Video: Should these two Clemson TDs not have counted?
The Clemson Tigers are the 2016 national champions.
The Tigers dethroned Alabama 35-31 in Tampa Monday night, and it came down to the last play, literally, in the final second.
And what would a national championship be without a little controversy?
Two of Clemson’s touchdowns, including the final one, have fans scratching their heads as to why the officials didn’t call a “pick” play and left the flags in their pockets.
Following the game, QB Deshaun Watson called it a “pick” play, while Dabo Swinney called it a “rub” play. Either way, defensive coaches could have some beef with the no-calls.
Below is the game-winning touchdown from Watson to WR Hunter Renfrow. Watson said after the game on ESPN, “We knew Alabama would be in zero coverage inside the 5.”
The outside receiver ran a quick slant and the Alabama outside defensive back bear-hugged him and actually initiated the contact. The inside defensive back can’t cover the inside receiver on the out like he would want.
Had the outside receiver initiated the contact first, the officials may have called the pick play. But that didn’t happen, and he was wide open for the game-winning touchdown.
#ALLIN Fans in case you missed what happened! Pay close attention to detail! The old famous pick play. #NationalChampionship #ClemvsBama pic.twitter.com/AzcDdWvySS
— Corey Howard (@choward_media) January 10, 2017
Earlier in the game, Clemson took a three-point lead on a another similar play for a Mike Williams touchdown.
The tight end, who was playing outside receiver in this play, turned around and sold the officials that the play was coming to him. One defender slips down and the other couldn’t fight through the play the way he wanted.
Watson finds Mike Williams and cuts Bama's lead to 3! #SidelineCam https://t.co/J4pBrRj3oZ
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) January 10, 2017
“Pick” plays are used a lot within college football now, especially near the goal line. It’s usually left up to the officials to determine whether it was a legal play or not. The calls are clearer (and easier) when the wide receiver runs into the defensive player covering the other receiver. Things tend to get complicated when receivers come into contact with his own defender while getting in the way of the other defensive player.
One of the biggest reasons for the no-calls? The officials were letting these two teams play all night.
they let them play all night is right. Bama got away with a number of hits that could have been called targeting, particularly the early hit on Mike Williams. The 1st pick play, probably was, the second, not really, the Bama defender backed into his own man…Renfrow made a nice move to avoid the mess and get open. Congrats Tigers…
Agree. There were a lot of no calls for holding, targeting and PI all night for both teams. Those refs were determined to take themselves out of the equation.
I was biased, so I caught some of the no-calls when Bama committed a foul. But I’m sure it was happening on both sides. One play in particular, Bama CB held Clemson WR because he was beat, and the WR had a clear field in front of him.
I’m sure from looking at past game videos this type of play was brought to the refs attention to be “on top of” so they we’re aware of it but saw nothing wrong to throw a flag on. We all knew a bunch of folks would call them out today, that always happens after games, its football.
“Letting them play” was the phrase going through my head all night long. I wanted Bama to win, but I was glad to see the officials weren’t trying to take over the game.
The white hat in that game is dirty. Everytime I see him in a game there are always controversial calls.
They rarely ever call that, college or pro. The game winning TD was more blatant, dude cleared out the defender even tho Marlon grabbed but the ball wasn’t in the air so you can make contact during that time. Marlon should have switched but I’m sure they didn’t know a pick was coming. What’s up with all the Bama hate tho? This is SDS right? Don’t we pull for the SEC? lol
Depends on which SEC team is playing. I’ll pull for any team over Alabama, because Bama is #1 on my hate list. I’ll pull for almost any team over Auburn. And I’ll pull for a lot of teams over either of the Mississippi teams.
The game winning TD wasn’t more blatant. The Bama DB clearly pulls scott to the ground and the DB on the slot receiver has to go around the melee. Here is how it is described on SB Nation:
The outside receiver on the play runs a quick slant, and the outside cornerback initiates contact and grabs him. This forces the inside cornerback to take a circuitous route to cover the inside receiver, who initially fakes inside, only to quickly cut outside. He is wide open. The throw is perfect. Clemson dethrones the Tide.
Tell me where you find fault in that description? You can see the guy being pulled to the ground on the video.
Ehh. Pick plays are kind of 70/30 with the PI calls. 70% no calls. I tell you that watching this game, there were at least 2 particular plays where the Bama player could’ve been called for targeting, but I think we can all agree that they certainly let the guys play in this one.
#OnTo17
So now I guess we will all have to get lectured by the tyrant midget who was beaten by a less talented team about “rub” plays.
Crist and many of the other sycophant media members of the Saban echo chamber will cry and do Saban’s bidding all off season.
Nah, not really, Clemson deserved to win, they were the better team last night. How’d Tennessee do last night? Oh that’s right…brick by brick, right?
Tennessee has somehow become even less relevant than aubrun
Just good Xs and Os and timely play calling. No whine allowed.
It’s not likely either of these plays would have been consequential had Bama converted only 2 of 15 third down situations. NO DEFENSE, regardless how talented, athletic, and competent, can possibly be expected to thwart an offense of Clemson’s caliber and a QB as capable and versatile as DeShaun Watson if their own offense can’t execute drives, take time off the clock, and give them a rest longer than a couple of minutes….Period. This problem has bedeviled the Tide all season, and it finally caught up with them last night in the worst way.