[Husker] So were we this bad after the A&M game ?

[Steve Schmadeke]

The first photo in the photo sequence linked to at the beginning of the article is the first one to convince me that it was a touchdown.

I didn't feel that any of the freeze frames of the ABC/ESPN broadcast were indisputable, including the freeze frame that the announcers were focused on during the broadcast.  The frame they showed after the safety, which included the ball over the goal line, also showed that the left hand was already off the ball.  When they clicked it back one frame, the ball looked like it might or might not be nosing the goal line at that point and you couldn't see the left hand behind the ball, making it impossible to tell if the hand was or was not still in contact and control of the ball.  While you don't actually need both hands to be in control of the ball, the stretch started with a two-handed grip and the full-speed replay of the end-zone angle seemed to show that there was no intervening transition period where the two-handed grip turned into a one-handed grip with control before the fumble.

So, based on the shots available to the replay refs, I don't think there was enough evidence to overturn what was called on the field, which sure looked like a fumble to my naked eyes.  I was surprised at the time that there was even a need to review the play, a stance that didn't change when they showed the replay on HuskerVision in the stadium.

Anyway, the first photo in the photo sequence does have a nice clear shot of the moment in question.  In the first shot you can see the fingertips of the glove on the left hand.  Lehman definitely has both hands on the ball in that shot.  Also, even though the angle is not right on the goal line, it is pretty clear that the ball has broken the plane (compare the ball to Santos' knee and James' arm on either side).

With regards to Bill's comment #6 below, there was actually 7:39 on the clock at the end of the play.  If the call was reversed to a touchdown, Nebraska would have been down three points (assuming the extra point) with more than a half-quarter to go and in a half where they would still have already outscored Penn State by 21-10.  They had already driven the length of the field three times in the half (with one of the drives ending in their own fumble for a touchback) and had the wind at their backs.

Personally, I just think we add one more notch to the unusual geometry of the gridiron in the history of this series.  Along with extra six foot wide notch added to the south-east sideline inside the five-yard line used by McClosky in his catch in 1982 game and the corresponding notch in the back line of the end zone used by Bowman in his game-winning catch (or trap?) on the next play, we can add a little six-inch notch jutting into the end zone to the south-west goal line.

On Nov 13, 2012, at 7:05 AM, "Smith, William" <wsmith at towson.edu> wrote:

> Some rather small comments re: "the fumble".
> 
> 1.   It's difficult to confirm when the ball is coming out because during the freeze frame the ball and hands are out of focus. 
> 
> 2.  Given all the fumbles inside the 5 yard line by both teams, I can understand officials would be inclined to call a fumble when watching the play in real time. 
> 
> 3.  I think Pellini is correct;  had the call on the field been a touchdown the result would have been the same:  "the ruling on the field stands" (as opposed to "confirmed").  
> 
> 4.  While it's difficult to tell from that ground level view, the aerial view from the end zone tends to show that the ball carrier doesn't begin to lose possession until the defensive player makes contact with the ball, though we can't really tell where the ball is in relation to the goal line at that point.  But combining that angle with the goal line angle, there's a rather strong indication that the player has control of the ball as it begins to cross the front of the goal line.    However "a rather strong indication" is still doesn't meet the "indisputable evidence" standard.  
> 
> 5.  In all fairness I think this was truly a touchdown.  
> 
> 6.  There were still five (plus a little) minutes left to go in the game.  PSU may have not gotten the benefit of the doubt on a very close play, but there was still plenty of time left for them to win.   This outcome of a game like this hinges on more than one play or one bad call. 
> 
> Bill Smith
> Towson, MD 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: husker-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:husker-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of Andy Knipp
> Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 8:38 AM
> To: 'Husker List'
> Subject: [Husker] So were we this bad after the A&M game ?
> 
> 
> 
> http://www.omaha.com/article/20121112/HUSKERS/711129877/1002#controversial-c
> all-leaves-some-penn-state-writers-fans-looking-for-answers
> 
> 
> 
> So I think I know the answer.  
> 
> :-)
> 
> Now, if NU beats UI & UM and then loses to Wisky, we could still make a BCS bowl, if NU finishes in the top 14. That might mean a NU/OU game at the
> Fiesta Bowl, which I will have to attend.   But I think I would prefer
> playing ND in the Rose Bowl  and watching it on TV.  That being said, I have not attend a game since the 1st B12 championship game in STL. 
>