FB: American Southwest Conference

[crufootball]

Absolutely. The horrific punt cost them the game.
And the ability to get the FG team on the field and make a rushed kick was extremely impressive and I don't want to take away from that. It's just always disappointing when a great game ends with controversy.
But I completely disagree that using the rules to your advantage is a bad thing. That's the name of the game. That's like saying running the play clock down to 1 to burn the clock earlier in the game  was "gaming the system." Completely illogical argument.

But when you burn the clock down to 1 second you are in complete control of the situation, very little can happen to make you lose the game. You can say they were using the rules to their advantage, how did that advantage work out for them?

Random fact about the field position that UMHB got. As far as I can tell, this weekend was the first walk off kick situation UMHB has ever had, the only comparable situation? The 2008 Texas Sub-bracket game matching #5 UMHB and #8 HSU in the first round the playoffs which technically wasn't a walk off situation since we did have to kickoff with 5 seconds left after a 33 yard field goal from Alan Munoz. The random field position fact is in both games, UMHB started their drive on the HSU 47, in 08 HSU kicked fairly short and we ran to the 47.

[DFWCrufan]

Fair point. It's hard to tell from the clips that are out there. Not sure if it's available but I would love to see video of the entire series of events between the catch on 3rd down all the way to the kick.

In the clip the official is over the ball until the kicker is about to stop his positioning. Then he backs out. After that, HSU sends on two players (making it 12 on the field) late.

[Pat Coleman]

https://mobile.twitter.com/UMHB/status/1188237617462218752

The last UMHB player steps off the field around 0:05. At almost the same exact time, HSU sends its players onto the field. The ref seems to be looking toward the Cru sideline and steps away from the ball right after all UMHB players have left the field.

Was it not until 0:05 that it was clear UMHB was kicking a field goal?

[D3 Junkie 27]

Does the rule say the ref should stand over the ball until it's obvious Team A is kicking a field goal? Nope.

[s e 76]

ref blew it period

[TheChucker]

PENALTY – [c-d] Dead-ball foul. Five yards from the succeeding spot [S22].
When Team A sends in its substitutes, the officials will not allow the ball to be snapped until Team B has been given an opportunity to substitute. While in the process of substitution or simulated substitution, Team A is prohibited from rushing quickly to the line of scrimmage with the obvious attempt of creating a defensive disadvantage. If the ball is ready for play, the game officials will not permit the ball to be snapped until Team B has placed substitutes in position and replaced players have left the field of play. Team B must react promptly with its substitutes.

PENALTY – (First offence) Dead-ball foul. Delay of game on Team B for not completing its substitutions promptly, or delay of game on Team A for causing the play clock to expire. Five yards from the succeeding spot [S21]. The referee will then notify the head coach that any further use of this tactic will result in an unsportsmanlike conduct foul.
PENALTY – (Second or more offence) Dead-ball foul, team unsportsmanlike conduct. An official will sound his whistle immediately. 15 yards from the succeeding spot. [S27].

* UMHB started substituting at roughly 14-15 seconds (before the clip starting at 12).
* Umpire holds play while UMHB is setting up and HSU delays and does nothing.
* Finally, at about 5 seconds, a split second before the umpire backs off the ball, 1 HSU players jogs off the field while 2 HSU players run on.
* The umpire backs off at about 4 seconds but probably could have waited until about 3 seconds once the jogging HSU player hits the sideline.
* Ball is snapped with 1+ seconds left. Field goal made.
* If the field goal was missed, UMHB would be getting another kick closer to the goalposts due to the 12-men-on-the-field penalty.
* Umpire could have called HSU for delay of game due to the slow substitution.

[Kelly Boggs]

Here is the passage from the official NCAA rule book dealing with Saturday's end-of-game situation (Pat shared in on Twitter on Saturday): "Late in a half Team A is out of timeouts. A pass play on third down ends inbounds at the B-25 short of the line to gain with the game clock showing 0:10. Facing fourth down and three, Team A immediately hurries its field goal team onto the field. RULING: Team B should reasonably expect that Team A will attempt a field goal in this situation and should have its field-goal defense unit ready. The umpire will not stand over the ball, as there should be no issue of the defense being uncertain about the next play."

[D3 Junkie 27]

Unfortunately, that's not what happened Kelly. Team A did not immediately hurry their field goal unit on the field. Their offense ran to the ball before deciding what to do next. I don't think anyone other than you is saying the ref should not have stood over the ball at all, the debate is did he allow enough time or not.

[Captainred81]

Greetings from the OAC....

A) I'm glad UMHB won, because I would like to see a rematch of last year's Stagg Bowl.
B) I watched it live, and many times after and it seems that at 5 seconds, the UMHB team was completely set and ready to kick, and the HSU players that came on late were nowhere in site.  HSU did have a playing trotting off the field.  The clip started at 12 seconds and Team A was completely set at 5 seconds.  HSU had 7 seconds to make their choice and run with it, and they failed.  I think it was totally legit, and a great kick by Avila, and most impressive is the discipline, focus and organization shown by UMHB to get it all done. 

What a game!!!  I always like to see upsets (except for Mount) but this was the right call. 

[HSUDAD]

Wow that one stung, ALOT!!

Rules aside, the officials mechanics of that last play are in place from what I can tell.  The umpire is to stand over the ball allowing opportunity to sub, some have questioned why he is not looking at the sideline...he is actually supposed to be looking at the white hat (referee) as to when to step back.  It is hard to tell from the videos I have seen, but it looks like this is exactly what he is doing.  The video captures the white hat waving his arm which to me is signaling the umpire to step back and allow the snap. I do question how the white hat could not see the HSU player jogging off the field which would indicate that substitutions are being made and hold the umpire longer.  Of course I would question this though because I am a cowboy. 

With all this said, one play or one mistake by an official (and I am still not 100% convinced there was a mistake) does not determine the outcome of a game.  I can point to a couple things (the punt and the face mask penalty by our receiver) that set us back 15 yards when were approaching midfield at the end did NOT help matters in that final minute.   

The frustration lies with me in that we played well enough to win the game (even many of the Cru faithful will admit that) and it didn't happen.  You guys know that you are the thorn in our side that we just can't get past.  Of all  years for the NCAA to decide that conference opponents will not play each other in the first round and we aren't even going to make the tournament this year.  I can't help but wonder if we wouldn't have had to play you or Linfield in the first round how much different would it be for HSU recruiting to be able to say we went multiple rounds deep over the past four years instead of one and done in the playoffs. 

With all that said, it is what it is and one day....one day HSU is going to reap the harvest of the seeds that have been planted by the Cowboys that have came before now.  It is without a doubt a special place.
 
I hope this didn't sound like too much whining.  Hats off to the Cru (again)...get after it and get better so you guys can make another run at it this year.

Peace

[TheChucker]

Wow that one stung, ALOT!!

Rules aside, the officials mechanics of that last play are in place from what I can tell.  The umpire is to stand over the ball allowing opportunity to sub, some have questioned why he is not looking at the sideline...he is actually supposed to be looking at the white hat (referee) as to when to step back.  It is hard to tell from the videos I have seen, but it looks like this is exactly what he is doing.  The video captures the white hat waving his arm which to me is signaling the umpire to step back and allow the snap. I do question how the white hat could not see the HSU player jogging off the field which would indicate that substitutions are being made and hold the umpire longer.  Of course I would question this though because I am a cowboy. 

With all this said, one play or one mistake by an official (and I am still not 100% convinced there was a mistake) does not determine the outcome of a game.  I can point to a couple things (the punt and the face mask penalty by our receiver) that set us back 15 yards when were approaching midfield at the end did NOT help matters in that final minute.   

The frustration lies with me in that we played well enough to win the game (even many of the Cru faithful will admit that) and it didn't happen.  You guys know that you are the thorn in our side that we just can't get past.  Of all  years for the NCAA to decide that conference opponents will not play each other in the first round and we aren't even going to make the tournament this year.  I can't help but wonder if we wouldn't have had to play you or Linfield in the first round how much different would it be for HSU recruiting to be able to say we went multiple rounds deep over the past four years instead of one and done in the playoffs. 

With all that said, it is what it is and one day....one day HSU is going to reap the harvest of the seeds that have been planted by the Cowboys that have came before now.  It is without a doubt a special place.
 
I hope this didn't sound like too much whining.  Hats off to the Cru (again)...get after it and get better so you guys can make another run at it this year.

Peace

A very gracious post. HSU is one of the best 2-loss teams in the nation and deserves the top 20 ranking. No question. Getting one of the few Pool C bids might be really tough unfortunately. With the NCAAs change in first round playoff scheduling this year (no 1st round conference opponents), I was hoping to see HSU get sent somewhere outside of the typical west region. 

[umhbalum]

Unless something drastically changes with the Cru offense we won't be playing in December

[UMHB03]

Unless something drastically changes with the Cru offense we won't be playing in December

Certainly not very far into December, at least. While I'm thrilled that UMHB beat a very good HSU team, I keep waiting for the light to turn on for these inexperienced players on offense, but it hasn't happened yet. I thought Hammack would be the factor that sparked them, but that wasn't the case Saturday (though I'm sure the Cowboy's excellent defense had a lot to do with that). Hopefully they work out the kinks before they get to the playoffs, or they won't make it very far.

[D3 Junkie 27]

Assuming UMHB beats TLU, is there any chance for a second team to get in from the ASC?

[Pat Coleman]

I think at that point, the answer is no.