He was in.

The reasonable among us aren’t arguing that line judge Richard Misner’s blown call cost State the game — we knew we’d have to keep scoring to win that game. But it’s entirely fair to say it shifted the momentum of a tight, hard-fought game squarely into Clemson’s favor.

This is all hypothetical, of course, but it gives you a good idea of how this call changed the game. Assuming that Misner’s bad whistle doesn’t blow the play dead and Underwood’s TD stands, and the next few series remain similar, then here’s how the game could’ve looked different:

*Assuming a good PAT, State leads 14-13 with 7:31 remaining in the third quarter.

*We eliminate Clemson’s quick score after this because the fumble at midfield never happened. On its next possession, Clemson scores a touchdown after a 10-play, 3:33 drive and leads 19-14 lead (remember, they went for two).

3:58, 3rd quarter

*Then, State manages that same 23-play, 7:37 drive, ending in a touchdown and a 21-19 lead.

11:21, 4th quarter

*At this point, State’s ensuing kickoff likely gives Clemson a long field, just like they’d had much of the night (to that point, Clemson had started inside its own 25 a total of five of its nine possessions). Clemson takes over, trailing 21-19, and begins its drive while swarmed by a deafening Carter-Finley stadium. It’s entirely likely Clemson would’ve scored on that drive, and took the lead, either 22-21 on a field goal or 27-21 on a touchdown (at that point they go for two, and assume they convert).

*But, the difference is now State would’ve had, at the very least, a chance to stop them on that drive, and/or score on its next possession. Either of those scenarios puts State in the driver’s seat down the stretch.

Instead, the touchdown run is called back, State fumbles three plays later, and Clemson throws a touchdown with 6:52 remaining in the third quarter to lead 20-7 and take control of what had to that moment been anyone’s game. Momentum matters, especially playing at home.

State was playing well enough to, at the very least, deserve the chance to determine the outcome — win or lose — on its own. And that chance was taken away by Misner’s bad call.

About LRM

Charter member of the Lunatic Fringe and a fan, loyal to a fault.

'13 Football

65 Responses to He was in.

  1. Pack Mentality 09/20/2013 at 8:10 PM #

    Shouldn’t whistles blow the play dead when a timeout is called rather than waiting to see what the result of the play is?

  2. TheCOWDOG 09/20/2013 at 8:19 PM #

    Further, I’m convinced that the officials have not grasped the muddle shifts.

    Think I might have mentioned that a few weeks ago via Billy Mumy.

  3. AugustaWolf 09/20/2013 at 9:03 PM #

    At least the Pac-12, with a slew of it’s own officiating problems, has the guts to publicly call out, reprimand, and suspend officials after a poor performance.

    ACC? Not so much.

  4. WolftownVA81 09/20/2013 at 9:18 PM #

    I’m very pleased with how our team played last night and proud of the level of effort. The blown call and lack of a real response is just the latest reason to hate what the ACC has become. Come on Deb, pull an A&M and get us the hell out.

  5. packalum44 09/20/2013 at 9:24 PM #

    My rant to D Yow:

    Realizing it was perhaps unrealistic, and even more so now, but the latest response is one of many reasons our fans were eager to leave for the SEC.

    The response is far more egregious than the officials poor decision last night. At least officials can claim hardship due to high pressures time constrained judgements.

    The ACC leaders are either extremely unfit to lead a billion dollar organization or have the audacity to insult fans and others with this statement, which is beyond incredulous. To be silent on the matter would have been a better option, as the incompetence and/or bias would have been unconfirmed speculation.

    My public response would be:

    If there is green grass between the foot and sideline on JUST ONE angle, logic dictates he was NOT out. Any other shot that was “inconclusive”, no matter the quantity, simply alludes to a bad angle.

    This is not an opinion or debate. It is fact as dictated by pure LOGIC.

    It bears repeating, you can not be out of bounds when green grass is visible along the entire length of the foot and sideline. Only one frame is needed to confirm.

    End of response….

    My head is going to explode I can’t imagine how you must feel dealing with their I competence on a daily basis.

    Comment from Doug Rhoads, ACC Coordinator of Officials
    “In last night’s Clemson at NC State game, the official ruled the runner stepped out of bounds and whistled the ball dead. In conformance with NCAA Guidelines, the replay official properly recognized the play as one that was not eligible for review.
    “Our office has viewed all available angles, each numerous times, in slow motion and freeze frame. It is not clear, in reviewing all angles, whether the runner stepped out of bounds or avoided any contact with the sideline. We recognize that within the number of images and angles viewed, some look like he did not step out of bounds while one looks like he did step out of bounds. In the end, this cannot be resolved beyond all doubt.”

  6. LoboLoco 09/20/2013 at 9:40 PM #

    Was never a fan of the possibility, but considering the recent history we have with the conference’s officiating and perceived biases, last night completely changed my mind.

    So who would love to bolt to the SEC right now?!

    Probably not even possible due to the politics of the UNC system and the huge buyout penalty, not to mention the fact that the SEC doesn’t seem interested in expanding at the moment and we probably wouldn’t be on the top of their list, but damn, I’m over the ACC! I’d love to say good riddance right now!

  7. LoboLoco 09/20/2013 at 9:43 PM #

    Guess I should have read the last few posts. . .

    At least I’m not alone

  8. bill.onthebeach 09/20/2013 at 9:57 PM #

    POP!!!!

  9. redcanine 09/20/2013 at 10:07 PM #

    The ACCs response was garbage. Surprise, surprise. Rhoads should have just kept his mouth shut.

    One frame of dozens that could be interpreted as a 50/50 chance of stepping out of bounds. Therefore, screw State.

    Mr Rhoads failed to mention the most egregious event of the game: the uppercut. Dammit man, what’s between your ears?

  10. LoboLoco 09/20/2013 at 10:25 PM #

    “Mr Rhoads failed to mention the most egregious event of the game: the uppercut. Dammit man, what’s between your ears?”

    I’m guessing Swoff owns his ears, so it doesn’t matter what’s between them. No backbone below them though, that much is apparent.

  11. freshmanin83 09/20/2013 at 10:27 PM #

    I never thought I would even begin to think this way. Leaving the ACC (I can’t believe I am writing this) is something that deserves exploration. After a good nights rest I am sure I will feel different.

  12. Virginia Wolf 09/20/2013 at 10:28 PM #

    If “its unclear” you don’t call him out! You give the runner the benefit of the doubt! The ACC response just confirms the stupidity from that office. We need some leadership but I’m ready to depart the ACC. Go to the SEC or independent or whatever, just get out!!! It was obvious the ref’s either had orders or felt an obligation to protect the number 3 team in the nation, and the ACC with no regards to what was right! Why has the idiot with the upper cut, not already suspended for the season???? I’ve had with the ACC! Swof lacks leadership. He can’t get beyond his Blue bias and his red prejudice! Oh well, excuse my rant!!!! Go Pack!!!! and Go Yellow Jackets!!!!

  13. packalum44 09/20/2013 at 10:29 PM #

    You can either be in or out. You can’t be both.

    There is a very clear frame showing green grass between the sideline and the entire length of Underwood’s foot. All other frames that show ambiguity simply do not matter. They only allude to a disadvantaged angle.

    There is no logical discourse over whether Underwood was in or out. There is simply spin and pure unbridled incompetence from the ACC leadership that lacks the intelligence to make logical conclusions to simple questions.

    Anyone ever take the LSAT? This could be a question. Show several different frames, including one or more with ambiguity and have the following solutions:

    a) He was IN
    b) He was OUT
    c) Inconclusive

    Folks that choose C would not do very well on the REAL questions on the exam. This would be too easy.

  14. Wulfpack 09/20/2013 at 10:30 PM #

    We are stuck in the ACC as the SEC or Big 12 ship has sailed. We are going to have to create our own breaks. Take solace in the fact we played very well against one of the country’s best. This is all about building for the future and I for one am pumped. DD is the real deal.

  15. Virginia Wolf 09/20/2013 at 10:31 PM #

    Oh, and by the way, I was sick and unable to go to the game yesterday and watched it on ESPN. All they talked about was Clempson. Never a word about N.C. State. I was ready to puck by the 4th quarter and it only got worse in the 4th. ESPN really needs to get some unbiased announcers that can at least just call the game!!! Oh, I’m sick of this stuff! Go Pack!!!!

  16. Virginia Wolf 09/20/2013 at 10:35 PM #

    One more thing! If anyone has some ticket stubs from the game I could use 3 or 4 of them. Please email me at [email protected]. Thanks!

  17. tjfoose1 09/20/2013 at 10:41 PM #

    Max i mus!

  18. bill.onthebeach 09/20/2013 at 10:47 PM #

    POP!!!!!

  19. tjfoose1 09/20/2013 at 10:59 PM #

    #FireSwofford

    Use it. Everywhere.

  20. 1time 09/21/2013 at 12:55 AM #

    “The reasonable among us aren’t arguing that line judge Richard Misner BLOWS…”

    Probably could have just stopped right there. Nuff said.

  21. wilmwolf80 09/21/2013 at 12:56 AM #

    The question is not was he in or out. The question is, why was the play blown dead by an official that didn’t have a clear angle to make the call? That is the question that was not answered. That official should have never blown the whistle, period. Without a clear angle to make the call, he should have allowed the play to continue to completion. That is the question that the ACC has not, and will not, answer.

    I have asked it several times, and I will ask it again here. Can anyone recall the officials bringing the chains on the field to measure a close first down in any of our games so far? I cannot. Perhaps it is selective memory, but I don’t recall it happening. The odds are certainly high that at some point in time in three games there has been a spot close enough that would need to be measured. Can anyone recall them bringing the chains out at any point on Thursday?

  22. mak4dpak 09/21/2013 at 8:16 AM #

    While I am not happy with the official response to the call, this is where change needs to come, not State leaving the conference. Some of you are beating a dead horse, cause it ain’t happening. I for one don’t have any desire for the SEC, because that would certainly cut down on my game trips, with the distances I would have to travel, and do we really know that SEC fans don’t run into the same issues? Bet it happens there too. Incompetent officials are not elite to the ACC. The season is young and we have proven we can compete with the best, so here is hoping for a Clempson loss, and we win the rest of our games, especially with Mitchell back @ QB.

  23. golf76 09/21/2013 at 8:46 AM #

    Question regarding the sucker punch. Can an individual player sue another player for assault on the athletic field if the offense occurs after play is blown dead? I’m not suggesting that become standard practice but this particular punch was malicious and with intent to inflict bodily harm. If same had happened on the street there would be no question. The guy’s only suspended for remainder of the game, and next week’s game? Penalty does not fit the crime.

  24. TLeo 09/21/2013 at 8:57 AM #

    I agree that the official response from the acc was nothing but self serving, garbage. For the life of me I can not understand how they continue to let incompetent officials call games and do nothing at all to them when they make blatant mistakes that influence outcomes. The quality off officiating totally sucks, so can they not attract and keep capable officials? At some point, logical people have to wonder….is it just incompetence or is it bias? The longer this goes on the more it seems to be bias and favoritism.

  25. choppack1 09/21/2013 at 9:18 AM #

    The ACC’s response is another low for the conference. Rhoads reminds me of Hernandez’s lawyer. If you recall, Hernandez’s lawyer was telling everyone that the case against his client was circumstantial and that he was innocent. To a point, he was right. However, there was/is so much circumstantial evidence, that’s it’s insane to believe he wasn’t involved in the murder.

    In this case, Rhoads says that the evidence is “inconclusive” because one frame “APPEARS” to show that he’s out of bounds. At least he admits, that most frames show to the contrary. His intellectually shallow or bankrupt conclusion (take your pick) – is that as a result, this means that it’s inconclusive.

    The difference between Rhoads and Hernandez’s lawyer is that Hernandez’s lawyer is Hernandez’s lawyer – he’s supposed to be an advocate for his client. It’s his job (no matter how disgusting this individual is). OTOH, Rhoads has a duty to the officials AND all schools in the ACC. Clearly, we know where NC State is in the pecking order.

    I’ve got news for folks. We ain’t going to the SEC, it’s not going to happen.

    What DOES need to happen is that Randy Woodson and Deb Yow needs to call a press conference. In the press conference, Yow needs to make a prepared, precise, non-rambling/non-bizarre statement about ACC officials in football AND basketball.

    Given the league’s response to this call AND the Hess situation, it’s obvious we are black sheep. The focus in this press conference should be that we don’t trust the ACC’s executive leadership as led by John Swofford in general, and specifically, that we don’t trust ACC officials in the only 2 sports that produce revenues greater than expenses.

    Woodson’s presence is critical – as Yow will appear to be crazy if he’s not there (not matter what she says).

    The purpose of this press conference will be two-fold:
    1) Get heat generated on Swofford. It’s inexcusable for him to head the conference, especially knowing what we know about what was going on in Chapel Hill while he was there.
    2) Get the ACC to change how games are officiated in this conference. The conference has always had a front-runner mentality. As a result, it’s especially difficult to move into the upper tier. Not only must you overcome a talent differential on the field/court, but you must also overcome an officiating crew who is giving the more talented team an advantage.

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