MAC mistakes
Tuesday night, the nation got a look at how Marshall has won all those games.
The way officials bungled the end of the Thundering Herd's 36-34 victory over Miami (Ohio), suggested a homer job at worst and bad mechanics by the crew, and local police, at best.
During Marshall's game-winning drive, two consecutive questionable pass interference calls put the ball at the Miami 1. From there, Marshall quarterback Stan Hill ran for a score aided, replays showed, by a key hold from Marshall receiver Darius Watts.
Defensive coordinator Jon Wauford was arrested during the postgame Marshall on-field celebration for allegedly assaulting a fan. Up in the coaches box, Miami coaches trashed the booth after the tough loss.
They shouldn't be blamed.
MAC commissioner Rick Chryst said, "I'm sure Miami will send something to our coordinator." Supervisor of officials Carl Paganelli routinely reviews film in protests by schools.
Taken together, the three plays could not have been evaluated correctly. By the letter of the rule, the Miami defender on the first call could have been interpreted as interfering. But not by the spirit. The defender had position on the Marshall receiver.
On the second call, the Marshall receiver was "scraped" by a Miami defender chasing another receiver.
They were monumental calls with so much riding on the game. With the victory, Marshall now leads the MAC East. The officials can't call interference and then let Watts go for his hold on the touchdown. Privately, MAC officials are disappointed the finish ruined a great game.
One official was bothered that Wauford was displayed like a "trophy" at the stadium by state troopers who handcuffed him. It would have been wiser, and less of a grandstand move, to approach Wauford underneath the stands in the locker room.
Thankfully, Wauford's release on bail was expedited when a judge was found at that late hour for a hearing. Wauford traveled back to Miami on the team plane, although he and assistant Taver Johnson were suspended Wednesday pending an investigation of the incidents by the school.
Tuesday night, the nation got a look at how Marshall has won all those games.
The way officials bungled the end of the Thundering Herd's 36-34 victory over Miami (Ohio), suggested a homer job at worst and bad mechanics by the crew, and local police, at best.
During Marshall's game-winning drive, two consecutive questionable pass interference calls put the ball at the Miami 1. From there, Marshall quarterback Stan Hill ran for a score aided, replays showed, by a key hold from Marshall receiver Darius Watts.
Defensive coordinator Jon Wauford was arrested during the postgame Marshall on-field celebration for allegedly assaulting a fan. Up in the coaches box, Miami coaches trashed the booth after the tough loss.
They shouldn't be blamed.
MAC commissioner Rick Chryst said, "I'm sure Miami will send something to our coordinator." Supervisor of officials Carl Paganelli routinely reviews film in protests by schools.
Taken together, the three plays could not have been evaluated correctly. By the letter of the rule, the Miami defender on the first call could have been interpreted as interfering. But not by the spirit. The defender had position on the Marshall receiver.
On the second call, the Marshall receiver was "scraped" by a Miami defender chasing another receiver.
They were monumental calls with so much riding on the game. With the victory, Marshall now leads the MAC East. The officials can't call interference and then let Watts go for his hold on the touchdown. Privately, MAC officials are disappointed the finish ruined a great game.
One official was bothered that Wauford was displayed like a "trophy" at the stadium by state troopers who handcuffed him. It would have been wiser, and less of a grandstand move, to approach Wauford underneath the stands in the locker room.
Thankfully, Wauford's release on bail was expedited when a judge was found at that late hour for a hearing. Wauford traveled back to Miami on the team plane, although he and assistant Taver Johnson were suspended Wednesday pending an investigation of the incidents by the school.
