[M T]

On the Fox offside: on the TV replay he didn't look anywhere near offside. I was puzzled by that one.

Saw that too. He was a foot or so behind the black line. Not even close. . . .

2Q 7:56:  The line overlaid digitally on the field has no bearing on on/offsides but it is often handy as a guideline.   He wasn't offsides by where the officials spotted the ball. When the center got to the ball, its center was at the forward edge of the black line indicating the line of scrimmage, about at 47.4 yard line.  Then the center moved it back so the ball's forward white stripe was on that same edge. That's when Fox initially lined up offside with his toe just short (1"?) of the edge of the black line. By the position of the ball at that time, he wasn't offsides (but he was by the original placement).  Then the center moved the ball forward so the back white stripe of the ball was on that same edge.  Fox pulled his foot back in response, enough so it wasn't offside by where the ball was placed by the official.  He then pulled his foot back even more (barely overlapping the yellow in the "O").  But if an official judged offsides by where the center moved the ball to, that would explain the call.  If someone judges it by the digital ball placement line, he wasn't anywhere close.  The actual truth was in the middle.

I wish that were the only questionable officiating!  (Hey, they got the out-of-bounds on  the O TD right!)

I also remember one play (3Q 11:20) where Oregon lost a half yard, by where the official placed his foot, but when you see the ball before the center touches it next, it is right back on the same yard marker as the previous down.  WTH??

Don't get me started about officials placing the ball to give first downs.  Shudder that they'd ever measure for a first down again, no matter what the statistics might assure how often the proper placement as being too close to eyeball for the first down.  (Ever notice how improbably often the ball is spotted on a yard marker?)   Did I miss a rule change?  Who gave the officials the right (and apparently, the imperative) to place the ball other than where the rules say it should be placed?

Of course, all that pales in comparison to the uncalled arm-around-the-waist holding I saw numerous times.

[M T]

On the Fox offside: on the TV replay he didn't look anywhere near offside. I was puzzled by that one.

Saw that too. He was a foot or so behind the black line. Not even close. . . .

2Q 7:56:  The line overlaid digitally on the field has no bearing on on/offsides but it is often handy as a guideline.   He wasn't offsides by where the officials spotted the ball. When the center got to the ball, its center was at the forward edge of the black line indicating the line of scrimmage, about at 47.4 yard line.  Then the center moved it back so the ball's forward white stripe was on that same edge. That's when Fox initially lined up offside with his toe just short (1"?) of the edge of the black line. By the position of the ball at that time, he wasn't offsides (but he was by the original placement).  Then the center moved the ball forward so the back white stripe of the ball was on that same edge.  Fox pulled his foot back in response, enough so it wasn't offside by where the ball was placed by the official.  He then pulled his foot back even more (barely overlapping the yellow in the "O").  But if an official judged offsides by where the center moved the ball to, that would explain the call.  If someone judges it by the digital ball placement line, he wasn't anywhere close.  The actual truth was in the middle.

I wish that were the only questionable officiating!  (Hey, they got the out-of-bounds on  the O TD right!)

I also remember one play (3Q 11:20) where Oregon lost a half yard, by where the official placed his foot, but when you see the ball before the center touches it next, it is right back on the same yard marker as the previous down.  WTH??

Don't get me started about officials placing the ball to give first downs.  Shudder that they'd ever measure for a first down again, no matter what the statistics might assure how often the proper placement as being too close to eyeball for the first down.  (Ever notice how improbably often the ball is spotted on a yard marker?)   Did I miss a rule change?  Who gave the officials the right (and apparently, the imperative) to place the ball other than where the rules say it should be placed?

Of course, all that pales in comparison to the uncalled arm-around-the-waist holding I saw numerous times.