Pitt held on for a 35-33 win over Virginia Tech on Friday night after John Love missed a game-winning 36-yard field goal as time expired.
Or did he?
Love’s shot certainly looked like it was coming in right and left from ESPN’s live feed. But the officer directly under the head decided that it did not pass, much to Sevgi’s sorrow.
Concussions have become commonplace in college football. As batsmen improve, there are more and more cases where the ball goes through – or appears to go through – the posts at a higher height than the goalposts. And that’s where the officials’ judgment on the ground comes into play.
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According to NCAA rules, all footballs must be between the posts when passing between the posts. If a ball moves over the post – as in this case – it is not good. Think of it as a kick that bounces off the upright, not over the crossbar.
Also, it’s a non-reviewable show. The only extra points and field goal attempts that can be reviewed are kicks below the height of the posts. If it is 3 feet below the top of the posts, you can consider a shot going inside or outside the posts. You may not consider a shot that rises 3 inches above the uprights.
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It was a strange ending to a strange game. Virginia Tech turned the ball over four times in the loss, and Pitt lost quarterback Mason Heintschel to what appeared to be a serious right knee injury. Heintschel was injured when he was shot while climbing and immediately grabbed his knee. He was unable to put any pressure on that leg after the game and returned to the sideline in his street clothes after leaving the game.
Pitt scored 21 straight points in the fourth quarter to take a 35-24 lead, but an interception by Virginia Tech QB Ethan Grunkemeyer near the Pitt end zone quickly turned into a safety, and then the Hokies cut the deficit to two on their next drive.
Pitt is now 5-0 and should be ranked in the AP Top 25 when the new poll is released on Sunday, even if Heintschel is out for an extended period of time. He was replaced by Holden Geriner, who was 8-of-12 passing for 78 yards and a TD, and three different Pitt players rushed for a touchdown in the win.