After Utah tied Boston College for the longest consecutive streak of bowl victories, the officiating crew issued a statement admitting a blown call in the game, even after it had been reviewed.
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.”
Lou Holtz and Mark May had it right in the press box, how do the refs in the replay booth get it wrong? I am a Utah fan, it should have been a touchback.
The results of the mistake was that Navy stopped Utah at the goal line the next play, giving them the ball at the goal line instead of the 20 they should have. They got eight yards and went for it on fourth down. This was the real mistake that cost Navy. Utah got the ball back at the ten and went in for the easy touchdown.
The Navy coach said he would have ran the same three plays from the 1 as from the 20. Option, option, option. Maybe if he had got to the 28 he would have punted, but at your own 8 you got for it?
I’ll take the win and the 32 Bowl mania points.
Source: MAC officials make mistake at the Poinsettia Bowl
