I'd like to see Alabama lose but I'd also love to see a Florida State-Alabama matchup (with Winston playing).
That blown opportunity by the Auburn QB is exactly why they have little chance to win today. I could have made that throw.
Why are the commentators convinced he did not call a fair catch? The rulebook states "A valid signal is a signal given by a player of Team B who has obviously signaled his intention by extending one hand only clearly above his head and waving that hand from side to side of his body more than once" which would seem to jive with their opinion... However, a lot of returners use both arms similar to the signal for an incomplete pass. Are players allowed to fake a fair catch in this way...?
Apparently he also yelled "Get away" which is what caused the officials to blow the whistle... Why did he think he still could return it?? Stupid play.
T.J. Moe, former Mizzou receiver and returner, just tweeted this: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>For those wondering about the fair catch call in the auburn Alabama game: as a punt returner last year, refs told me swinging arms...</p>— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) <a href="https://twitter.com/TJMoe28/statuses/406890619492003841">November 30, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Like that out to the side as if to say "get away" is the same as a fair catch. Dead ball. Right call</p>— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) <a href="https://twitter.com/TJMoe28/statuses/406890811293323265">November 30, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Even so, it seems like the officials are unilaterally rewriting the rulebook on this one.
The side motion like the incomplete pass is used as a signal to your own players to get away so that the ball doesn't accidentally bounce into one of your own guys. That's always given anytime the ball is going to bounce. But that alone shouldn't prevent a guy from picking it up and running with it off the bounce.
Yeah that's what I figured... I guess the breakdown of the punt (having it slightly blocked) threw the officials off.
1) Auburn making way too many mistakes. Keep this up and they have no chance. 2) Refs have been horrible both ways. Embarrassing effort by the officials today. 3) Nobody have Auburn a chance running the ball but they've done what they've wanted on the ground. The pass is what's holding them back. Need to get some plays downfield to keep them honest. 4) McCarron is lethal. Very underrated player by most. Rarely makes mistakes and is just dominating today.
Congrats to the Rice Owls, 2013 C-USA West Division Champs. They advance to play against the Marshall Thundering Herd in the Conference USA title game.
The two biggest plays of the game have both gone against Auburn: Mason's fumble and a 99-yard TD pass.
