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We're two days after the fact, allowing me some time to get back to town and collect my thoughts, but what a difficult Saturday for BYU fans--first the "flip-flop in Phoenix," followed by the "letdown in Las Vegas."
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Let's start with the BYU-ASU hoops contest at the Stadium Shootout, as what BYU thought was a win turned into a heartbreaking loss after a video review overturned Charles Abouo's apparent last-gasp winner.
It took me until this morning to finally get to a video player here at KSL to get a frame by frame look at the final shot (until today, I had only seen a couple of highlights on TV and online). I slowed it down over and over again, and I can't see how the officials "definitively" ruled that the ball was still on Abouo's fingertips when the clock hit zero. I froze the video with the clock at 00.1 and the ball appears to be leaving Abouo's fingertips. One frame (1/30th of a second) later, the clock has hit triple zeros, and I just can't tell whether a finger still touches the ball or whether it has entirely left his hand.
The NCAA Basketball rulebook states in Rule 2-13-4 that "the reading of zeros on the game clock is to be used" to determine whether a shot beats the clock--not the horn, and not the red LED lights above or around the backboard. So, any discussion of whether the horn sounded or lights went on is moot. When the clock is visible, the clock reading shall determine the outcome.
Later in the same rule article, it states: "When definitive information is unattainable with the use of the monitor, the original call stands." That to me, is the key phrase in the rule, and the clause the officials could have used to uphold the original ruling of a made basket. If any person can truly say he or she "definitively" knows the shot came after the clock expired, they have better eyes than I do. The way I see it today, it was way too close to call, and too close to take away a win. Some may say I am seeing the play through blue-tinted glasses, but even the TV broadcasters were saying they'd hate to be the officials ruling on that shot.
If there is any emotional consolation, it may come in the fact that after Jonathan Tavernari first touched the ball on the preceding throw-in, more than a half-second (17 video frames) elapsed before the clock started, so perhaps it all evened out in the end--but, no, on second thought, a half-second is an eyeblink, and in reality, there is no worse way to lose a basketball game than the way BYU lost on Saturday.
True, BYU could have saved itself the last-second heartbreak by making a few more plays and hanging onto a double-digit lead down the stretch, but as Dave Rose told me this morning, he thinks his guys had made enough plays to win the game. You can hear a quick KSL interview with Coach Rose by clicking his audio link in the "Cougar Cuts" box.
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Don't miss more from the coach on tonight's "Dave Rose Show" from 7:00-8:00pm tonight on KSL Newsradio. I'll be hosting in place of Randolph Fairbairn, and I welcome your phone calls, e-mails and text messages.
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The BYU Football Cougars lost in much less torturous fashion Saturday night in the Las Vegas Bowl, although the Cougars' many miscues will likely gnaw at the players and coaches for a few days.
Between penalties (10), turnovers (3) and missed field goals (3), BYU made more than enough mistakes to lose 31-21 to Arizona.
BYU has gone 21-5 in the last two seasons, but in the five losses, BYU committed 20 turnovers and was minus-15 in the margin. Meantime, BYU has won 23 straight games when even or plus in the turnover margin.
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While I'm sure BYU fans are disappointed, I'm not sure how "worked up" BYU fans are about the setback in Las Vegas. After all, once the prospects of an undefeated season went by the wayside, the only other meaningful goals remaining were a conference championship and/or BCS bowl bid. Once those possibilities vanished, "becoming the first BYU team to win three straight bowl games" really wasn't much of a rallying cry. BYU played like a team that "wanted" to win, but didn't appear motivated enough or sharp enough to "earn" the win.
Yes, getting to and winning a bowl game is a valid goal, but when it comes down to it, 68 teams go to bowl games, and only two are really playing for something. The Las Vegas Bowl loss may linger for a while, but it didn't make or break BYU's season, as much as it confirmed that in the battle to go from "good to great," BYU still has a way to go.
Against the three best teams on their schedule this season, the Cougars lost to all three, and by a combined total of 59 points. BYU is also 1-21 in its last 22 games against ranked teams. If BYU is to take the next step, the Cougars will need to start winning games "they are not supposed to win." Depending on who actually ends up on BYU's schedule next season, the Cougars may get three or four such chances next season.
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You may have heard Austin Collie tell us on our postgame coverage that he has indeed submitted his paperwork with the NFL Draft Evaluation Committee, although Collie has not said he will not return for his senior season.
Based on Bronco Mendenhall's remarks to us Saturday night, he wants Austin to consider this a "life" decision, and not merely a football choice. He added that he wants players on his team who are dedicated entirely to the team, so my impression is he wants Austin to make up his mind soon and either focus his efforts on the NFL, or to 2009 with the Cougars.
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