Let's talk about a play early in the game. Mendoza is under pressure and dumps off a throw to a running back in the flat. The ball hits the ground, and the RB plays it as if it were live - scampers after it, gets to it before it goes out of bounds, and is about to turn up field with plenty of open space. But the whistle blows; it's been ruled an incomplete pass.

But then it goes to replay review.

From the replay we could see in the stands, it looks like the throw went backwards and was therefore a live fumble.

But what was the point of the replay? The officials screwed up by blowing the whistle. But hey can't put the toothpaste back in the tube -- they can't say "uh oh, the RB probably would've gotten 10 yards" and give us a first down. So they did the only thing they could do, and took the coward's way out: "ruling on the field stands."

(This seems analogous to baseball fair/foul. We amateur umpires (without the benefit of replay) are instructed that once you say "FOUL!", and the players relax, it's dead. No matter how egregiously wrong your call may have been, you have to live with it.)

JSC 76 said:

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Let's talk about a play early in the game. Mendoza is under pressure and dumps off a throw to a running back in the flat. The ball hits the ground, and the RB plays it as if it were live - scampers after it, gets to it before it goes out of bounds, and is about to turn up field with plenty of open space. But the whistle blows; it's been ruled an incomplete pass.

But then it goes to replay review.

From the replay we could see in the stands, it looks like the throw went backwards and was therefore a live fumble.

But what was the point of the replay? The officials screwed up by blowing the whistle. But hey can't put the toothpaste back in the tube -- they can't say "uh oh, the RB probably would've gotten 10 yards" and give us a first down. So they did the only thing they could do, and took the coward's way out: "ruling on the field stands."

(This seems analogous to baseball fair/foul. We amateur umpires (without the benefit of replay) are instructed that once you say "FOUL!", and the players relax, it's dead. No matter how egregiously wrong your call may have been, you have to live with it.)

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They shouldn't have reviewed a blown dead play.

The whistle eliminated the case for review. We've seen it happen on a fumble that's blown dead dozens of times. If the whistle blows the play is over, and so the call on the field has to stand. That's why refs typically don't blow the play dead in situations like that.

Low quality crew all the way around.

JSC 76 said:

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Let's talk about a play early in the game. Mendoza is under pressure and dumps off a throw to a running back in the flat. The ball hits the ground, and the RB plays it as if it were live - scampers after it, gets to it before it goes out of bounds, and is about to turn up field with plenty of open space. But the whistle blows; it's been ruled an incomplete pass.

But then it goes to replay review.

From the replay we could see in the stands, it looks like the throw went backwards and was therefore a live fumble.

But what was the point of the replay? The officials screwed up by blowing the whistle. But hey can't put the toothpaste back in the tube -- they can't say "uh oh, the RB probably would've gotten 10 yards" and give us a first down. So they did the only thing they could do, and took the coward's way out: "ruling on the field stands."

(This seems analogous to baseball fair/foul. We amateur umpires (without the benefit of replay) are instructed that once you say "FOUL!", and the players relax, it's dead. No matter how egregiously wrong your call may have been, you have to live with it.)

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It was technically a lateral. And therefore would have been live. Ideally the play since it was close should have been allowed to proceed live. Then review for accuracy. But yes once the play was whistled dead they did the only thing they could. They reviewed the play and said call stands.

Given how it went down I think that is the best they could have done. But letting the play go live could have resulted in a big play for Cal since Dyches recovered. But if Miami had recovered somehow I think we would have seen a reversal.

A decent question. But, obvioulsy, the football ref can't decide his call was wrong and make an estimate of how many yeads the offensive player would have gained. Logically, he could say he screwed up and the play should go over, but I have never seen that done. Only way to overrule a play is for someone to challenge it and there is video evidene of a screw up. Even then, the ref can't make a decision olf what would have happened. A replay is all that can be done, but again, I have never seen that.

Would appreciate other opinions on this. Tx.

The play should have been ruled an inadvertent whistle and I believe it then should have been replayed and not cost Cal a down.

NCAA inadvertent whistle rules

4-2-b

If an official sounds his whistle inadvertently or otherwise signals the
ball dead during a down (Rules 4-1-3-k and m):
1. When the ball is in player possession, then the team in possession
may elect to put the ball in play where declared dead or replay the
down.
2. When the ball is loose from a fumble, backward pass or illegal pass,
then the team in possession may elect to put the ball in play where
possession was lost or replay the down.
3. During a legal forward pass or a free or scrimmage kick, then the ball
is returned to the previous spot and the down replayed.
4. After Team B gains possession on the try or during an extra period,
then the try is over or the extra-period possession series is ended

mdcspe69 said:

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The play should have been ruled an inadvertent whistle and I believe it then should have been replayed and not cost Cal a down.

NCAA inadvertent whistle rules

4-2-b

If an official sounds his whistle inadvertently or otherwise signals the
ball dead during a down (Rules 4-1-3-k and m):
1. When the ball is in player possession, then the team in possession
may elect to put the ball in play where declared dead or replay the
down.
2. When the ball is loose from a fumble, backward pass or illegal pass,
then the team in possession may elect to put the ball in play where
possession was lost or replay the down.
3. During a legal forward pass or a free or scrimmage kick, then the ball
is returned to the previous spot and the down replayed.
4. After Team B gains possession on the try or during an extra period,
then the try is over or the extra-period possession series is ended

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But then the ACC refs wouldn't have been able to screw Cal an extra time.