Were all the angles covered?

By George Schroeder

Published: September 20, 2006

Glitch might have affected what officials saw in the replay booth

Five angles. A dozen replays. Almost four minutes.

That’s what was available to ABC’s viewers – and for how long – as Pac-10 replay officials pondered two controversial calls in Oregon’s 34-33 win over Oklahoma.

According to ABC, the replay officials had the same access.

ABC’s live feed — the same one viewers saw — was piped into the replay booth at Autzen Stadium last Saturday. That’s standard procedure in the Pac-10’s instant replay review system.

At issue, though, is whether a glitch might have affected the review of the botched onside kick call that ultimately led to the Ducks’ winning rally.

The Pac-10 suspended the replay officials and the on-field officiating crew for one game for errors that “altered the outcome.” But in published reports, Pac-10 director of officiating Verle Sorgen hinted communication and technological troubles limited replay official Gordon Riese’s ability to correct the on-field error.

“We’re not certain that he got all of the videos that were available,” Sorgen told The Oregonian of Portland, Ore.

Riese, a Portland resident, could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Roger Judd, who served as the replay assistant, declined comment when reached by telephone at his home in Salem, Ore.

“I’d better not say anything,” Judd said. “I’m already on suspension.”

Judd referred a reporter to Sorgen, who did not return phone messages or e-mails Tuesday. But in an interview with The Oregonian, Sorgen said there was a “glitch in the (instant replay) booth.”

“Somehow they didn’t get all of the replays that ABC was providing,” Sorgen told the newspaper. “I think there was a miscommunication between the No. 2 (Judd) and the No. 1 (Riese), and as a result, we didn’t get the information we should have gotten.”

In a statement released Monday, Pac-10 commissioner Tom Hansen said “ample views were available.” Associate commissioner Jim Muldoon reiterated the position Tuesday.

Ed Placey, the coordinating producer for ABC’s and ESPN’s college football games, said the review of the onside kick “proceeded as normal” and said he was unaware of any issues with the network’s live feed into the replay booth. He said viewers saw three replays of the onside kick before Riese called for a replay review. The network showed five different angles a total of 12 times during nearly four minutes of the review.

“The ones that were relevant, we showed a couple of times,” Placey said.

The Oregonian reported a “source in the replay booth” said Riese was “pressured by television” and referee David Cutaia “for a rapid decision.” Placey said ABC did not pressure Riese.

“Once (replay officials) stop the game, our urgency level is certainly nonexistent,” Placey said. “This was an unusually long (review). It was pretty exciting, so we weren’t in any hurry. We were kind of working the drama of it.”

Muldoon and Placey said the replay officials initiate a review by calling a producer, informing them of the review and what they’re reviewing. In this case, the replay officials said they were reviewing whether the ball was illegally touched by an Oregon player before it traveled 10 yards.

“When you stop the game, we bring back all the replays and we determine we will show every replay that relates to that angle,” said Placey, who said ABC had nine cameras assigned to the game – though several weren’t filming angles relevant to the reviewed call.

During the review, ABC continued showing replays of the kick from different angles. But what the replay officials were able to see isn’t clear.

Per Pac-10 policy, the replay booth had two television monitors. One shows the live TV feed. The other is used by the replay assistant — Judd, in this case — who is supposed to be able to record the live feed and play back replays.

“He’ll say this angle might be helpful,” Muldoon said.

But a source told The Oregonian Riese was able to see just one replay, and from a bad angle.

Riese and Judd were accompanied by two more people Saturday. A third person, who serves as a technician, is standard in Pac-10 replay booths, and is responsible for ensuring the equipment is working.

The fourth person was observing as part of the Pac-10’s program to train new replay officials. Muldoon said the fourth person was not involved in any decision-making.

And what angles were available during the critical moments on Saturday?

“It’s hard to say, because you don’t keep what was recorded (by the replay assistant),” Muldoon said. “I can’t tell you exactly what they saw. He may not have seen all the replay angles available.

“However, we still feel like there were enough angles available.”