawing board and iPad and review every game, every play, every position and all his processes and programs in search of improvements and corrections.
The grind of recruiting has already resumed as Viator works to reload his roster with signing day approaching in February. He may even be on the lookout for some FBS transfers to bolster his defensive backfield; receivers; and maybe a quarterback who can offer a running option.
The sting will linger for Viator, his coaches and all the players — especially the departing seniors. The hope and belief of post-season success was strong this season. The what-ifs and second guessing will be a part of the Cowboys’ holidays, as they try unsuccessfully not to follow the ongoing FCS Playoffs.
I’m sure anyone wearing blue and gold has already seen that Jacksonville State gave third-seeded Eastern Washington a good run before losing in the quarterfinals 35-24.
McNeese’s road back to the national stage and a ranking as one of the best 24 FCS teams in the country took three years. That ascent in 2013 shouldn’t be dismissed in the haze of defeat.
I hear the yips only have a four-year life span.
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