Notre Dame scored a game-winning touchdown to knock off undefeated defending national champion Florida State, and then it didn’t. An offensive pass interference penalty negated the score, and the Fighting Irish couldn’t find the end zone on one last fourth-down play. Some Notre Dame fans seem to believe the call was correct, but Irish head coach Brian Kelly vehemently disagrees.
ACC explains controversial Notre Dame penalty in FSU game
Based on the explanation of the rule, offensive pass interference appeared to be the correct call.
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Kelly said that he would have a conversation with the ACC’s supervisor of officials, and that he was “sure we’ll get even less clarification.”
A Closer Look
The ACC issued a comment from Doug Rhoads, the conference’s coordinator of football officials, in an attempt to get an explanation. During a segment for ACC Now, Rhoads didn’t state whether he agreed or disagreed with the penalty, but he did explain the offensive pass interference rule:
Offensive players, on passing plays, are restricted from going downfield and blocking anytime from the snap. If the ball is first touched behind the line of scrimmage, then that would be legal, and it’s OK, but if the ball is touched beyond the line, then it’s offensive pass interference.
Officials always have to exercise great judgement in calling a foul, and offensive pass interference, or pick plays, as they’re sometimes referred to, are no different than other difficult judgements. The key element is that the official must assess on the play if there is sufficient restriction for it to be a foul, and he has to differentiate between incidental contact and significant contact, or significant restriction, before he calls that foul.
Watch video of the play and read those words, and it’s hard to argue against Saturday night’s officials.
See More:
