[crosscountry55]

Agree, enjoy your steak. Under NFHS rules, a timeout once granted (even if done so erroneously) shall be honored. Opposing coach won't be happy, and he'll have a beef (no pun intended), but it's an official's error and this is the prescribed way to move on.

At least one (both?) of the NCAA rule sets define this as an inadvertent whistle situation. No TO, give the ball back to the team in control or go POI if no team control. No talk of Ts in this situation, either. I prefer the NCAA interpretation and wish NFHS would go this route, but of course I administer under the applicable rule set de jour.

Afterthought: To clarify, if you thought the coach was calling TO but then you determine he clearly wasn't ("Five Out!"...."Time for a Rout!"), then it's just an IW and you don't need to force the coach to take a TO he wasn't requesting.