The ref that was directly lined up with the ball, on the far side (other side from the LSU receiver, who was lined up closer to the camera). You can see him throw the flag as soon as the ball is snapped.
Don't laugh. I actually tried to 'play' it and it took me a second to figure out why I couldn't. I even refreshed the page. :lol:
How hard is it to give the ref a little wave each time you step up to the line? you can be within a yard - yard and a half of the LOS and everything will be ok. The ref knows that you are SUPPOSED to be on the line. I did it all through HS ball.
Deceks, I think I know what happened on the picked-up flag. From watching it.. Early's split out wide left. The left line judge determines he is in fact on the line. Then the ball is snapped and the right line judge throws the flag saying 7 men weren't on the line. The officials discuss it, and the official who saw Early was lined up on the line probably explains to the other official that Doucet was okay and thus no flag. It makes a lot of sense. Especially considering if Early wasn't on the line, the left line judge will throw the flag, not the official on the other side of the field and furthest from the player in question. I think the problem was the head referee neglected to explain why there was no foul on the play. That left everything open to interpretation and assumptions. That's always a problem and a tough pill to swallow. Just my two cents. Brian ~Go Tigers!~
Ok Deceks.... I just watched the play over and over about 10 times... That includes the entire process from the beginning of the play until the ref's explanation. A few things happen: - receiver never looks at the line judge or communicates with him before snap - flag thrown at beginning of play - Hester scores - officials gather at far side of field to discuss play - ref motions for line judge from near side of field to join discussion - official who threw flag picks it up and puts in back pocket - a couple comments made by ref - official takes flag out of pocket and drops it back down on field, watching it a few times, this is definitely the official who originally threw the flag - ref right then says "the previous play is under review" - during the review, the flag is visible on field but a few feet from original spot - ref comes back out eventually with announcent "first of all, there was no foul on the play. There were seven men on the line of scrimmage. The result of the play is a touchdown." I believe you are correct Deceks. The refs most definitely reviewed the penalty call. Sucks doesn't it?
The officiating was bad all the way around. A second issue for me is the total lack of documentation as to what constitutes being on the line of scrimmage. The 2005 rule book simply states that 7 men must be on the line. An article, https://www.humankinetics.com/products/showexcerpt.cfm?excerpt_id=3765 references the Iowa program and states: "Each end's helmet must be able to break the beltline of the center. If they do not break the beltline, there will not be enough men on the line of scrimmage. Ends also must see the ball out of their peripheral vision." Is this the definitive word on position? I really don't know. The photo provided by LuvDoc shows the second white line from the left as being approximately at the center's belt line. The receiver's helmet doesn't break that line. Not for woulda, coulda, shoulda purposes, the game is over. Was it really an illegal formation? I would like to know what the basis is to make that call.
I think I found the answer: http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=sports&id=5703837 At the end of the third quarter the SEC party leaves for the airport. Auburn would go on to win 35-7. Cognizant of the TV ratings, Slive was disappointed that the game was not more competitive. But if there is one thing you will not catch the man doing in this ferociously competitive conference, it's rooting for either side during a league game. Even subtly. Slive's wardrobe is heavy on green and brown, since no school in the SEC has those in its color scheme. "People always ask me who I cheer for," he says. "The officials." Maybe this is why there are so many bad and no calls in every game......
Theres no doubt it was handled poorly and ill-timed. This is not the first time in history officials have picked up a flag after clarification from another. I doubt the line up footage was what they were watching in the booth because there are more than just review officials in there and word would get out. The flag was probably thrown back down so the head could pick it up and officially do that funny little wave off with the mike on. I doubt they will ever say Bob on the other side of the field threw a flag for a call he had no discernable view of and Fred told him he was wrong... The words "wrong", "mistaken", and "incompetent" will never escape an officials lips during game play even though we all know this is the case. Later, Fur
