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Miami Hurricanes Football: Question the Referees’ Calls if You Must, but Don’t Question the ‘Canes Victory Over Duke

By Shanon Culiner

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As expected, ESPN and other sports networks & shows have been replaying the Miami Hurricanes’ unbelievable finish against Duke last night over and over.

However, many sports experts, analysts, players and fans aren’t talking about how great the play was, but rather claiming that the ‘miraculous play’ shouldn’t have stood.

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The claim is that Miami’s Mark Walton had his knee down before pitching the ball back to Jaquan Johnson and that there were numerous blocks in the back that should’ve been called. Also, Miami’s Rashawn Scott had apparently run down the sideline and then onto the field with his helmet off in excitement, thus, 12 players on the field.

After watching the play again (like 25 times), I agree that Walton’s knee looked down. And, some of the blocks did come off as questionable. And yes, Scott should’ve never been on the field.

However, even if those claims were somehow proven to be true, you cannot justify taking a win away from a Miami team that fought over 4 quarters.

Bad calls are just the nature of sports. It happened to Miami throughout the game as well. In fact, so many times have I personally witnessed coaches run onto the field or refs miss an obvious call.

Look, after Corn Elder scored and the refs reviewed the play, spoke over the loud speakers only to continue to review the play … I had no idea what the officials were saying. They first said the flag was for a “block in the back” and the next, they’re reviewing if a knee was down. Confusing!  But, they reviewed it and in their eyes there was indisputable evidence to overturn whatever flag was thrown or knee to be down.

Nonetheless, we forget to discuss the terrible calls the referees called against Miami all game long.

The Miami football program had a record-setting night for the program. And, not the records you’re looking for. They were flagged 23 times. Most were good calls, but some were vile. Trust me, I threw numerous beer cans at the television set. Miami went backwards 194 yards. That’s giving Miami a starting field position of two football fields back, before the end zone.

We can argue that those penalties didn’t result in the decision of the game, but I beg to differ.

Some of those pass-interference calls that resulted in Duke driving down the field with the quickness and resulting in quarterback Thomas Sirk scoring at the end of the game were horrific. In my humble opinion, Duke should’ve never been on Miami’s goal-line nearing the end. And, as everyone saw, Duke had to snap the ball quickly just so Sirk could run a last second play (which was the touchdown). If there wasn’t those ridiculous pass-interference calls, they would’ve never had the opportunity.

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I also question if the ball crossed the goal line for Duke. Even in slow motion, Juwon Young’s helmet pinned the ball back into Sirk’s chest. The ball never looked to move forward and break the plane. But, again, there wasn’t indisputable evidence to negate the score.

A call is a call and Miami accepted that Duke scored at the very end. They also accepted the atrocious calls all game long.

It happens all over sports. Holding calls could potentially be called on every play in football. In basketball, what really justifies as a foul (I’m still trying to figure that out)? As you heard probably time and time again, never leave the game in the hands of the officials.

So, whether you agree with the call or don’t, Miami deservingly won the game. The calls on the field shouldn’t take away an earned victory. As mentioned above, a football game is played in 4 quarters not several seconds. You can justify taking away the last second unbelievable finish, but please do not try to justify that Miami shouldn’t have won.

Next: 'Canes Outlast Duke in Greatest Finish Ever

If you’re going to judge the calls one way, make sure to do your due diligence and judge the calls on the other side as well.

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