UNC Postgame

[augustabuzz]

I think they spotted the ball correctly. It was the yellow line that was off, IMHO. The ball was spotted just short of the 24 fwiw.

Yes, you can see in the video of the missed targeting call above that the Linesman spots the ball accurately.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

Yes, you can see in the video of the missed targeting call above that the Linesman spots the ball accurately.

The lineman was probably so focused on getting the spot right during the play, he missed the targeting.

 

[ClydeBrick]

The lineman was probably so focused on getting the spot right during the play, he missed the targeting.

This. I been calling softball for a few years now - youth & adult - after coaching for 15 years. First thing I learned; it is impossible to focus on everything and your field of focus is much smaller than most people understand.

Football refs have so many things going on all around them that I would consider it a much harder job than umpiring diamond sports. In a game of distance, setting the Spot is of the most importance (e.g. Fluke 2014) and lots of plays refs are out of position and trying to judge where the ball was in 3 dimensions as it was moving. I always chuckle when they measure for a First Down; as if there was any real precision in setting the chains in the first place - it's all eyeballing a football that is 0 - 160' away.

It's no excuse though - we demand perfection in our players & coaches, so refs need to get it right all the time too.