That is, despite the fact they managed only 14 yards in the first half, Oregon decided to come out and give it a go for half number two.
Hence, so did I. I promise to keep it a bit shorter.
Well, I promise to try.
13:24 – The Boise State running back, D.J. Harper, managed to get outside on a long run down the sideline. On the replay, you get to see the Side Judge back-pedaling very quickly toward the goal line in an effort to not get beat to it. Looked like he even managed a quick peek over the shoulder to make sure he didn’t overrun it or hit the pylon. When the runner was tackled out of bounds, he killed the clock and stayed with the players, presumably allowing someone else to get the spot of the ball. I note this primarily because your instinct as a wing official covering the play is to get the spot. We are told in training to go with the players in these situations, with the spot being a secondary concern. I know it sounds simple, but when you’re new and on the field, it doesn’t seem like what you’re meant to do. It takes some time to get used to the idea. Not a lot, mind you, but it’s not your first instinct.
Well, it wasn’t mine, at least. Your mileage may vary.
12:10 – On first-and-goal, Harper runs the ball to just inside the one. He crosses the goal line just after his knee and elbow hit the ground. These are some of the most-difficult plays to see (again, for me) from the wings. You’re looking to see if the ball breaks the plane of the goal, while also keeping in mind that you need to see if his knee is down before the ball does break the plane. I know at least one time last year I signaled a TD on a goal-line run that some of my crew later told me might have had the runner down just before he crossed. I’m working on it.
Then again, I’m getting more work this year as an Umpire. I’ll be closer to the play without the angle or responsibility.
Two plays later, Harper does succeed and makes it 19-0. Maybe that’s not an ‘O’ for Oregon on the helmets. Could be a zero.
4:21 – Apparently not. While the officials are doing little for me to notice, Oregon managed to take advantage of reasonable field position and assembled a scoring drive. With the successful two-point conversion, they have closed the gap to 19-8.
2:22 – After a Boise fumble and Oregon recovery, there is another false start. Some of the players didn’t hear the whistles, but they were clearly blowing it dead.
What do you want? It’s been a slow quarter for my purposes.
Doh! Oregon gives it right back with an interception.
:22 – Boise sets up for a field goal attempt. A mishandled snap causes the holder to pick up and run away in an effort to maybe pass? I don’t think he thought he was going to escape on his own feet. He proved to be much slower than the guys chasing him. He surrendered by throwing the ball to a nice big open space on the field. That’ll cost him. Flag is down.
“They might have a face mask,” offers Davie, seemingly ignoring the more obvious grounding in favor of a face mask to which he may be the sole witness.
The Ducks are somehow not out of this game and their fans have come back to life. They certainly had no reason to exhaust their energy in the first half.
If you have ability to watch a replay of this game, you could just forward through to the end of the third quarter and watch for the two Boise fans in the front row wearing the while Elvis jumpsuits, blue plastic pompadour wigs, and orange-rimmed Elvis shades. Gotta love some Elvis.
4Q – First play of the final quarter, Masoli fumbles, Boise recovers. It’s simply not in the cards for the Ducks. They had their chances.
14:14 – Bad snap? The play definitely went live, but then the referee came running in, blowing his whistle, and seeming to drop his flag near the feet of Boise QB Moore.
“There is no flag on the play. It’s a bean bag. It’s a first down for Oregon.”
Okay pal. I hear ya, but that was your flag. I know the difference. It’s all good though, brother.
Why this is going to review, I have no idea. It was pretty obviously a center-qb exchange gone wrong and Oregon clearly recovered. Seems like an unnecessary time waste, but people want review.
What do you know? The guys on the field had it right. Let’s get back to football. It wasn’t too long a delay, though, to be honest.
10:25 – There appears to have been a holding foul, but ESPN seems to be transitioning into “this game is boring” mode, and thus choosing to continually cut to the booth where Davie and Jones can dazzle us with their clothing choices and hand gestures in discussing…I’ve already forgotten what they were discussing.
The game has gone boring, though. Very sloppy play. I lost track of the turnovers, but it was several in the space of a few minutes.
8:47 – On a punt return, we have an illegal block in the back on Oregon. ESPN manages to show the replay. Thanks! It was close. The Duck nearly got the shoulder on the side, but the Bronco went flying face-first. Must have been too tempting to pass up. Looked great until the flag flew.
I just saw on the scrawl that Ball State lost to North Texas. Might be a long year for the Cardinals with a new coach and without Nate Davis. As a Central Michigan alum, I have no problem with this.
The players in Boise, however, do have a problem holding onto the ball. The Broncos should be putting us all out of Oregon’s misery, but they keep handing new life over to Oregon, which they continually decline. It’s an ugly dance.
My DVR does seem to have a sense of mercy, ending a little early and sparing me from watching the last four minutes of the game. I wish I could say I wouldn’t be surprised to go to ESPN and learn of a furious comeback by the Ducks, but it would actually surprise me beyond reason.
For me, it’s off to bed so I can be rested for my first game of the season tomorrow. Enjoy the dawn of the 2009 football season!
