Is it always the coach?

Eric Musselman's blog is a must-visit for us every morning. More often than not we agree with what he posts and opines but today we are in the opposite camp.

A team plays how they're coached to play

After losing by 10 to Arizona on Saturday in the Las Vegas Bowl, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said his team had made a number of mental errors, something for which he took full responsibility.

"Championship teams don't do that," he said. "Championship coaches don't coach a team to do that. I've never shifted responsibility to anywhere other than myself. A team plays how they're coached to play."

Coaches, that is the better coaches, take the hit themselves rather than throw a player or players under the proverbial bus, regardless of who is to blame.

The best coaches do what they can, say what they can, prepare their teams as best they can but ultimately it is up to the players -- prep, college and professional -- to take what is given/offered, add such to their own preparation and perform.

Is a running backs coach, who has taught and drilled his charges how to carry the ball, responsible for a fumble?

Is a quarterback coach, who installs a system and a certain set of plays to take advantage of an opponent's defense and drilled his signal caller on what to do and when, responsible for an interception?

Sure, there is a boatload full of shades of gray in all these equations but the primary variable to us is the human one. Get the 'right' players, with the 'right' level of experience and commitment and teams win.

Coaches certainly have a profound impact on winning and losing -- that's undeniable -- but what they have to work with is of the utmost importance.

Of course, we are open to different takes and interpretations of this matter so have at it if you wish.