By Brian Hamilton
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- It seemed at the time to be another reason to debate the effectiveness or clarity of college football's instant-replay procedures. And nothing changed Charlie Weis' mind when he viewed an incompletion-turned-fumble late in Notre Dame's loss to Pittsburgh last weekend.
Facing a third-and-16 as the Irish were attempting to drive for the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter, quarterback Jimmy Clausen was hit as he attempted a throw. The play was ruled an incomplete pass on the field, but replay officials overturned the call and ruled it a fumble, recovered by Pittsburgh.
"From watching the play a bunch of times, if they called the play a fumble on the field, I could see them not having enough information to overrule it," Weis said today. "But based on the fact that they called the play incomplete on field, I believe the same thing. I believe there was no evidence to change the call that's on the field."
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- It seemed at the time to be another reason to debate the effectiveness or clarity of college football's instant-replay procedures. And nothing changed Charlie Weis' mind when he viewed an incompletion-turned-fumble late in Notre Dame's loss to Pittsburgh last weekend.
Facing a third-and-16 as the Irish were attempting to drive for the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter, quarterback Jimmy Clausen was hit as he attempted a throw. The play was ruled an incomplete pass on the field, but replay officials overturned the call and ruled it a fumble, recovered by Pittsburgh.
"From watching the play a bunch of times, if they called the play a fumble on the field, I could see them not having enough information to overrule it," Weis said today. "But based on the fact that they called the play incomplete on field, I believe the same thing. I believe there was no evidence to change the call that's on the field."
The Irish still would have faced a daunting fourth-and-16 deep in
their own territory even with the incompletion. But coming with two
minutes left to play, the overruling eliminated any slim chance Notre
Dame had.
The officiating crew was from the Big East and the league has not issued any comment on the ruling and likely won't, according to ESPN.com.
The officiating crew was from the Big East and the league has not issued any comment on the ruling and likely won't, according to ESPN.com.
It's a conspiracy by the officials at the behest of their masters, the conferences, to force Notre Dame into a conference themselves. No one in their right mind would look at any of the reviews over the past few seasons and say, "that was the right call". The gutless NCAA needs to eliminate this problem and centralize the referees from their domain, not unlike what MLB did a few years ago. If you think I'm biased, just ask Oklahoma how they feel about the Pac-10?
None of this relieves Charlie Weis from his record as Notre Dame's head football coach, which is horrible and merits his being fired at the conclusion of this season.
Did Weis watch the replays from the Washington game with Big East officials in the replay booth?
Of course one advantage of not being in a conference is that there's Weis can't get find for stating the obvious about officials unlike, say, Urban Meyer down there with the SEC.
ND has had a number of issues this year, but in qite a number of gaems where they were playing a Big 10 or Big East team with that conference's officials - ND did not get the right calls and for obvious reasons. ND needs to join a conference - period. The Big East wants Pitt in a BCS Bowl so do you think the guy in the guy in the replay booth was not going to call it a fumble - yeah right - when Obama becomes Pope.
As for Tom Quinn - this guy is certainly mentally challenged for sure.
Whats wrong with Weis stating facts? Officiating thruout college football has been atrocious this year, and Weis stated what any intelligent person should already know. That play should not have been overturned.
Dan I couldn't agree more. Tom is an idiot!
Tom Quinn's comment is meanningless. Notre Dame is not a good and honorable school? How so? I'm sure you could also make reference to Weis' obvious weight problems too. Your 12 year old son has greater problems than not comprehending that Notre Dame is not a good and honorable school. He must first come to grips with the fact his father is unable to present a cogent arguement.