I know the horse is cold and decaying(ed), but thought the board might appreciate some additional insight....
One of the officials that worked the game is a client of mine and he and I talked for the first time since that game this morning. The quick version of the story is Lincoln Riley and staff know the rules better than most staffs. The long version of the story is:
The replay booth called for a review of the 10-yard touch. It clearly showed the ball went 10-yards. Lincoln Riley threw his replay flag and initially called for a review of an illegal kick. Someone in his headset quickly told him to amend it to a review of an illegal touch by the kicker, not an illegal kick. Illegal kicks are not reviewable, but illegal touches are. The reason a review of the review was permissible is due to it being separate illegal touch from the initial potential illegal touch review. An example he provided was a replay being called by the booth as to whether a reception was in fact a reception and on the other side of the field a defender running off the field as the ball was snapped. Regardless of whether the reception was ruled complete or incomplete, the coach on offense could throw a flag to review whether there were 12 men on the field. The replay rules book isn't that much less than the regular rules book and the collective OU staff knew their stuff in knowing a separate review was permissible and to request a review of an illegal touch by the kicker rather than a illegal kick. I asked the official what percentage of staffs, in his opinion, know that and know what could be reviewed and what to ask for. His estimation was 20%.
I probably have a more unique lens in to the officiating world than most as I have NFL, NCAA basketball and several college football officials as clients and a member of my staff is on the reply crew at Arrowhead. So, I get all the figurative Monday morning stories. The onside kick and numerous other stories makes me wonder, more than anything, why staffs don't hire retired officials (or pay interns to be experts) to be on call. It is entirely possible the outcome of the KSU-OU game hinged on an OU staffer knowing this nuance that a lot of staffs would have missed.
One of the officials that worked the game is a client of mine and he and I talked for the first time since that game this morning. The quick version of the story is Lincoln Riley and staff know the rules better than most staffs. The long version of the story is:
The replay booth called for a review of the 10-yard touch. It clearly showed the ball went 10-yards. Lincoln Riley threw his replay flag and initially called for a review of an illegal kick. Someone in his headset quickly told him to amend it to a review of an illegal touch by the kicker, not an illegal kick. Illegal kicks are not reviewable, but illegal touches are. The reason a review of the review was permissible is due to it being separate illegal touch from the initial potential illegal touch review. An example he provided was a replay being called by the booth as to whether a reception was in fact a reception and on the other side of the field a defender running off the field as the ball was snapped. Regardless of whether the reception was ruled complete or incomplete, the coach on offense could throw a flag to review whether there were 12 men on the field. The replay rules book isn't that much less than the regular rules book and the collective OU staff knew their stuff in knowing a separate review was permissible and to request a review of an illegal touch by the kicker rather than a illegal kick. I asked the official what percentage of staffs, in his opinion, know that and know what could be reviewed and what to ask for. His estimation was 20%.
I probably have a more unique lens in to the officiating world than most as I have NFL, NCAA basketball and several college football officials as clients and a member of my staff is on the reply crew at Arrowhead. So, I get all the figurative Monday morning stories. The onside kick and numerous other stories makes me wonder, more than anything, why staffs don't hire retired officials (or pay interns to be experts) to be on call. It is entirely possible the outcome of the KSU-OU game hinged on an OU staffer knowing this nuance that a lot of staffs would have missed.
