Clemson vs T A&M touchback call - 2018

[OSU65]

I have no dog in this hunt, but I saw something about a "controversial" call that resulted in a touchback rather than an out of bounds call late in this game.
I checked out the replays and can't figure out why the original call of touchback wasn't changed to a fumble out of bounds before the goal line. (unless, see below) It seemed pretty obvious to me that the ball went OB at least a yard short of the pylon. Is this situation simply not enough evidence to overturn or is there a rule that I am missing that resulted in the call?

Looking at the tape it appears that the ball crosses the sideline around the 2, or so, but does not touch the ground until it is behind the extended goal line (extended left/right from the pylons). My guess is that the ball is dead at the location of where it first contacts the ground, and not the spot where the ball crosses the sideline.

This could have been written better, but I hope you get the point of the question.

[OSU65]

Just wanted to throw this is in...

Loose Ball Out of Bounds
ARTICLE 3. a. A ball not in player possession, other than a kick that scores
a field goal, is out of bounds when it touches the ground, a player, a game
official or anything else that is out of bounds, or that is on or outside a
boundary line.
b. A ball that touches a pylon is out of bounds behind the goal line.
c. If a live ball not in player possession crosses a boundary line and then is
declared out of bounds, it is out of bounds at the crossing point.

[TXMike]

I watched a lot of games but recollection here was IR said stands as called.  None of the angles I saw was definitive.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOQIe5g18lI

[TXMike]

And I think this video settles the issue any way.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VazXKdUQ7QQ

[Clear Lake ref]

Feels like this one should be a when I doubt thing. Too big of a call to not be 100%.

[TXMike]

I dont know NCAA IR rules but are they constrained if the crew said OOB before pylon versus after?   They ruled touchback and IT just said stands as angles did not help. Only that was kind of helpful was from above and seemed to show ball passing over top of pylon on its way out so that would be a TB

[TxBJ]

Did Jimbo get a flag for being on the field arguing or did the crew do us all a disservice by letting it go? 

[TXMike]

https://streamable.com/dekw9

https://streamable.com/dekw9

[yarnnelg]

Jimbo was at Publix getting the next theft of crab legs ready.

[ElvisLives]

The action by the S shows what I’ve been preaching for decades.  We must know our tools, and know when to use them.  He drops his flag at first, then stoops to pick it up, then drops his bean bag.  Very clumsy. 

You gotta know where your tools are, and pick the right one at the right time.

But, you’d have to have a camera directly over the pylon to make an accurate ruling on that play.  Without it, gotta go with the call on the field.

[Birddog]

On plays like this is there a "when in doubt"?  The S was at the back of the white so we know he did not have the best angle to see where ball crossed the sideline.  Should you rule OB in field of play and let replay put it in the EZ if that is the case.  Just seems like a big momentum changer to rule a TB.   Same as when runner is close to stepping OB, but you are not in best position or have obstructed view you let it go and let IR put him OB.

[Etref]

You also had the wing official right on the sideline, likely he helped the S with the call

[NVFOA_Ump]

Thanks again to TXMike for the great video work.  We appreciate the time it takes to track this stuff down and get it posted.   

[Sonofanump]

https://streamable.com/dekw9

https://streamable.com/dekw9

Wow, I would have guessed OOB, but at :25 seconds, I see why it stands, that "appears" to go over the pylon.

[JasonTX]

Fumbling the ball has consequences.  If they don't like how the officials are going to rule on the play, then don't fumble the ball. 

[LAZebra]

Fumbling the ball has consequences.  If they don't like how the officials are going to rule on the play, then don't fumble the ball.

What Jason said!  No cheap bailouts is just as important as no cheap fumbles, IMHO.

[TXMike]

The coach reaction to play made Redding's video this week.  No discussion of the actual call but made clear coach should have been flagged