Jim Mora explains why Tyson Summers was dismissed mid-game: 'He made the decision'

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A bizarre scene unfolded between Colorado State football and Oregon State on Saturday, Oct. 3, as the Rams coach seemingly made a coaching personnel change … mid-game.

Indeed, onlookers could see that incumbent defensive coordinator Ty Summers was no longer on the field, with associate head coach and defensive line coach Kenny McClendon holding a play-call sheet. Cornerbacks coach Trent Matthews was signaling to the defense.

Speaking after the game, Mora confirmed he had relieved Summers of his play-calling duties mid-game, but that it was his defensive coordinator's decision to leave the field. He did specify that Summers was "no longer with the program."

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"Tyson was relieved of his play-calling duties, he left the field, and he is no longer with this football program," Mora said. "That is permanent."

Mora later said he hadn't considered dismissing Summers during the game, but that his former coach's decision to leave the field was the reason he was no longer with the program.

"That wasn't anything that I would ever consider," Mora said. "I just relieved him of his duties as a play-caller. He made the decision to leave the field on his own. He's no longer with the program."

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The change seemingly occurred between Oregon State's second and third offensive possessions, after the Beavers scored touchdowns on their first two drives. As Mora mentioned, redshirt junior linebacker Kenyon Agurs strip-sacked quarterback Braden Atkinson on the first play call by McClendon. The recovered fumble led to a CSU touchdown to tie the game at 14-14.

It was the only Oregon State drive of the night during which the Beavers did not score a touchdown, excluding the final drive when they simply ran out the remainder of the clock.

Summers, a second-year defensive coordinator who was retained from former coach Jay Norvell's staff, opened the season by limiting opposing offenses to 13 and 24 points, respectively, in wins vs. Wyoming and Southern Utah. The defensive performances got steadily worse from there, however, as the Rams dropped three consecutive games in which they gave up 41 points to BYU and 59 points to UTSA.

Mora confirmed McClendon would be the defensive coordinator for the remainder of the season when asked to specify whether the personnel change would be permanent. He also lauded McClendon and his defense for what he called a "very difficult situation."

"He was put in a very difficult situation, and he responded well, the players responded well," Mora said. "Very first play he called as a defensive coordinator in his entire life was a sack, caused a fumble. So we're going to get better, we're going to get a lot better. He's a good football coach."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jim Mora explains why Tyson Summers was dismissed mid-game: 'He made the decision'

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