NY Times · Nov 7, 2015
8-Lateral Score a Reminder That Teams Can Practice for Wild Plays, to a Point
Photo In the return by Corn Elder (29), far right, his Miami teammate Mark Walton (1) blocked Duke’s Breon Borders (31) in the back. Credit Rob Brown/Associated Press By now, the eight-lateral kick return for Miami’s winning touchdown over Duke last weekend has joined California’s five-lateral “Play to Beat the Band” against Stanford in 1982 in college football lore.
Is there actually a way to prepare plays like that?
Coaches say end-of-the-game plays can be drawn up and practiced, but the preparation really does not mean much in the heat of the moment. Think of it as more like organized chaos.
