League Concludes Review Of Dragons-Soul Final Play
Published on July 8, 2008 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK - The League Office has concluded its review of the final play of the New York Dragons-Philadelphia Soul Divisional Round playoff game played Saturday, July 5 at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center.
The review found that: (i) the Referee was correct in upholding the ruling on the field because he found that instant replay was inconclusive; (ii) that timing was handled properly; (iii) that the Soul should have attempted a conversion following its touchdown; and (iv) that new procedures regarding game administration for all remaining playoff games will be implemented immediately. The Dragons did not file an official protest with the League Office.
Trailing 48-43 with seven seconds remaining in the game, Soul WR LARRY BRACKINS caught a 28-yard pass, ran for the end zone, was met by defenders and dove for the goal line as time expired.
The Line Judge and Back Judge, who was positioned on the goal line, ruled that the ball had broken the plane of the goal before Brackins' knee touched the ground and signaled touchdown, seemingly providing Philadelphia with a 49-48 victory.
New York Dragons head coach WEYLAN HARDING challenged the ruling on the field. After reviewing four angles, Referee BILL ATHAN determined that the replays did not provide the indisputable visual evidence necessary to reverse the call, and, therefore, upheld the ruling on the field and pronounced the game over.
After the conclusion of the game, a number of issues arose regarding the circumstances of the final play, leading the League Office to review all elements of it.
Following is language from a letter sent to the Dragons from Commissioner DAVID BAKER:
- Instant Replay: The Back Judge (on the goal line) and the Line Judge were in their proper positions to make the call on the field. Both judged the ball to have broken the plane prior to Brackins' knee hitting the ground...In order to reverse that call, the Referee needed to see "indisputable visual evidence" that the play had been called incorrectly on the field...it was [the Referee's] conclusion that there was no angle which provided such indisputable visual evidence to overturn the call.
- Conversion Attempt: The extra point conversion attempt, in short, should have been played...The pandemonium of both teams and many fans on the field during replay...may have contributed [to this error] but it is not an excuse for the mistake.
Cont.
- Timing: The clock does not stop when a player action occurs (e.g. knee being down or ball crossing the plane of the end zone), but rather when an official makes a signal in response to that action which indicates to the clock operator that the clock should stop. ...On the field, [the Referee's] evaluation (as well as that of the Umpire who is responsible for keeping time) was that the horn blew as the Back Judge and Line Judge made their signals. He checked with the other officials, and they concurred in that belief that there was no time left on the clock.
- Security: There were issues with, among other things, fans and team owners being on the field, inappropriate PA announcements, and players and coaches from both teams crowding and attempting to influence the officials during the review process...[AFL staff will immediately] create guidelines and a protocol for administration of such situations, which was put in place for last night's Gladiators-Force game, and which will be officially set forth for application before [this] weekend's conference championship games. That protocol will include, among other things...that security ensures that the field is cleared of all but players and officials, and that the teams are relegated to their respective bench areas, before the review is undertaken and before any announcement is made.
This is only the second week of Instant Replay and it has already added great drama and excitement to the playoffs.
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