Commentary: Intelligent Pac-12 coaches like Leach still need "Football 101"

We start with the newest episode of “Pac-12 Gone Wild:” The conference in which Arizona is undefeated, and Cal leads the North Division.

And more importantly, the conference where intelligent coaches sometimes make dumb mistakes.

Exhibit A? Washington State Coach Mike Leach.

Today was supposed to be about Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday. About how most of the nation missed his record-setting 734 passing yards last night. It was supposed to be about the Cougs, rather than Cal, leading the Pac-12 North after their second conference win.

Instead, to the dismay of Washington St. fans still up at a quarter til midnight, they missed a 19-yard field goal to win the game, no doubt a chip shot that should’ve been made, and Cal won the game, 60-59.

To be clear: Leach is hardly the only one culpable for the loss. You have to make the easy field goal. Special teams in general was a complete disaster.

But Leach once again demonstrated his lack of clock management and game management skills when the game was on the line.

We saw it in the Cougars’ bowl game loss in December, and we saw it again last night.

For one: If there was any question about whether Gerard Wicks broke the goalline, take a timeout. It would've given the officials upstairs time to review the play, and if the original call was upheld, you still have more than enough time for a couple more shots at the endzone and, if unsuccessful, a field goal.

Number two, they should have used third down to center the ball for their field goal kicker, rather than making him kick from the far right hash, which is a sharp angle for a really short kick.

And Number Three: If you’re really playing for a win as time expires, make sure your quarterback knows not to take a timeout with 19 seconds left in the game. Cal had already scored twice on kickoff returns, and would’ve had another chance, because the Cougs were leaving time on the clock.

There’s no question that the Cougs are obviously in a much better position now than they were under Paul Wulff.

But for a bright coach like Leach, it’s shocking that he seemingly lacks the capacity to put his team and his players in the absolute best position to win, by disregarding obvious game and clock management decisions.

Leach isn’t the only bright coach making dumb decisions. Huskies coach Chris Petersen went for a fake punt on 4th and 9 last week against Stanford, and has since apologized for making that call. Yesterday, a couple USC defensive players said they didn't know where they were supposed to be on a Hail Mary by Arizona State that won the game. And after keeping Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson on the run all game long, Stanford’s David Shaw had his team playing a soft prevent defense on the final play that won the game for the Fighting Irish.

But in a season where the Pac-12 is being turned upside-down, and seems to be anyone’s conference to win, the coaches need to be better when the game is on the line.

What Leach is most guilty of, is not realizing it, admitting it, or taking at least part of the blame.