Boulder – About the only thing missing from the heated Colorado vs. Colorado State football rivalry is an outcome decided when an official’s call was reversed after a second look.
Imagine the frenzied crowd reaction Saturday at Folsom Field if a game-winning play is overturned – for either side.
Upon further review, it could happen.
For the first time, the Buffaloes and the Rams will play in a game utilizing instant replay. The Big 12 and Mountain West are among eight Division I-A conferences that joined the Big Ten in adopting instant replay for the 2005 season. Although considered an NFL staple, instant replay did not make its debut in the college game until the Big Ten pioneered its use for home games last season. The results drew rave reviews.
The use of instant replay remains on an “experimental basis” this year, according to the NCAA. Those connected with college football believe it eventually will be required for all Division I-A games, perhaps as soon as 2006. The NCAA is expected to rubber-stamp the Bowl Championship Series-proposed use of instant replay in all 28 bowl games this season.
“It’s just another step in making the game a little bit better,” Colorado coach Gary Barnett said. “I’ve never seen a downside to it.”
Dave Parry, the Big Ten’s supervisor of football officials, developed the instant replay model that serves as a framework for procedures used this season by other conferences, in some cases with variations. In the Big Ten system, a “replay official” in the press box determines which calls to review, using the television feed. The replay official is the only person who can stop play when there is a questionable call.
If the Big Ten’s guinea-pig season was an indication, instant replay reviews probably won’t be needed in many games. Play was stopped in only about half (28 of 57) of the 2004 Big Ten home games. Out of more than 9,000 total plays, 43 stoppages occurred and 21 calls were overturned (48.8 percent).
Reviews took an average of 2 minutes, 39 seconds, according to the Big Ten.
“I can’t believe how smoothly it went,” Parry said. “Our hate mail is down. Nasty e-mails and phone calls, they’re all way down. I think fans accepted the fact that we’re doing our best and we’re just trying to get the call right.”
The MWC’s instant replay protocol differs most from the Big Ten model. Similar to the NFL, MWC coaches will have an opportunity to challenge a call by tossing a red flag onto the field. As in the pros, an unsuccessful challenge costs a timeout.
The NCAA was pleased to hear that at least one conference will experiment with coaches’ challenges, MWC deputy commissioner Bret Gilliland said.
“There is an exposure element or public relations element to being the only one,” Gilliland conceded. “Our coaches just wanted to give it a try.”
Big Ten coaches nixed the idea of coaches’ challenges, Parry said, because they wanted to avoid any extra pressure or responsibility during a game and were concerned about being second-guessed afterward if they forfeited timeouts because of unsuccessful challenges.
“(MWC coaches) are going to have to think through how and when we appeal a play,” CSU coach Sonny Lubick said.
The instant replay system used in nonconference games will be that of the home team. A visiting team can veto the use of instant replay, but CSU agreed on the Big 12 procedures for Saturday’s game in Boulder.
The Big 12 instant replay system differs slightly from that of the Big Ten in that a video monitor is placed on the sidelines for use by the referee. The referee can discuss a questionable call with the replay official, but the replay official will make the final decision from the press box.
There will be no coaches’ challenges in the CU-CSU game.
“I’m glad I don’t play in the Mountain West. There may be flags flying out of coaches’ hands right and left,” CU quarterback Joel Klatt said. “The only thing players are concerned about is that instant replay won’t take away from pace of play. Even three minutes is a long time when you’re just standing there.”
Only the Western Athletic and Sun Belt conferences declined to adopt instant replay this year. About 50 percent of WAC games are not televised and the league decided that the costs would be prohibitive to set up an in-house production for nontelevised games. For nontelevised MWC games, feeds for the scoreboard video will be used, which could involve as few as two cameras. Many televised games employ at least six cameras.
The Big 12 will follow the Big Ten’s lead for nontelevised games and contract with a network such as ESPN to set up an in-house production.
“It’s not designed to correct every officiating error,” said Verl Sorgen, the Pac-10’s head of officials. “What’s desirable is catching ‘the big ticket items.”‘
Use of replay for CU-CSU game
* All calls are reviewed by a replay official in the press box, with no coaches, players or other game officials allowed to provide input in the decision-making. Only the replay official can stop play to review a call.
* There will be a video monitor on the sidelines for the referee. The referee will be permitted to communicate with the replay official in the press box, but the replay official will make the final call.
2005 instant replay procedures
BIG TEN CONFERENCE
Same procedures as used in 2004, when it pioneered the use of instant replay in college football: All calls are reviewed by a replay official in the press box, with no coaches, players or other game officials allowed to provide input in the decision-making. Only the replay official can stop play to review a call.
* Using Big Ten system: Atlantic Coast, Big East and Pac-10, as well as Notre Dame.
BIG 12 CONFERENCE
Big Ten replay system with the addition of a video monitor on the sidelines for the referee. The referee will be permitted to communicate with the replay official in the press box, but the replay official will make the final call.
CONFERENCE USA
Technical adviser in the press box will decide whether a review is needed but the referee will still make the final call.
MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE
Will experiment with a coach’s challenge. Coaches will throw out a red flag to challenge a play with a maximum of one challenge per half. They can earn a second challenge if successful on the first. An unsuccessful challenge by a coach costs his team a timeout. The determination whether to interrupt play or either confirm or overturn a call will be made by the replay official. If a coach challenges a nonreviewable play on his first challenge of either half, he loses his challenge opportunity for that half but not a timeout.
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE
Will use Big Ten replay system with touch screen monitors.
SUN BELT CONFERENCE
No replay system.
WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
No replay system.
Worth a look
PLAYS THAT MAY BE REVIEWED
Scoring plays, including runner breaking plane of goal line; pass complete/incomplete/intercepted at sideline, goal line and end line; runner/receiver in or out of bounds; recovery of loose ball in or out of bounds; pass ruled complete/incomplete/intercepted in the field of play and end zones; touching of a forward pass by an
ineligible receiver; touching of a forward pass by a defensive player; quarterback (passer) forward pass or fumble (if ruled incomplete, the play is finalized); illegal forward pass or illegal handing off beyond the line of scrimmage; illegal forward pass or illegal handing off after change of possession; forward or backward pass thrown from behind the line of scrimmage; runner ruled not down; forward progress errors with respect to first down; touching of a kick; number of players on field; clock adjustments; fourth-down fumble plays.
PLAYS THAT MAY NOT BE REVIEWED
Holding, offside/encroachment, pass interference, personal fouls, illegal blocks, illegal formations, face mask, taunting/excessive celebration, false starts, roughing the passer/kicker, fighting participants.
(COMPILED BY TOM KENSLER)
Staff writer Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-820-5456 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
