I guess as long as we are sharing, in the interest of learning, I'll relive my "big one."
Some years ago, had a Friday night (after Thanksgiving) game between the two top teams in the conference. It was quite cold that night, probably around freezing.
The visiting team was in position to win out (two more games after this one), and get into a BCS bowl game for a legitimate shot at the national championship. Tight, well played game (and well officiated, to this point, I might add). In the latter part of the 3rd period the home team had a small lead, with 4th down inside the B-20. They snapped for a field goal attempt. The kick was blocked, and the ball was bounding back toward mid-field. A home team player and two visiting team players were in pursuit of the ball. The home team player and one of the visiting team players were both about to attempt to recover the ball when the visiting team (receiving team) player swatted the ball forward (for him, toward mid-field), keeping the home team player from being able to make a play on the ball. As the R, I recognized and processed this act as illegal batting, and got my flag down on it, as I continued to retreat to stay ahead of the ball. The other visiting team player was able to secure the ball while on his feet, and advanced with more players from both teams in chase. He was able to run to the other end of the field, to around the A-25, where a home team player finally caught up to him and tackled him.
Visiting team and fans going nuts.
After having run quite hard (for an old man) with the original play, then running back to the area where the foul occurred, with the temperature so cold, I was a quite out of breath (which, I think, played a part in this story).
I coordinated briefly with my U, determined the penalty enforcement, gathered my breath quickly, and made my announcement: "Illegal batting, receiving team. That's a 15 yard penalty from the spot of the foul, first down" (receiving team). We penalized 15 yards (correct yardage at the time, since changed to 10 yards) from the spot the foul, and gave the visiting team the ball, first down.
As we got the ball ready for play for the next down, I was running the play through my mind.
Visiting team on the ball, now. Still running the play through my mind, with a nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right.
Visiting team snaps the ball, and the ball carrier is advancing through the line for a nice gain. About the time the BC crossed the NZ, I realized the error I had made on the penalty enforcement. Holy Crap, Batman. The foul occurred during the kicking play, well before the receiving team gained possession. The penalty should have been enforced at the previous spot, 1/2 the distance to the goal, with the home team retaining possession, and either repeating the down or with a new series (depending if the penalty left the ball across the line-to-gain). My U was spotting the ball, and I approached him to tell him I/we screwed up. The light went off in his head, at that point, and we both knew we'd really screwed up. But, it was too late. We couldn't fix it, at that point.
I distinctly recall thinking that this is really bad, and we are probably gonna get in huge trouble, with at least a "sit down" for one or more games, or, possibly, even a dismissal. I also recall thinking, OK, that may be true, but we can't do anything about it now. We have some 20 minutes of game time remaining. We have to shake off the error, focus, and get the rest of the game right. I can honestly say, we did just that. Speaking solely for myself, I was remarkably calm, and just focused on my keys, and duties for the rest of the game. By now, the rest of the crew had been advised of the error (during the extended TO at the period change). But there was no moping, no easing of effort or focus.
The visiting team tied the score during the 4th period. Regulation ended in a tie. On to an extra period.
The visiting team missed a field goal. The home made a field goal. Game over. Visiting team loses their shot at a national championship.
In the dressing room, I gathered the crew together, and we discussed the error, and none of us could explain how it happened. We all knew the rule. The only explanation was that we got in a hurry, got caught up in the emotion of the moment, as well as let our minds get affected by the cold temperature. I told the crew that, as crew chief, I would accept full responsibility. Of course, as good crew members, they all expressed that this was a crew error, and that 7 on-field guys, plus replay, should have got this right. (Replay could have interceded on the "egregious error" provision.) However, I still insisted to our coordinator that any repercussion from this should fall on my shoulders, only.
In the long run, we were not disciplined for this error, largely due to the fact that it didn't directly affect the score, or, arguably, the outcome of the game. I am told that neither team was ever aware of the error. Certainly not during the game, and, reportedly not in the days/weeks afterward.
But that didn't mean anything to me, or to the crew. We failed the game, and we failed our fellow officials. But we got stronger, as a result. The crew learned to pay attention to all penalty enforcements, and to not take anyone else on the crew for granted, i.e., just because the R says something, don't take it as gospel. If something doesn't sound right, or, if you have what you believe to be positive knowledge to the contrary, speak up. I made it very clear that my feelings would not be hurt if anyone challenged anything that was happening on the field. I learned to slow down, especially on unusual situations such as this, and talk these things through with several folks, even if just to confirm what I knew to be correct. We did not make any penalty enforcement or rule application errors, thereafter (for the rest of my FBS career, anyway).
I don't let it define my career, and I don't fret over it. I will remember that play as long as I live, I'm certain. But, I will also remember some of the exceptionally good calls I made during my FBS days (and the rest of my career). We should learn from all plays, and continually strive to do justice to the game, and to our fellow officials.
Push forward.
Robert
