Tony Dungy Is Not A Big Game Coach
Tony Dungy and his Colts lost to the hated Pittsburgh Steelers 21-18 today. Another year and another loss in the playoffs for a coach that many in the league like and who has had an emotional year. Yet this loss is a just another in the long string of big games that he has lost. And that’s his problem.
First, I like the man and the coach. He turned the Tampa Bay organization around into winners when he had coached there. For that I am eternally grateful. He built a perennial winner in Tampa with one mean defence. And he still lost the big games. Was it a coincidence that the Bucs won the Super Bowl the year after they had let Dungy go? I think not.
Let’s face it. Every big game he has coached in, he gets out coached and his players are not ready. His best chance was the 1999 NFC championship game with the Bucs almost taking out the eventual Super Bowl champs, St. Louis Rams. In it, just one play to make and Tony Dungy would’ve gone on to be a big game coach. It was not made, and he has never come as close as that. For the rest of his tenure in Tampa, he brought the Bucs to playoffs where they were summarily dismantled twice by the Eagles.
Now this season with the Colts could’ve been unique. He should’ve went for an undefeated season. Yet, he slacked off in the end. The loss of his son could’ve also motivated him to win one now. I don’t think he has the heart to crush his opponents.
Anyway the hated Steelers advance to the AFC championship game. They’ll face the sucky Broncos who can’t play defence worth squat, and they’ll make it to the Super Bowl.
I am going to have to live with the stupid Steelers fans for another year yelling that their time is number 1. Tony Dungy is going to have to look at another loss in the big game. The Colts’s management have got to look at if this guy can win the big one. I think not.
