Big Ten will be football guinea pig

[Boogahz]

Conference first to try instant replay
By Nancy Armour

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Thursday, August 5, 2004

CHICAGO -- The Big Ten will be the focus of college football's attention this season as much for what happens above the field as on it.

The Big Ten will use instant replay in a one-year experiment that could catch on fast.

"Other conferences around the country are watching us and watching us carefully," David Parry, the Big Ten's coordinator of officials, said Wednesday. "My guess is they want this to be successful because if it is, they will go to the (NCAA) and say, 'Can we have this as an option for our conference?' "

Under the Big Ten's system, a technical adviser will watch the game from the press box. If he sees something questionable, officials on the field will be notified via pager and play will be halted while the adviser reviews the call. The call for review must be made before the next play begins, or the opportunity passes.

The only video the adviser can use in his decision is that from the television feed. He'll also have a digital video recorder -- think TiVo -- to review the play. In the few cases where a Big Ten game isn't televised -- 90 percent are -- the conference will do its own video production for the adviser to use.

The call on the field can be overturned only if there is "indisputable video evidence."

In the 68 Big Ten conference games televised last year, there were 42 replay opportunities and 23 calls would have been reversed. Based on that, Parry estimated that one game out of three would feature replay.

"It's not a perfect world. It won't be a perfect system," Parry said. "We just hope it will be better."

Unlike the NFL's instant replay system, only the technical advisers -- all former officials who Parry said have an average of 15 years experience -- can call for a review. Coaches didn't object to that, saying it will limit the interruptions to the game.

"We don't want to change the tempo," Penn State Coach Joe Paterno said. "I don't want one of my assistants upstairs telling me to challenge. Let's just do it."

Only certain calls can be reviewed, too. Scoring plays, pass plays and number of players on the field are all among the things eligible for review. Judgment calls like hard, physical fouls, illegal blocks and false starts are not.

Nonconference opponents are being given the option of playing with instant replay.

Instant replay has been talked about for years in college football. But the issue became a focal point in the Big Ten in 2002, when several games had high-profile, controversial calls. Paterno was so angered by two late calls in a loss to Iowa that the coach, then 75, sprinted down the sideline and grabbed an official by the jersey to complain.

"I think it's going to help," Paterno said. "I think all of us want the game to be determined by the kids."

[masteen]

I Joe PA. He may not be the coach he used to be, but at least he's still in touch with the realities of the modern game.

[Kluden]

Much luv for mah Alma Mater! And much luv for a system that will help keep JoePa from running down the field at his old, tender age!

[Bubba Grizz]

Could someone please list the differences between what this is and what the nfl has? I may be loosing something in the translation.

[Zamtuk]

ncaa doesnt have replay, nfl does.

[Winnow]

ncaa doesnt have replay, nfl does.

NCAA = 1 foot
NFL = 2 feet

[Sabek]

In this proposed system for the NCAA, the coaches will not be able to initate a challenge.

[Kluden]

The booth boys upstairs will initiate all reviews. They will be doing the reviews. And there is a stringent list of what calls can actually be reviewed. Comparatively speaking, you can basicly challenge 90% of the calls in teh NFL, where as in college, some reviewers will discuss if they should review the call at all, and only about 50% of calls can be reviewed.

That make more sense? it isn't 100% right, but it is the "jist" of it.

[Kelshara]

heh and just like the overtime system NCAA has I like this system better than the NFL system..

[Bubba Grizz]

The booth boys upstairs will initiate all reviews. They will be doing the reviews. And there is a stringent list of what calls can actually be reviewed. Comparatively speaking, you can basicly challenge 90% of the calls in teh NFL, where as in college, some reviewers will discuss if they should review the call at all, and only about 50% of calls can be reviewed.

That make more sense? it isn't 100% right, but it is the "jist" of it.

That is what I was looking for. Thanks.
I know about the other differences between college and pro. I was just confused as to how instant replay would be different in college as opposed to in the NFL.

So thanks once again.