Va.Tech/UNC game- they stop the game to review 3 calls.
1st play- Tech QB Taylor is hit near the goal line and fumbles. Referee rules a Td. UNC challenges. Ruling on field is upheld.
1) The line judge ruling a TD had his view of the ball blocked and had no clear line of sight to see it cross the plane. Nonetheless, he rules a TD. This is important because replays can only be overturned on indisputable evidence. The ruling on the field stands.
2) If they are going to use replay in a situation like this, why are there no cameras going straight down the goal line that would give a clear view? Isn't the important thing getting it right? Can't we take one of the cameras has-been Todd Blackledge takes to Bubba's Chicken Shack and put it down on the goal line.
2nd play- Tech RB scores after a tough goal line stand. Again it is a close call and again, the line judge ruling touchdown is COMPLETELY BLOCKED from seeing the football. Touchdown ruled on field, touchdown stands debatably. See first play.
3rd play- Tech RB Williams makes a key fumble that eventually leads to UNC's winning drive. Huge momentum change here on a clear fumble. So what do they do? Let's take the air out of the game and go to the replay booth. The folks in Eritrea could see it was a fumble but Huey, Duey, and "giving them the business" cannot. They at least get the call right. However, 1) UNC now has to sit around for a few moments for a completely unnecessary replay and lose their momentum, and more importantly 2) The Va. Tech defense which was just on the field for a lengthy period of time gets extra (unwarranted) rest. (UNC ends up driving down on a tired Hokie defense anyway but this is like giving a boxer a 20-second count after a knockdown).
Devil's advocates will argue UNC won anyway so all of this is irrelevant. Purists will say once again the replay mechanism failed miserably despite the outcome.
1st play- Tech QB Taylor is hit near the goal line and fumbles. Referee rules a Td. UNC challenges. Ruling on field is upheld.
1) The line judge ruling a TD had his view of the ball blocked and had no clear line of sight to see it cross the plane. Nonetheless, he rules a TD. This is important because replays can only be overturned on indisputable evidence. The ruling on the field stands.
2) If they are going to use replay in a situation like this, why are there no cameras going straight down the goal line that would give a clear view? Isn't the important thing getting it right? Can't we take one of the cameras has-been Todd Blackledge takes to Bubba's Chicken Shack and put it down on the goal line.
2nd play- Tech RB scores after a tough goal line stand. Again it is a close call and again, the line judge ruling touchdown is COMPLETELY BLOCKED from seeing the football. Touchdown ruled on field, touchdown stands debatably. See first play.
3rd play- Tech RB Williams makes a key fumble that eventually leads to UNC's winning drive. Huge momentum change here on a clear fumble. So what do they do? Let's take the air out of the game and go to the replay booth. The folks in Eritrea could see it was a fumble but Huey, Duey, and "giving them the business" cannot. They at least get the call right. However, 1) UNC now has to sit around for a few moments for a completely unnecessary replay and lose their momentum, and more importantly 2) The Va. Tech defense which was just on the field for a lengthy period of time gets extra (unwarranted) rest. (UNC ends up driving down on a tired Hokie defense anyway but this is like giving a boxer a 20-second count after a knockdown).
Devil's advocates will argue UNC won anyway so all of this is irrelevant. Purists will say once again the replay mechanism failed miserably despite the outcome.