Last Saturday, Fordham and Bucknell played an excellent football game. The contest was marred, however, when Buonds left. The Bison recovered, and nearly ruined Fordham’s perfect season due to a play that many observers described as classless. In general, the defense allows the opposing quarterback to kneel when the offensive team can run the clock out. This is done to prevent meaningless injuries.

Once in a blue moon, however, the defense rushes the quarterback to cause a turnover, and justifies this strategy by saying teams play until the final whistle. In light of Saturday’s shocking play, should defenses treat the quarterback kneel as a contact play? And in the bigger picture, should winning be emphasized over good sportsmanship?

The Bucknell play brings back memories of a 2011 Giants-Buccaneers game where New York led 41-34 in the dying seconds. Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano dialed up a quarterback blitz on the final play, and Eli Manning was tackled to end the game. The move drew the ire of Giants coach Tom Coughlin, who said “You not only jeopardize them (defenders), you jeopardize the offensive line, you jeopardize the quarterback.”

Eli Manning added, “We’re taking a knee, we’re in a friendly way and they’re firing off, and that’s a way to get someone hurt.”

Yet; Schiano had a different view: “What I do with our football team is that we fight until they tell us, ‘game over.’ And there’s nothing dirty about it, there’s nothing illegal about it. We crowd the ball like a sneak defense and try to knock it loose.”

Several old school NFL players, including Mike Ditka and Ron Jaworski, agreed with Schiano’s sentiment. And, Fordham alum Vince Lombardi, FCRH ’37 would likely have been sympathetic with Schiano’s approach because “Winning isn’t everything. It’s the only thing.”

While there is no rule against blitzing on a kneeldown, the play is a clear example of poor sportsmanship, and more importantly risks player safety. I understand that teams must always compete, so I tolerate when coaches call timeouts with two minutes left in a 14 point game, or tell basketball players to foul intentionally in the final seconds when down by three scores. At least those strategies do not put players at risk of injury. On the play, Peter Maetzold fell awkwardly and an offensive lineman could have easily fallen on his ankle. Bucknell’s defense failed to stop Fordham when it had its legitimate chances, and should have conceded defeat out of respect. Even if the Bison converted a last second field goal, their win would have been stolen rather than earned.

In the end, both the Buccaneers and Bison lost their games, and the coaches who called for blitzes looked foolish. Despite the testy ending, Fordham players shook hands with their Bucknell counterparts. To quote Giants center David Baas after the 2011 incident, “All I’m saying is you win or you lose with class.” On Saturday, Fordham showed —  once again —  how to win with class.

— Dominic Kearns