Looking back at some video from last season, I noticed a game that was won with a last minute TD pass on 4th down. On third down, Team A, down by 4, was inside the B-10, clock running, about 2:00 to play. Star QB A7, in shotgun formation, muffs the snaps, eventually recovers the ball, and runs straight ahead to salvage what he can. He gets near the neutral zone where he is tackled. As he hits the ground, his helmet pops off, about 1:30 to play. They get up, move to positions, but eventually call time out under 1:00. Following the T/O, Team A snaps the ball on 4th down (from the right hash). A7 can't find his primary receiver open, looks around for somebody open, then, under a heavy rush, throws a strong pass all the way across the field to left back corner of the end zone to a recveiver who catches the ball for the game winning TD.
Fine for 2011.
In 2012, star QB A7 is on the bench for 4th down.
Still had some helmets coming off players in a scrimmage Saturday. It may take a play like above to wake up some teams.