[jimpiano]

The same folks who can see a thumb touching a ball cannot see a ball hitting a pylon.

Story by Scott Taylor
Deseret Morning News
December 21, 2007

SAN DIEGO--Sandwiched between the postgame interview
sessions of Navy and Utah coaches and players after the
Utes' 35-32 victory Thursday night, a Poinsettia Bowl
official read a statement from the officiating crew about a
blown call against Navy in the fourth quarter.

The play came on a Brian Johnson third-down pass to Jereme
Brooks, where the Utah wide-out dove for the end zone and
tried to push the ball past the sideline pylon at the goal
line.

The ball appeared to leave his hand and hit the pylon, with
the officials ruling the play wasn't a touchdown and that
Utah retained possession for a fourth-down try from inside
the 1-yard line.

In their written statement, the crew cited NCAA Football
Rule Section F-1, Rule 8, Section 6, Article 1, Item 1,
explaining "the ball was fumbled forward, hit the pylon.
The pylon is out of bounds, also in the end zone. The
mistake was--it should have been ruled a touchback."

In other words, the ball changes possession, with Navy
taking over at its own 20, rather than Utah having a
fourth-down try.

Even though Navy didn't get the ball after the would-be
touchback, the Midshipmen still got the ball without a Utah
score, since the Navy defense stuffed Darrell Mack's
fourth-and-goal try from one foot out.

Trailing 28-25 with 3:40 left in the game at that point,
Navy took over a foot outside of their own end zone. Three
plays later, the Midshipmen were looking at fourth-and-two
at their own 9, needing a first down to sustain the drive.

A quarterback keeper by Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada around the
left end was stopped well short of the marker by Ute
defensive back Joe Dale, with Utah regaining possession on
downs inside the Navy 10 and scoring four plays later.

Might Navy have had better success on the drive with a
little more working room, starting on the 20 rather than
just shy of the end zone? It certainly made a difference in
play-calling, as well as a possible impact in time,
distance and momentum.