I could see how the front of the chain got moved back due to some dumb error, but how did the entire chain get moved back a yard, after it started out in the right position? Originally it stretched from the 34 to the 24, and later stretches from the 35 to the 25.
It would be interesting to hear the crew's explanation, but I doubt one will ever be made public.
I think you are correct for the most part, but I still like having PJ as the person making the adjustments during the game and at halftime.
Really weird. The marker is placed upon a team having achieved a first down. There is no reason to move it. What I can't fathom is how the back of the chain got moved from the 34 to the 35? They had to just pull it up and scoot it back a yard, for no reason. Did they think they got it in the wrong place to begin with? I can't imagine it was done with malice aforethought, because there are many less obvious ways to influence a football game than that. They could just call some bogus penalty or something.
But there was no reason to move it in the first place. The previous 1st down was snapped from the 34, so the line to gain has to be the 24.
The chains were actually moved between 1st and second down. At that point, after an eight-yard gain on first, what should have been second and two became second and one. I guess it was a blunder, but I'd like to know how it happened that the chain was moved back a yard.
Fifth down redux from Colorado 1990 all over again. Was it cheating or just a mistake? Hard to imagine they'd do something that blatant when more subtle means are available for cheating, but on the other hand, how and why in hades did that chain get moved?
The chain guy to watch is on the 30. His job once the chain is set is to clip a marker on the chain at the 30 yard line as a reference point in case the chains need to be reset. As the play starts, you can barely see him bending over, presumably to do so. He’s late, and doesn’t get it done. Of course the play goes OOB near the marker to gain and the chain is dropped. Since the clip wasn’t placed at the 30, dopey can’t reset the chain properly. I have no idea why the guy at the LOS would’ve moved, but regardless, dopey at the 30 grabs the wrong spot on the chain, sets it back to the 30 and everyone pulls tight again.
You're correct. Still begs the question - why deliberately cheat to make it 2nd and 1 instead of 2nd and 2? VT already had 3 downs to make only 2 yards. Seems unnecessary. I am inclined to agree with CBK who stated in today's presser that it was an "inadvertive administrative error."
That's the biggest question. Amazing nobody noticed it in the booth. And it happened before the second-down play. You'd think it would dawn on somebody by 4th down.
The guy at the line to gain dropped the marker when the play came at him…. No issue with that. Dopey should be in charge until the officials signal to move again. He failed to properly mark the chain and made stuff up as he went along.
I loved Paul Johnson, HoF, best coach GT has had since Dodd. Living in Nashville, I still have guys, when I tell them I am a Tech grad, saying...."oh yeah, GT runs the TO..ya'll are tough!"....NOBODY knows who we are anymore.... because we are weak imitations of everybody else....We should have allowed Paul to retire on his own terms instead of chasing him out of town with torches and pitchforks...
