COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said Alabama used some tape trickery to spot field goals and extra points last Saturday and is asking the Southeastern Conference if that is legal.
While reviewing video of the No. 23 Gamecocks’ 20-6 loss, Spurrier said Tuesday it looked like the Crimson Tide holder put a small piece of white tape on the ground to spot PATs and field goals.
“I thought you just had to put it on the ground. But they had a little piece of white tape or something, and I looked at it on tape and I said, ‘What’s that little piece of white there?’ Then after the guy kicked it, he grabbed it and put it back in his pocket,” Spurrier said.
SEC officials are looking into the matter.
Crimson Tide kicker Leigh Tiffin hit both extra points and field goals of 25 and 35 yards Saturday, while missing a 49-yarder. The senior is 9-of-11 on field goals and 21-of-23 on PATs this season.
“I’ve never seen that before,” Spurrier said. “But I’m sure they’ve probably been doing it all year.”
The NCAA football rulebook (Rule 6-3; Article 10; subsection d) says: “Any device or material used to mark the spot of a scrimmage place kick or elevate the ball makes the kick illegal.” The penalty is “illegal kick” and is 5 yards from the previous spot.
UConn gets back to work
STORRS, Conn. — Connecticut held its first practice since the stabbing death of player Jasper Howard over the weekend.
“It’s definitely hard to move forward, with a loss like that,” linebacker Lawrence Wilson said. “But as his mom and his parents said to us, Jasper would want us to win. So I think the team will practice hard for him.”
Police said Howard, a junior cornerback, was fatally stabbed during a fight outside a university-sanctioned dance early Sunday.
Nobody has been charged with the stabbing, and UConn police said Tuesday there were no new developments in the investigation.
Footnotes.
Cincinnati quarterback Tony Pike had surgery to repair a damaged plate in his nonthrowing arm, leaving his status uncertain for Saturday’s game against Louisville.
• Wisconsin linebacker Mike Taylor suffered a “significant” injury to his right knee against Iowa and will miss the rest of the season.
• North Carolina State cornerback Rashard Smith will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.
• West Virginia defensive tackle Scooter Berry was suspended indefinitely two days after he was arrested outside a bar.
The Associated Press
