Yeah. OK.
1) Down 12-0 near end of first half, facing a 3rd and 8 at his own 28 yard line with 47 seconds left until halftime.
2) His offense has done NOTHING. 0 for the last 9 in passing attempts, haven't completed a pass to a wide receiver all game.
So - only a complete idiot would do anything other than take a knee, run out the clock and get in to the locker room with it still a two score game.
Nope.
Instead, the "playing it safe" coach calls a timeout - - - shows confidence in his offense - - - and they complete three straight passes downfield of 19, 34, and 20 yards for a touchdown to completely turn around the momentum of the game.
A game they won (over a Top 5 team in the country) that completely changed the dynamic of the program.
Of course, if after calling the time out, the offense failed to convert and gave the opposition an opportunity to make it a three score game - all of the savants and geniuses (like most of the posters on this Board) would have skewered him for such an idiotic, stupid move.
Right.
1) Trailing 13-3 in the third quarter of a rainy, sloppy, ugly defensive slog.
2) Facing 3rd and 10 on his own 20
3) Having completed exactly ONE pass of over 9 yards all game long.
Of course, the "playing it safe" coach is going to play it safe and play field position.
Nope.
Puts a talented, but utterly inexperienced, freshman wide-out in the game, throws the ball deep downfield, and the freshman wide-out hauls in a deep ball, breaks a tackle, and goes 80 yards for a season-changing touchdown.
Right
1) Playing in the conference championship game, down 21-7 after his team surrenders a scoop and score fumble return to the opposition.
2) Facing 4th and 2 at their own 42, rather than punt the ball away, the "playing it safe" coach shows confidence in his offense and "goes for it" on fourth down.
When the try fails, all of the savants and geniuses DO skewer him for such an "idiotic" move.
Of course, his offense later turns on the afterburners and never looks back - rolling up 4 touchdowns plus a field goal on their final five possessions to win the conference title,
There is no limit to the ignorant oblivious-ity of the average (and the vast majority of) sports fan.