[EKUAlum05]

I think what most people are upset about and rightfully so is the game as a whole and how it was officiated. I didn't want to comment on it until I seen the whole game, and after just now watching it, it is clear to me the call should not have been made. I'm not saying it wasn't a penalty because it was. What I am saying is the officials missed several tackles similar to this one. If they were not concerned about it during the game then they shouldn't have been concerned about it at the end. I seen several pass interference, holding, block in the back, etc. that should have been called and wasn't on both sides. The official should have asked himself, "would he have been tackled regardless of the penalty," and if the answer is yes then he should've left his flag in his pocket. At the end of a game deep in the playoffs is not the time to start getting all high and mighty on penalties when they were not a concern to him throughout the game. In my opinion, it was a mistake by the official and he probably knows it.

Respectfully I disagree to an extent. A penalty is a penalty and needs to be called if it occurs. Based off the original video it was a blatant facemask and since the runner was still on his feet until the facemask finished him off you have to call it.

With that said.. I also agree with the general premise of your post. If penalties were being ignored then that is wrong. This penalty creates controversy because of when it happened and how it happened, but a missed facemask in the 3rd Quarter that stalls a drive or a missed block in the back at the start of the 4th Quarter (both hypotheticals) that springs a key 3rd Down conversion may have been just as significant.

The official made the right call to extend the game, but if he missed other critical calls he is just as guilty.