Toledo Now Has Their Wide Left

by Matt Sussman on Sep 24, 2011 3:29 PM CDT in MAC Football

I can't say I'm "disgusted" by missed plays in sports. They happen. They're hard to see. But when Toledo fell to Syracuse in overtime 33-30, all I could think of was Ross Krautman's extra-point on SU's go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown to make the game 30-27.

On the replay it was pretty evident — and the Big East Network broadcasting team felt this as well — that the ball went in front of the goalpost and sailed left. But the replay confirmed the good PAT.

SportsGrid has video:

Coaches will always expound on the maxim that one play doesn't determine a win or loss. Also puzzling was the first play in overtime where Austin Dantin took a chance in the end zone, only to be intercepted by Kevyn Scott. Syracuse then marched along a little and hit the game-winning field goal. Deep throws aren't what Dantin does best.

You could also point to the play immediately before that: Toledo's 4th and goal on the 3-yard line. A touchdown would have won-or-lost it, but Tim Beckman gave the green light for the field goal. I liked the field goal because Toledo was playing Syracuse evenly all game. What were the odds of Dantin making something happen on the right hash?

So it's our nature to keep cycling back to the extra point. The replay system wasn't designed to make 100 percent of the on-the-field injustices right, but this seemed like a clear-cut miss. A field goal would have won it. Would have, should have, wasn't.

But the nonconference shenanigans are over. UT played Ohio State well, Boise State as best they could, and Syracuse pretty decently considering their depleted reserves. All that's coming up for them next week is Temple.

And, hey, only three penalties all game!

UPDATE: Big East officials announced that the call was wrong.

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Comments

I can’t even get upset about it. The team is flat out snakebitten this year. Injuries, penalties, and now blown calls.

by Culby on Sep 24, 2011 7:45 PM CDT reply actions

I honestly don't know how you can blow this call

Not only do you miss it in game, which is somewhat understandable, but to miss it on instant replay, with the ball CLEARLY going in front of the goal post……..unbelievable

by Brown and Gold on Sep 24, 2011 8:18 PM CDT reply actions

The explanation

The referee was not using the same angle we saw. For some reason he was looking at a sideline angle, not a head-on one.

Benevolent despot, Hustle Belt — SBN's MAC blog

by Matt Sussman on Sep 24, 2011 8:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Why didn't he use both if anything?

I mean, I understand you probably have one view, but shouldn’t decisions be made on multiple views? Makes NO sense

by Brown and Gold on Sep 24, 2011 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Speaking of missed plays

That picture at the top of the post? The reason why the helmet is flying is because Anderson grabbed Antwon Bailey’s facemask and ripped his helmet off of his head. No flag. That drive ended in a FG. If the call were made, and SU gets 15 yards and an automatic first down, maybe they score a touchdown and the missed XP doesn’t matter.

I’m not disputing the XP was no good. I’m disputing any claim that there was only one bad call in the game and this one bad call cost Toledo the game.

On the last Toledo drive, SU sure looked as if they were playing to keep Toledo out of the end zone. If instead they’re playing to keep Toledo out of FG range, it’s a completely different sequence.

by zibby on Sep 25, 2011 8:10 AM CDT reply actions