Controversial Win?

ESPN's Opinion of BYU's Last Second Victory of Washington

If you watched ESPN's Sportscenter yesterday, you probably saw the clip I have posted above. It seems that the ESPN analysts and others feel that BYU's win over Washington was given to them by the officials.

They say that somehow the outcome would have been different had the officials not flagged Jake Locker for throwing the ball in the air. I guess they are right. BYU would have blocked the PAT from the 2.5 yard line and still would have won.

Okay, let's talk about the rules. Here is what it says.

"After a score or any other play, the player in possesion immediately must return the ball to an official or leave it near the dead-ball spot.

This prohibits: ...
(c) Throwing the ball high in the air."

Take a look at the video. Jake Locker clearly throws the ball into the air. It is not simply throwing the ball over his shoulder, like some of the analysts are claiming. He throws it at least 10 feet in the air. If that is not considered "high in the air" then I don't know what is. It is clear that Jake Locker violated the rule. That can't be disputed. If you don't like the rule, take it up with the NCAA at the end of the season, because nothing is going to be changed mid-season.

As for the outcome of the game, I have already said that it might have changed how BYU won, but not necessarily that BYU won. Let's not forget that BYU won the Las Vegas Bowl last December with a last second field goal block. The team is capable of winning a game by blocking a kick. The official's call did no create an automatic blocked field goal for BYU.

Also, Field goals are made from 35 yards out on a regular basis. It's can't be argued that the official's call made the PAT an impossible task. Yes, it was more difficult, but let's remember that BYU was the one that blocked the field goal. It was not like the Washington kicker muffed the kick. Had BYU not blocked it, odds are in favor of it going in for Washington. Like I said before, 35 yard field goals are made on a regular basis in college football.

Let's get over this dumb controversy. The officials made the right call. Like it or not, the officials did make the right call. Jake Locker clearly celebrated. It is sad that a game had to end with such a call, but it did. And no one is to blame but Locker.