Last 10 seconds of Saint Joseph-Rhode Island game on ESPN. URI scores and the clock stops. The ball gets away and the official blows the whistle to retrieve the ball. SJU sub is at the table and is permitted to enter.

Was it necessary to blow the whistle if the clock is stopped anyway. NCAA rules stipulate that a sub cannot enter the game in the last minute even if the clock is stopped. Did the officials err on this play or am I missing something?

He may have blown it just to let his partners know or someting like that.

Nope, I was watching too and Jay's description is exactly right. The relevant rule is NCAA 3-4.6: "Substitution shall not be allowed when the game si stopped in the 59.9 seconds of the second half or any extra period to correct a timer's mistake or for an inadvertent whistle."

My guess is that a whistle for the purpose of retrieving the ball was not considered inadvertent, so the sub was allowed. But Jay's question also bothered me as I was watching.

Help
 

Can't locate an inadvertent whistle occuring in the FED book. Help please....

Sure I'll help!
 

Look at 7.5.4 in casebook -- they call it "accidental" whistle.
Joe

Re: Sure I'll help!
 

Joe, thanks!

Here's one for Bob Jenkins. . . I think I remember an NCAA bulletin that talked about specific cases of when you would or would not let in the subs with less than a minute to play. Do you remember that bulletin or can you post it here?

Chuck,
There was an interpretation given at the beginning of the season that said substitutions were only allowed if 'a foul, violation, or timeout had occurred'. This is much clearer than naming the situations that a substitute could not enter. The officials erred if they let the sub in.

Thanks, Dev! Is that interp online somewhere? I know I read it and I thought it was last season. Any ideas where I can find the "official" word? Thanks.