I didn't find the game to be any worse officiated than the average game but I think the refs got caught with their pants down on this play.
Did anyone notice the exchange between the officials after the ump announced that the replay concluded that the ruling on the field should stand?
Series of events as I watched:
1. Umpire clearly announced first down and signaled for Alabama's ball. The ball was marked where Kirkpatrick was down, not where the PS defender recovered it.
2. Ump announces play is under review (almost immediately).
3. Review... then the ump announces the ruling on the field stands and it's Penn State ball.
4. Everyone including the entire stadium, the refs, Saban, and the announcers are confused as to who's ball it is.
5. This is where things got interesting: The camera cuts to a huddle between 3 refs. The ump points at the spot and in Penn State's direction as if he's explaining his interpretation of the call (pure speculation). They're discussing something then two walk away then the younger ref walks back to the ump and because he's facing the camera you can make out most of what he said. I'm by no means a lip reader but to me these words are pretty easy to make out.
Younger ref: "<something something> Alabama's ball on the replay." (all the while pointing over his shoulder with his thumb towards the replay booth.)
Umpire: <older ref says something but his mouth isn't visible>
Younger ref (quite clearly and nodding his head):"No it wasn't."
Then the younger ref backs away staring down the ump with a very disapproving look on his face.
No black helicopters, just some slight incompetence. I'm betting dollars to doughnuts that the ref transferred the wrong ruling on the field to the replay booth, which is strange because he was the one who made the field ruling.
Unfortunately we only get explanations on these communication breakdowns when the game is close. I'd really love more visibility into this kind of stuff. As it is I think everyone will have to stay confused as to what happened.
Did anyone notice the exchange between the officials after the ump announced that the replay concluded that the ruling on the field should stand?
Series of events as I watched:
1. Umpire clearly announced first down and signaled for Alabama's ball. The ball was marked where Kirkpatrick was down, not where the PS defender recovered it.
2. Ump announces play is under review (almost immediately).
3. Review... then the ump announces the ruling on the field stands and it's Penn State ball.
4. Everyone including the entire stadium, the refs, Saban, and the announcers are confused as to who's ball it is.
5. This is where things got interesting: The camera cuts to a huddle between 3 refs. The ump points at the spot and in Penn State's direction as if he's explaining his interpretation of the call (pure speculation). They're discussing something then two walk away then the younger ref walks back to the ump and because he's facing the camera you can make out most of what he said. I'm by no means a lip reader but to me these words are pretty easy to make out.
Younger ref: "<something something> Alabama's ball on the replay." (all the while pointing over his shoulder with his thumb towards the replay booth.)
Umpire: <older ref says something but his mouth isn't visible>
Younger ref (quite clearly and nodding his head):"No it wasn't."
Then the younger ref backs away staring down the ump with a very disapproving look on his face.
No black helicopters, just some slight incompetence. I'm betting dollars to doughnuts that the ref transferred the wrong ruling on the field to the replay booth, which is strange because he was the one who made the field ruling.
Unfortunately we only get explanations on these communication breakdowns when the game is close. I'd really love more visibility into this kind of stuff. As it is I think everyone will have to stay confused as to what happened.
