I can't believe there isn't a forum for this yet, but I did not see this play live, and I have not seen the review. From what I understand, though, a block in the back was called on the field, but was somehow forgotten after the review when Miami was given the touchdown.
Is it even possible to pick up a flag after review? I recall two years ago, we were playing Boston College and a defensive pass interference was called on the Eagles. The officials went back and reviewed the play and overturned the pass interference because the ball was tipped at the line of scrimmage. That was even controversial, but looking back, I can somewhat understand it. How is it possible to pick up a block in the back penalty though, especially when it's as obvious as it was?
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The answer is no, and there at at least 2 blatant blocks in the back on that return that were not called. This also ignores the one runner being down before he flips it backwards (i want to say the 3rd or 4th lateral). Review is not allowed to remove fouls and there was plenty of video evidence to show lots of ways that shouldn't have happened.
The Pac 12 refs were also mightily confused all game with Stanford/Wazzu. Another weekend with some really suspect officiating work.
Even if you just watch the highlight it's enough to realize it was a play that should not have stood.
It appears to me there was a block in the back on that play.
There were certainly some players being taken out, but some may have been legit. There was a review, and "block in the back" was the call.
I like the idea of a play like that, but it has to be completely legitimate in order for it to stand. I'd be a little upset if I were a Duke fan, because it might be the difference between going to the ACC Championship or not.
Fun play to watch. But yeah, not at all legitimate. Miami player's knee looks obviously down to me.
Duke should be pissed. Stuff like this happens every week. Obvious blown calls by on-field refs that "hold up" in review. The tinfoil hat me looks at it like the "thin blue line" where cops protect their own... I suppose for football we could call it the "chubby striped line".
The non-tinfoil hat me know most the time the review gets it right, and at best a truly inconclusive review defers to the call on the field.
But man it is just astonishing that they can & do get it wrong on occasion.
That's what bugs me most about refs...no accountability.
Best you'll ever get from them is "sorry, bro."
But good lord, between this play, and the "stopped forward progress" in our game, the ACC can't afford to discipline their refs because there would be no one left to officiate next week.
#Swoffording
Who else but UNC most benefits by those shenanigans?
For what its worth I didnt see any blatant blocks in the back...i believe they threw the flag just to review the play and make sure nothing was misses
Watch Joe's video below. The most blatant BITB occurs between :35 and :41.
yes, there is a clear block in the back around the 15 yard line before the last lateral.
i saw a couple blocks in the back and the knee down.
Video of the play for those who haven't seen it.
If he's not down at :26, I'll eat your shorts.
And there you have it. How can we get this image, yet replay officials can't see this upon their review?
This was a photographer taking a pic, not the TV cameras. The replay guys just get the TV camera feeds. Not that it was much of an excuse, but this particular picture wasn't available to them.
VT: Danny Coale caught the ball
Duke: #21 made the tackle
Danny Coale caught the ball, but it was even more clear that Duke made the tackle.
Danny Coale caught the ball, and it was called a catch on the field.
So the replay officials would have needed a clear picture to overturn it.
God this over and over. If Danny's catch had been ruled incomplete and the officials had said play stands because there is no evidence I would have understood.
Also from Duke: #37 was blocked in the back.
Yes, there we have it, but not the "it" you think it. Would you call him "down" or would call that a fumble if you didn't have ANY context to the picture?
Sorry, but this wasn't the last shot in a basketball game and it wasn't a forward pass. It's a lateral, i.e an intentional fumble, and it's not whether the ball is still touching your hand when the knee touches, it's whether you have clear possession when the knee touches.
My heart hurts for Duke. While Miami definitely played their hearts off to get that punt return, the game definitely belonged to Duke. I won't say horrible officiating, because the referees did take the time to try to sort it out, but I don't understand them taking away the penalty and I definitely wish there had been more angles to see the knee down...
This might be a dumb question, but I honestly don't know... Is there a way to appeal something like that? Or do the record books stand no matter if Duke tried or not?
The evidence should have been indisputable to overturn the call on the field.
I would be furious if I was a Duke fan. They may have just been screwed out of a trip to Charlotte on that play.
The Officiating Crew got suspended because...
I love this twitter response.
Here's a ESPN story about the suspension of the refs:
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/14026475/acc-suspends-fie...
As for the missed calls, I think there was one block in the back down on the Miami end of the field. The last block thrown was not in the back.
The guy who ran onto the field without a helmet was just a moron. He could have cost his team the game.
But the thing that should have stopped the play overall was the knee down, which is virtually inarguable. Lemme play a little devil's advocate, though:
If the play were a reception instead of a lateral (i.e. take the play and run the tape backwards), at what point would it have been considered a 'reception'? As in, at what point would he have 'gained control' of the ball? Could a person make a reasonable argument that at the time his knee hit the ground, he had relinquished control of the ball? Just a thought
Irony - Duke complaining about officiating.
Duke fans need not worry (I posted this on another thread, but it fits here as well)... It will be basketball season soon enough. At which point the officials will be back on their side.