Holiday Bowl Texas

[reddevil19]

This has to be the most bizarre sequence of events in a football game that I have ever witnessed. From my POV (4th level, in End Zone) it sure looked like the guy on the sideline interfered or touched the ball, ever so briefly. With access to a monitor with the ESPN feed during the review process, it was difficult to tell. But, they certainly took long enough with the review that I'd like to think that it the proper call was made.

From a non-official's perspective, it seems to me that maybe the R might have made the UT sideline guy think the ball was dead because he threw his flag instead of the beanbag (of course, the R then announced that there could be no IG penalty on a backwards pass, which makes me think that he initially was going to call an incompletion and a foul for IG, then realized his mistake). Then, the whole enforcement issue got to be somewhat tedious (it was hard to hear the R's microphone explanations tonight). This play will certainly make all the highlight reels for awhile though.

As an aside, during the second quarter, the R and the TV Timeout guy started bickering with each other during stoppages in play after changes of possession. Twice the TV guy was giving the "keep it going" signal and the R was giving him the arms out/palms up, "WTF?" look and gesture. On the second time, the R ran all the way down to my end where the TV guy was and they had a very animated conversation, the R was definitely unhappy with something having to do with not taking the TV timeouts. Very strange.

[Chooky]

Were they correct in making that call from the booth? Can that actually be reviewed.

Did the referee throw a flag for intentional grounding? Did any official on the field throw a sideline interference penalty on that play?

This whole thing confused me, and without tivo I'm going crazy trying to find the exact sequence of events.

Did they enforce that penalty from the previous spot, or the succeeding spot?

The fact that the asshat on the sideline did or didn't touch the ball is irrelevant. They clearly interfered with a live ball by just having so many people on the sideline.

Hell, the following play, Texas' defensive coordinator, Duane Akina, was on the field inside the 20 barking at the referee. I'm a Texas fan and was irritated that the white hat didn't flag him for another unsportsmanlike.

[Nevadaref]

We had a very brief thread on this over on the basketball forum. Someone posted the following and I was interested in your take. I do NOT know the football rules. When it comes to that sport, I'm just a fan (and not of either team that was involved in this game).

Originally Posted by larryr

According to the NCAA rules which I just downloaded, it might not have mattered whether the guy touched the ball and it's too bad the on-air talent didn't discuss the question:

FR-124 RULE 9.2 / CONDUCT OF PLAYERS AND OTHERS SUBJECT TO RULES
be disqualified [S47]. If a player or an identified squad
member in uniform commits two unsportsmanlike fouls in
the same game, he shall be disqualified.

b. Other prohibited acts include:
1. During the game, coaches, substitutes and authorized attendants in
the team area shall not be on the field of play or outside the 25-yard
lines without permission from the referee unless legally entering or
leaving the field (Exceptions: Rules 1-2-4-g and 3-3-8-c). Team area
personnel who are outside the team area and who have involvement
or impact on live-ball play are subject to penalty under Rule 9-1-4-
a....[omitted stuff]

PENALTY—Dead-ball foul. 15 yards [S7, S27] from the succeeding
spot. Flagrant offenders, if players or substitutes, shall be
disqualified [S47].


To me this doesn't make it clear which team would have had possession after enforcement of the penalty.

[TXMike]

The play: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSqRgzjl2m8

Penalty was enforced from previous spot. Appears crew got 2 different fouls and penalties confused and the enforcement reflected a "blend", i.e. 1 certain foul but with the enforcement that is mandated for the other foul.

If the determination was that the ball or other players were interfered with, then the R can enforce any penalty he deems equitable. If he thinks it is equitable to enforce from prev spot. 1/2 the distance, but no replay of down, so be it. I do not think that is what he was doing though.

[jimpiano]

Originally Posted by TXMike

The play: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSqRgzjl2m8

Penalty was enforced from previous spot. Appears crew got 2 different fouls and penalties confused and the enforcement reflected a "blend", i.e. 1 certain foul but with the enforcement that is mandated for the other foul.

If the determination was that the ball or other players were interfered with, then the R can enforce any penalty he deems equitable. If he thinks it is equitable to enforce from prev spot. 1/2 the distance, but no replay of down, so be it. I do not think that is what he was doing though.

Under what NCAA provision was that play reviewable?

[TXMike]

Originally Posted by jimpiano

Under what NCAA provision was that play reviewable?

12-3-2-g and 12-3-3-j

So it's possible next year we could see a review after every play just to make sure there wasn't a penalty on the play? I mean, where will this stop?

[jimpiano]

Originally Posted by TXMike

12-3-2-g and 12-3-3-j

The first is not applicable since there was no dispute that the ball was a backward pass.

The second is a gross misuse of instant replay since the officials on the field made no call on any such infraction.

Using instant replay to go on a fishing expedition is an insult to the fans,coaches and players.

Instant replay is ruining the game and is a travesty.

[Forksref]

Whether he touched the ball or not, the Texas sideline should have been flagged. I don't think you can let the wing official off the hook on this one for that reason. At the start of the game, this should have been addressed and, if necessary addressed again soon thereafter.

This is a sideline control issue more than whether the ball was touched or not.