more on SFA's close call at SMU:
http://www.dailysentinel.com/hp/content/sports/stories/2009/09/08/sfa_update.html
...Defensive strategy
A former defensive coordinator, Harper made the decision to let SMU score late in Saturday's game to enable his offense to get back onto the field.
With SFA out of time-outs and SMU leading 24-23 and facing a second-and-13 from the SFA 49-yard line with 1:55 to play in the fourth quarter, the SFA coach told his defensive players to allow the Mustangs to score.
Running back Shawnbrey McNeal scored on the next play on a 49-yard run. The extra point made it a 31-23 lead with 1:31 remaining.
Needing a touchdown and two-point conversion to tie the game and possibly force overtime, SFA drove the ball into SMU territory before running out of time.
"We had to do it, because we needed to get the ball back," Harper said. "If we would have stopped them, we would have had only 15 or 20 seconds.
"I told our defense 'we need to let them score.' I told them to not worry about it. I'll take this one."