Nick Aliotti 'stunned' by Mike Leach, Aliotti called it "low class" move

[RedCreek49]

With a lopsided defeat well in hand, the Washington State Cougars had other business to take care of Saturday night against the No. 2 Oregon Ducks.

For their late effort, Cougars quarterback Connor Halliday set a Football Bowl Subdivision record for pass attempts with 89 -- and drew the ire of Duck defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti.

Aliotti called it "low class" move by Washington State coach Mike Leach.

"I am kind of stunned he would keep his quarterback and crew in there,'' Aliotti told reporters after the Ducks' 62-38 win, according to The Oregonian. "And still he threw the ball with 20 seconds left. But he did.

 

"They want stats, they got stats. But we got the most important stat, and that's the 'W,' and we are happy about that.''

Trailing 55-24 to start the Cougars' first drive of the fourth quarter, Halliday made 28 more passes to break a 15-year-old FBS record set by Drew Brees with Purdue -- by six attempts.

"That's total (B.S.) that he threw the ball at the end of the game like he did,'' Aliotti said, referring to Leach. "And you can print that and you can send it to him, and he can comment, too. I think it's low class and it's (B.S.) to throw the ball when the game is completely over against our kids that are basically our scout team.''

Halliday completed 58 of 89 passes total for 557 yards and four touchdowns for Washington State (4-4, 2-3 Pac-12). He didn't hand the ball off once during the fourth quarter.

But the Ducks (7-0, 4-0) picked off Halliday four times, including one interception that was returned 51 yards for a touchdown by Terrance Mitchell early in the fourth quarter. Halliday leads the nation with 17 interceptions.

"I'm repeating myself," Aliotti reiterated, unprompted, several questions later in the media session. "But again, in the end he's still throwing at a time when most guys would try to end the game and go home."

[sawemoff]

Am I crazy? How many teams just quit, even when the game is out of reach?

[Lhornfan]

Throwing the ball is what Leach does. I have no problem with Leach competing until the clock stops regardless of how many points they're behind. The problem would have been throwing the ball late in the 4th if he was up by 30 points. Aliotti is just #### because his team is in the record books as the "other" team.

[hanginangus]

Good for Leach. He once overcame a 35 point deficit by passing. Sounds like Aliotti has attended too many coaching schools. Leach's unorthodox thinking has changed football for the better.

[DLine06]

I get where Aliotti is coming from but he has to remember that his defense picked off the quarterback 4 times.

 

On top of it, Leach is trying to build that program up and make them competitive since there is lack of talent, discipline and angst toward his offense.

[RedCreek49]

I didn't notice Oregon taking a knee every time they had the ball in the 4th quarter. Washington State was behind, how dare they try to score and win although they really did not stand much of a chance, they should have just quit!!!!

[hanginangus]

2006 Insight Bowl. Learn it. Live it.

[dago29]

Aliotti should just have a nice big bowl of STFU.

[DaveTV1]

I don't see why the coach is miffed either, and even if the Cougars were out of the game by 31 points starting the 4th quarter, you want to do anything you can to try to come back and win. If I were Aliotti, I would be more offended that they didn't try.

[RedCreek49]

I agree! It kind of like the running clock in high school in some states! I think it can be more or an insult and humiliation to a team than unintentionally running up the score!