The Rest of College Football

[Tom W]

I, for one, am positively giddy that the conference that tormented Michigan throughout my formative years has imploded like a Vegas casino. HOW'D THAT WORK OUT FOR YA?!

I'd like it a LOT better if we didn't go out and rescue the survivors (who just happen to be the ones that tormented us the most). Let the sharks take care of them!

[Mike]

The last drive of the game was rubbish when that ref pulled out his flag to call OPI on the guy who shoved Woodson to the ground... only to then signal a good catch WITH THE FLAG STILL IN HIS HAND.

[Mike]

I'd like it a LOT better if we didn't go out and rescue the survivors (who just happen to be the ones that tormented us the most). Let the sharks take care of them!

Eh, we're getting them on the cheap and they're way more preferable than Rutgers and Maryland. Rescuing survivors would be taking any further teams from the PAC0.

[THE_WIZARD_]

*Michigan 21 WSU 16

[Mike]

I don’t even know what you’re getting at.

[THE_WIZARD_]

MISTAKE' COSTS WSU FINAL PLAY

By Nicholas J. Cotsonika
January 2, 1998 Washington State Coach Mike Price said he thought officials "made a mistake" in the waning moments of today's Rose Bowl game that cost the Cougars a chance to run one final play against top-ranked Michigan, which held on to take a 21-16 victory and probably its first national championship since 1948.

Television replays indicated that one second remained in the game when Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf intentionally spiked the ball on first down with the Cougars at the Michigan 26.

Following an illegal procedure penalty with nine seconds to play, eighth-ranked Washington State had a first down and 15 from its 48-yard line. Leaf completed a pass to tight end Love Jefferson, who immediately pitched the ball back to Jason Clayton on a hook-and-lateral play that ended with Clayton getting tackled at the Michigan 26 with two seconds to play.

Clayton was tackled in bounds, but in college football, when a team gains enough yards for a first down, the clock is stopped while the first-down marker is reset. In situations where the offensive team is in a hurry, such as at the end of a half, a member of the officiating crew spots the ball, then stands over it until the marker is reset and the referee signals for play -- and the clock -- to start again.

In this case, Washington State's players hustled into position and were lined up before the first-down marker had been reset. As soon as the referee signaled for play to resume, the ball was snapped to Leaf, who intentionally threw it to the ground for an incomplete pass, which stops the clock.

Replays indicated that when the ball hit the ground, one second remained in the game. (ABC, which broadcast the game, was using a graphic in the corner of the screen that showed a clock ticking down the remaining seconds. ABC Sports spokesman Mark Mandel said tonight the clock shown on the screen is synchronized with the stadium's scoreboard clock.) The replays also appeared to show referee Dick Burleson initially signaling for the clock to stop with one second remaining. But time expired before the clock stopped and Burleson ruled that the game was over.

"Everyone knows you can down the ball with less than two seconds left on the clock," Price said. "The officials made a mistake, I think. The fact is, we still have to make a play there to win it. But it would have been nice to go out and try it."

Of the call, Leaf said: "It stinks."

Burleson was not made available for interviews after the game. The officiating crew for the game was from the Southeastern Conference.

John Adams, secretary editor of the NCAA football rules committee and former supervisor of officials for the Western Athletic Conference, said that the game clock is restarted by the referee after it is stopped for a first down.

"If the clock stops because of a first down, the referee restarts the game clock as soon as the chains are in place and the officiating crew is in position," said Adams, referring to Rule 3-2-5 of the NCAA's football rule book. "In this case it appeared there were two seconds remaining when he restarted the clock by winding it, and according to his discretion, no time remained on the clock by the time the ball was spiked."

[THE_WIZARD_]

Don't worry though....Wazzu ain't coming...

[WM Wolverine]

Who is left in the Pac-12?

There is a Super 2 (B1G & SEC) and a big step down to the ACC, and another huge step to the Big 12.

[Mike]

Yeah, looks like it’ll end up being 3 super conferences.

[iam416]

2, not 3

[lineygoblue]

And on the play before that, there was an uncalled OPI against WAZZU where the official pulled his flag, and then stuffed it back into his pocket.

Its on video.

Leave our 1/2 championship alone.

[THE_WIZARD_]

No.

STFU.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Cal, Stanford, WSU and The Beaver....all in unison...

"...now I'm free.....free falling...."

[WingsFan]

So this is a crazy day, getting Oregon and Washington accounts tweeting at me who to follow.

I tell them anyone but Sparty fans, unless to like hearing grown adults cry 24-7...

About Michigan

[WingsFan]

Mizzu and Vandy joining the Big 12