JMU Duke Dog
October 18th, 2005, 02:24 PM
I thought the use of instant replay in Division I-AA conferences would be a good topic of discussion. Here is an article I read from Harrisonburg's Daily News-Record. (No umassfan, this is not an attack on UMass.)
Replay In A-10 Unlikely
But after last week’s game at UMass, JMU coach Mickey Matthews would like to see it instituted.
By Mike Barber
Mickey Matthews would like to see instant replay in Atlantic 10 football games. The league says that won’t be happening any time soon.
What prompted James Madison’s coach to broach the subject were three close calls late in Saturday’s 10-7 loss at Massachusetts, a defeat that dropped the Dukes from fourth to 11th in The Sports Network’s Division I-AA poll.
"There would have been several plays Saturday that would have been reviewed," Matthews said Monday at his weekly press conference. "It was a hard call, all three of those. It wasn’t our day and all three went against us."
Matthews said Alvin Banks’ critical fumble at the 8-yard line with 10 minutes to go might have been caused by the ground and not forced by UMass defensive tackle Jason Hatchell. The fumble was recovered by Shannon James, costing JMU (4-2 overall, 2-1 in the A-10) a chance to kick a field goal. The game stayed tied, 7-7.
"I’ve looked at the TV copy and our end-zone [video] copy. It’s just too hard to tell," Matthews said. "It would have been reviewed if we were in the ACC. This is how close a call it was. I think if they had ruled him down and they reviewed it, there would not have been enough evidence to change it either way."
He said Isai Bradshaw’s big, blindside hit on UMass quarterback Tim Day – a shot that sent the ball to the turf – could have been called a fumble. Instead, it was ruled a forward pass.
Finally, Matthews questioned the accuracy of the official’s spot on a fourth-and-seven conversion inside of two minutes. UMass receiver Dom Stewart was met by JMU cornerback Clint Kent right at the marker and the spot resulted in a first down for the Minutemen (5-1, 4-0).
"There were three big calls at the end and they could have gone 50-50," Matthews said. "I do not think they were incorrect calls. We just got the short end of all three of them."
Matthews said there wasn’t much talk in the preseason about instant replay among A-10 coaches and officials, but Matthews thinks it could be doable now and expects some more discussion after this year.
"I don’t think everyone knew the whole world was going to it this year," Matthews said of Division I-A conferences instituting replay. "I think it’ll certainly be something that, on TV games, we consider. … I think with the advent of Tivo, it’s not that difficult to do right now. That’s really all they’re using. The same technology people have in their living rooms."
A-10 assistant commissioner Ray Cella said Monday there wasn’t much talk of replay because so few conference games are televised. Cella said only three A-10 games are produced by the conference, and it would be difficult to coordinate replays with other regional telecasts.
"It was mentioned briefly," Cella said. "We don’t have enough games on television to make it worthwhile. We’d be at the mercy of too many different entities."
He also cited the cost of using replay at non-televised games, which would involve installing the technology at conference stadiums.
"I-AA is a ways away," Cella said. "We’re definitely not going to put in the technology where if the game is not televised we could use replay."
At any rate, there certainly won’t be any replays available at Saturday’s road game at Delaware (3-3, 0-3), suddenly a crucial game for JMU. With two losses already, the Dukes probably can’t afford more than one additional defeat if it hopes to receive serious consideration for the I-AA playoffs.
After Delaware, the Dukes play three of their final four games at Bridgeforth. But the only road game is a tough one, a trip on Nov. 5 to No. 12 William & Mary.
Normally, losing to Delaware wouldn’t be a "bad" loss. The Blue Hens, however, are reeling. They’ve lost their first three conference games for the first time since 1987, all but eliminating them from the playoff picture. One more loss would certainly mean no postseason for Delaware for the first time since 2002.
For the second straight week, meanwhile, a JMU opponent’s playing surface is a concern.
Delaware’s game Saturday against Richmond had to be moved to the Spiders’ home stadium because heavy rains in Newark had rendered the grass field at Delaware Stadium unplayable.
Cella said Delaware is re-sodding the field this week for Saturday’s game.
"I’m sure they’re going to do it right," Cella said.
When JMU played Montana in Chattanooga, Tenn., for the I-AA national championship, the field had been recently re-sodded and came apart, ripping up in large chunks during the Dukes’ 31-21 win.
"I anticipate another Chattanooga," Matthews said about Saturday’s game. "But that being said, I’m not a grass expert."
Last week, there was talk of moving JMU’s game at UMass to a nearby college with an artificial-turf field. The A-10, at Madison’s request, inspected the Minutemen’s field and ruled it playable.
Matthews said Monday he won’t ask the league to inspect Delaware’s field.
Replay In A-10 Unlikely
But after last week’s game at UMass, JMU coach Mickey Matthews would like to see it instituted.
By Mike Barber
Mickey Matthews would like to see instant replay in Atlantic 10 football games. The league says that won’t be happening any time soon.
What prompted James Madison’s coach to broach the subject were three close calls late in Saturday’s 10-7 loss at Massachusetts, a defeat that dropped the Dukes from fourth to 11th in The Sports Network’s Division I-AA poll.
"There would have been several plays Saturday that would have been reviewed," Matthews said Monday at his weekly press conference. "It was a hard call, all three of those. It wasn’t our day and all three went against us."
Matthews said Alvin Banks’ critical fumble at the 8-yard line with 10 minutes to go might have been caused by the ground and not forced by UMass defensive tackle Jason Hatchell. The fumble was recovered by Shannon James, costing JMU (4-2 overall, 2-1 in the A-10) a chance to kick a field goal. The game stayed tied, 7-7.
"I’ve looked at the TV copy and our end-zone [video] copy. It’s just too hard to tell," Matthews said. "It would have been reviewed if we were in the ACC. This is how close a call it was. I think if they had ruled him down and they reviewed it, there would not have been enough evidence to change it either way."
He said Isai Bradshaw’s big, blindside hit on UMass quarterback Tim Day – a shot that sent the ball to the turf – could have been called a fumble. Instead, it was ruled a forward pass.
Finally, Matthews questioned the accuracy of the official’s spot on a fourth-and-seven conversion inside of two minutes. UMass receiver Dom Stewart was met by JMU cornerback Clint Kent right at the marker and the spot resulted in a first down for the Minutemen (5-1, 4-0).
"There were three big calls at the end and they could have gone 50-50," Matthews said. "I do not think they were incorrect calls. We just got the short end of all three of them."
Matthews said there wasn’t much talk in the preseason about instant replay among A-10 coaches and officials, but Matthews thinks it could be doable now and expects some more discussion after this year.
"I don’t think everyone knew the whole world was going to it this year," Matthews said of Division I-A conferences instituting replay. "I think it’ll certainly be something that, on TV games, we consider. … I think with the advent of Tivo, it’s not that difficult to do right now. That’s really all they’re using. The same technology people have in their living rooms."
A-10 assistant commissioner Ray Cella said Monday there wasn’t much talk of replay because so few conference games are televised. Cella said only three A-10 games are produced by the conference, and it would be difficult to coordinate replays with other regional telecasts.
"It was mentioned briefly," Cella said. "We don’t have enough games on television to make it worthwhile. We’d be at the mercy of too many different entities."
He also cited the cost of using replay at non-televised games, which would involve installing the technology at conference stadiums.
"I-AA is a ways away," Cella said. "We’re definitely not going to put in the technology where if the game is not televised we could use replay."
At any rate, there certainly won’t be any replays available at Saturday’s road game at Delaware (3-3, 0-3), suddenly a crucial game for JMU. With two losses already, the Dukes probably can’t afford more than one additional defeat if it hopes to receive serious consideration for the I-AA playoffs.
After Delaware, the Dukes play three of their final four games at Bridgeforth. But the only road game is a tough one, a trip on Nov. 5 to No. 12 William & Mary.
Normally, losing to Delaware wouldn’t be a "bad" loss. The Blue Hens, however, are reeling. They’ve lost their first three conference games for the first time since 1987, all but eliminating them from the playoff picture. One more loss would certainly mean no postseason for Delaware for the first time since 2002.
For the second straight week, meanwhile, a JMU opponent’s playing surface is a concern.
Delaware’s game Saturday against Richmond had to be moved to the Spiders’ home stadium because heavy rains in Newark had rendered the grass field at Delaware Stadium unplayable.
Cella said Delaware is re-sodding the field this week for Saturday’s game.
"I’m sure they’re going to do it right," Cella said.
When JMU played Montana in Chattanooga, Tenn., for the I-AA national championship, the field had been recently re-sodded and came apart, ripping up in large chunks during the Dukes’ 31-21 win.
"I anticipate another Chattanooga," Matthews said about Saturday’s game. "But that being said, I’m not a grass expert."
Last week, there was talk of moving JMU’s game at UMass to a nearby college with an artificial-turf field. The A-10, at Madison’s request, inspected the Minutemen’s field and ruled it playable.
Matthews said Monday he won’t ask the league to inspect Delaware’s field.