by Larry Beckish

The option series developed at Wichita State in 1978 has been labeled the Trap Option, the Freeze Option, and the Midline Option among other things by high school and college coaches. But, from the first time the Xs and Os were scribbled like a mathematical formula on the blackboard, they comprised the 40-60 Series. To the offensive staff these Xs and Os were simply referred to as 0-1 for the fullback trap and 8-9 for the options.

During the first ten days of spring practice we had installed the inside and outside veer from the I formation and splits backs. But we had problems — problems with the quarterback, the playside linebacker, and the defensive tackle who was the read man.

(Those problems are thoroughly outlined in my book)

In the middle of spring practice in 1978 the staff began experimenting with a little used ‘belly’ like option play based on trap blocking. The offensive line blocked the trap for the fullback belly and used the same blocking for the option.

The first thing we did was straightened the fullback’s rounded path and ran him directly over the center. (That’s were midline came from) The quarterback’s execution was altered to accommodate the fullback’s landmark. We quickly eliminated the tailback’s counter step because it was a defensive indicator of direction (That’s where freeze came from). The 40 Series was born.

Originally, the quarterback used a reverse pivot only, but again the defense could read the pivot (Why is a long explanation) and created problems. But, in one practice I told the quarterback to front out using the same first step he did on the 40 Series. The first time the play was run with the quarterback fronting out he ran 60 yards for a TD. The 60 Series was born.

At that time the staff knew we had something. First, the quarterback’s execution was easier, especially for triple option read plays. Second, the angle of the dive back no longer allowed the linebackers to fast flow. That’s extremely important because the single most important criteria to running a successful option play is sealing the playside linebacker. Next, it forced the defensive tackles to close to the dive. In essence the 40-60 Series forced the interior defense to collapse ran than expand as it did with the veer. It became easier to get the ball pitched. And the principle reason to run an option play is to get the ball pitched.

Among those technical advantages of the Trap Option was one we never thought of. The advantage came from limited defensive preparation. Limited because it was difficult for an opponent’s scout team to replicate the QB-FB mesh and pulling guard’s blocking at the point of attack. It was difficult to prepare for the 40-60 Series with its variety of Trap blocking, Base blocking, Base Peel blocking, Cut blocking, Gary blocking, and B, G, and Cindy blocking.

Coach Beckish is a member of the South Carolina State University coaching staff, coaching the Offensive Line. The list of coaches that Larry his worked with reads like a “Who’s Who” among coaching legends. His coaching stints include stops in the ACC, SEC, and Big Ten.

Larry played for four years at Wichita State University (1960-1965), and was team captain in 1963. Upon graduating from Wichita State, Beckish began his coaching career at the University of Tampa where he coached both the offensive and defensive lines.

After two seasons at Tampa, Beckish headed north to serve as the receivers coach at Clemson under the legendary Frank Howard. He moved south again for a season at the University of Miami before returning to Clemson as receivers coach and he coached the Tigers from 1971-1976.

After Clemson, Beckish returned to his alma mater to work with the legendary Willie Jeffries, who made history by becoming the first African-American head coach in Division 1-A. At WSU Coach Beckish, the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator and the staff developed the Trap Option.

Following three years with Jeffries, Beckish became an assistant at East Carolina for a season before joining the Arizona Wranglers of the now-defunct USFL. He later coached three seasons at the University of Minnesota as the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for Lou Holtz.

After brief retirement Larry returned to coach two seasons at Ole Miss (1990-1992) as well as a season with the Charlotte Rage of the Arena League. From 1995 through 1998 he coached at Duke. Larry recently worked as a ‘volunteer’ coach at Hilton Head High School in 2001 and 2002 before returning to college football in 2003.

During retirement from 1987-1990, he wrote ‘The Trap Option – 40 Plus 60 Equals Option.’ He also authored, ‘I Believe in Cream, Apples, and Football – Thoughts for Coaches’.

Order Larry’s eBook, Coaching the Option Quarterback from the CompuSports Media Exchange

LISTEN TO Coach Beckish on The Coaches Corner Football Coaching Podcast and hear him discuss other thoughts and ideas from “I Believe …”.