From: henders@infonode.ingr.com (Greg Henderson)
Subject: Re: Georgia 14, Auburn 10
Organization: Intergraph Corporation, Huntsville, AL.
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 18:32:13 GMT

swanger@ducvax.auburn.edu writes:
>This was a close game with a controversial ending.  With 19 seconds left on
>the clock, Auburn had the ball, 2nd down on the Georgia 1 yard line, no time
>outs left.  Auburn ran a running play up the middle to James Bostic.  The
>ball was fumbled.  Auburn lined up for another play, the refs stood around
>talking to the Georgia players until the game clock ran out, game over
>Georgia wins.  Since the ball was fumbled (Auburn evidently recovered), the
>refs could (should?) have called a time out to decide who had possession. 
>If they knew it was Auburn's ball, they should have put the ball in play
>(there was enough time, barely, for another play).

From my binocularized viewpoint from right above this play in the nosebleed
section, this is what I saw:  There was a fumble, and Bostic came out
of the pile clearly with the ball. He then set the ball down and it
appeared that a ref planted his foot for a spot and reached for the
ball.  But before he got it a UGA player grabbed the football  and
they appeared to argue about possesion.  Well the ref finally got the
ball back and set it down and just stood there for the remaining
5-6 seconds.

I understand that the refs cannot rush through the act of spotting &
calling the ball into play no matter how much time is left, BUT when
an opposing player intentionally tries to impede the play of the game
it seems reasonable to expect an official time-out to get the situation
resolved.  That ref deprived AU of a last chance to score.


>I will admit I was surprised to see Auburn call a running play with no time
>outs left, only 19 seconds left.  If the play doesn't work, you can't
>stop the clock.

I think that perhaps there were visions of the Ole Miss game where
Stan was popped and the ball returned for a TD in the coaches heads.
I know I was thinking about it at the time...

>Still, I can't fault the Georgia team.  They did all that they could do. 
>There is no guarantee that AU would have scored if given another chance.  If
>only we'd had one more play.....

I agree. The blame for the game ending as it did falls squarely on the
ref's shoulders.  And more is the pity, 'cause it was a great game
between two teams playing very well.

>It was a painful feeling watching those last few seconds tick off the
>clock.

I don't even remember  any game before where I felt so bad at the end,
even including a few AU-BAMA games where  BAMA won in the final
seconds.  Getting beat is one thing, but having your chance to win
taken away is quite another.

>While I'm at it, I sat in the GA section the second half.  Georgia fans used
>to be pretty bad about a decade ago (ie, the Herschel era).  They have
>finally turned back into human beings (it took a while for them to come back
>to earth I guess).  Most of the ones I met were pretty nice.

I felt bad about how many AU fans I saw acted (throwing cups at the
UGA team, bottles at the UGA fans, etc)  Now if I had been close
enough I would have probably pitched a bottle at a ref maybe... :)


>Next Game: Thanksgiving Day, Auburn versus Alabama at beautiful Legion Field
>           in The Magic City, Birmingham, Alabama.

>AND (groan) I'll be there.


The way AU played UGA Saturday, even though the score didn't swing in
their favor, gave me hope that Auburn has finally gotten over the hump
and have turned into a team.   Maybe even enough for me to turn a
blind eye to the Woof Gods... BAMA... a lock for the SEC championship
game... unbeaten record on the line... everything to lose, not a lot
to gain except for woofing rights...  possible controversy to distract
the players & coaches concerning Gene Ramsey er.. Jelks ...AUBURN...
coming into their own at the end of the season... robbed by the refs
in the previous game ... no bowl game to redeem themselves in this
year (or maybe for the next few years)... nothing to lose anyway you
look at it and everything to gain by the upset... and one mighty
pissed off football team to boot.

I may regret it BUT, the headlines next Friday will scream:


	  A U B U R N    S T U N S    B A M A    1 7  -  1 6


-- 

Greg Henderson   henders@infonode.ingr.com   ...uunet!ingr!infonode!henders


Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college