Referee Explanation of Controversial Call in Montana Grizzly – Coastal Carolina Football Game
University of Montana Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information Dave Guffey released an explanation from Ken Frey from the Southland Conference on the conference replay call which negated Montana's first-and-goal play in the third quarter of the Montana vs. Coastal Carolina game on Saturday, December 7.
The explanation was forwarded from Missoulian newspaper sports editor Bob Messeroll.
"Ken Ray, referee.
“Obviously it’s technology and we’re all dependent on getting paged. When we got paged, some of us got paged it came through after the snap. At that point in time, we came together and I asked for clarification from anybody. ‘Did anybody get paged prior to the snap.’ One guy did say he did, so at that point in time by rule we have to go back and we have to review the play. Everybody on the crew has a page. Some of us got paged, (but) it came through after (the next play had begun).”
Bruce Bayne, replay official from the College Football Officials.
“The way it works is there’s three of us in the booth working together and I was told that the center had come over the ball. At that time I paged the field.”
“I’m not in charge of the technology. All I know is that when I heard that the center was over the ball, I paged (and) at least one official received the page.”
Me: They should have all received the page at the same time?
“That’s how the technology is supposed to work.”
After the play was called back, the Grizzlies were not able to score and gave the ball up on downs back to Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers went on to win the game 42-35, and advanced to the semi-final round of the FCS playoffs, where they will travel to Fargo, North Dakota and play the two-time defending national champion Bison of North Dakota State.
The Grizzlies ended their season 10-3.