The Call

Was it the last play or the second to last play that decided BYU's victory at Washington? Idiots like ESPN's Herbstreit who will never give a Mountain West team any credit and others like him only focused on the second to last play. We all know 'THE RULE' as stated in Rule 9, Section 2, Article 2c, of the NCAA book which states that a player can be penalized for an unsportsmanlike act for "throwing the ball high into the air", is a stupid rule. But come on don't punish the victor for a call made by someone who is simply doing their job. Would Herbstreit even care to mention it if the tables were turned, I doubt it! Farina, the official said "After scoring the touchdown, the player threw the ball into the air and we are required, by rule, to assess a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty," he continued by saying "It is a celebration rule that we are required to call. It was not a judgment call." 8 out of 10 officials wouldn't have made the call, but he saw it and didn't ignore the penalty.

BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said of the game rules "They are to teach principles of class and integrity," he continued "Sometimes young men in the heat of the moment get overexuberant and the rules are in place to try to keep the game intact and hold on to what is most important in the game and that's the team element... it's unfortunate that a call is being the focus rather than two teams playing their heart out and going down to the [last play that did decide the game]."

Contrast this with what Willingham said. First he said "It's one that they almost have to call... It really should be a no-call, but it's one they have to call when they see it." Perhaps after the loss set in he later said "I think we all know that was not the right call ... , It's an opportunity to use discretion and it was not used. The proper judgment was not used. That was not an act of a young man taunting. That was not an unsportmanlike act at all and therefore it should have been viewed in its totality and not just in the letter of the law."

This brings me to my next point, does it say anywhere in the rule that the player must be taunting the opposing team while throwing the ball high into the air? No! It simply says the player must hand the ball to the official or leave it at the dead spot and that "throwing the ball high into the air" constitutes an unsportsman-like activity which is accompanied by a 15 yard penalty.

The one thing that sucks about this call is that it took away the opportunity for Washington to go for two especially with a good rushing QB like Jake Locker. They had to settle for the overtime, and with BYU's offense doing what they would with the Washinton defense, that's a scarey thought.


Now on to the last play which decided the game. Coach Mendenhall asked coach Tidwell if there was a chance they could go for it and he responded there's a chance, so coach Mendenhall say all rush. As you can see Jan Jorgensen while being held blocked the kick and BYU won the game.

p.s. Remember that fourth and 10 where Locker ran for thirteen yard, yeah guess what Ian Dulan was being held. Fourth and 20, hmm I don't think so. Game over.