Michigan 13, Western Michigan 12

Even if the right call was technically made, the B1G just looks so bad through all of this, with their refusal to acknowledge any of their mistakes and inconsistencies throughout this whole process. Great, there are two clocks, whatever those are. Is it the scorebug plus the stadium clock? The stadium plus the network's camera pointed at the stadium clock? Another variation? Saturday, you implied there was a 3rd clock only review officials could see, so what is that about? Who knows because they refuse to clarify.

Our official review protocol says that if those clocks aren't synced properly, they are supposed to default to whatever the networks have access to. This makes perfect sense. It's a better look for the legitimacy of the system to use the clock that millions of people can see rather than the 10 guys in the replay center. This protocol wasn't followed, whether knowingly or by accident (I'm guessing they knew but didn't stop to check what the protocol was). and has now added to the existing controversy because now everyone knows they didn't follow the protocol, in addition to the backlash over the previous 72 hours, which was the whole reason for the protocol to exist in the first place.

At this point, the B1G needs to come out with transparency. What exactly happened, why, and how is it being avoided in the future? There's no protocol (lots of protocols in this situation) for changing the result of a game retroactively. That fact has been spreading around the internet since the MAC said they were going to appeal. But that shouldn't give the conference a pass to sweep this under the rug like it isn't a legitimate controversy. They threw NBC under the bus for having the "wrong" clock just for it to come out they were supposed to use the same clock that NBC had access to, not some other one. Screw it, add a segment into Big Noon that is a full tour of the replay center where they explain how it all works and what they do in detail.

Transparency. Otherwise, most of CFB fandom isn't going to ever take official reviews by B1G refs seriously again. They'll think they're cheating, inept, or both.

RabidDawgClassic said:

Where is that quote from? An official source or a pundit?

Click to expand...

Quite honestly, I AI'd it, but it was indeed confirmed by the Big Ten. When it's not a written consideration in the rule book and there's absolutely no precedent.....it's the only conclusion. Add the money factor into consideration that the Big Ten would pretty much have Michigan eliminated from playoff contention in week one.

Mr. Tibbs said:

B1G has no option other than to hold firm on the lame a$$ position of two clocks .

you can bet that Petitti is plenty upset about it . makes him & the league looks like amateurs ina big boy game

Click to expand...

He's needs to be mad at himself for not firing Bill Carollo.

*IF* all this Zaprudering were showing proof of what the NBC broadcast purported to show, that the clock was at zeroes well before the ball was near its eventual recipient, I do actually think they would have to reverse this result.

But it's not showing that, so I don't expect this to happen.

But I personally go back to the very beginning of all this, if you pull up the original source of the review feed (tab labeled "ROH" on the bottom right, you can just click on it)


A beat after the play ends the replay official jumps in and frantically yells "Hold them! Hold the field!" to stop both teams from filing onto the field to wrap up a game both sides and all the on-field officials understood to be over to the naked eye.

My view above all else is that in full consideration of all factors and what had been seen on the field, a good, experienced official who has watched an endless number of football games just knows not to do that. That was my immediate gut instinct in the moment the second they started reviewing it.

And I understand those officials are bound to follow the NCAA rule book, but discovering that the NFL rulebook explicitly agrees with my instinct has really cemented the courage of my convictions on this one.

We can lawyer this thing to the molten center of the earth, but it all just comes down to that's not football, it's a game of inches not a game of milliseconds, you don't re-start a game in that scenario.

ChiefGritty said:

A beat after the play ends the replay official jumps in and frantically yells "Hold them! Hold the field!" to stop both teams from filing onto the field to wrap up a game both sides and all the on-field officials understood to be over to the naked eye.

My view above all else is that in full consideration of all factors and what had been seen on the field, a good, experienced official who has watched an endless number of football games just knows not to do that. That was my immediate gut instinct in the moment the second they started reviewing it.

And I understand those officials are bound to follow the NCAA rule book, but discovering that the NFL rulebook explicitly agrees with my instinct has really cemented the courage of my convictions on this one.

We can lawyer this thing to the molten center of the earth, but it all just comes down to that's not football, it's a game of inches not a game of milliseconds, you don't re-start a game in that scenario.

Click to expand...

It seems you've hit on something crucial here. Perhaps the root of the problem is that the replay official feels empowered to behave in this manner. Doesn't that power vest solely in the referee (the head official)?

It's an important point. What's the intended chain of command?

Important questions, but I'm still stuck on the politics of the matter: the fact that Michigan is getting absolutely bodied nationwide on this one, despite having done nothing wrong.

I love it.