Mike Norvell unloads on refs in fallout from Miami's overtime win over Florida State

Florida State coach Mike Norvell on Monday described the holding penalty that erased a potential touchdown in the second overtime of Saturday's 43-35 loss to Miami as "an absolute joke," arguing that the call prevented his players from having a fair chance to finish the game on the field.

The penalty on offensive lineman Xavier Chaplin wiped out a 36-yard TD pass from Ashton Daniels to Micahi Danzy that would have set up a two-point conversion attempt to force a third overtime.

Norvell said he contacted ACC supervisor of officials Gary Patterson about the play and indicated that he was still waiting for a final explanation from the conference office.

Norvell criticizes holding call

"The holding call was an absolute joke. You go through the course of that game, same thing happened a few plays earlier that was not called. But in that moment, that play — it's a shame. It really is. We had to go convert the 2-point play, but for those kids not to be able to finish the game on the field in that moment is really disappointing. That was bad. I haven't gotten the final response from them, but if it's anything less than what I said, it tells me everything I need to know."

Mike Norvell

The sequence unfolded after Miami had taken a 43-35 lead in the second overtime on a touchdown and two-point conversion. Florida State faced fourth-and-21 from the Miami 36-yard line when Daniels found Danzy for what appeared to be a TD.

Officials immediately threw a flag on Chaplin, moving the Seminoles back 10 yards and forcing them into a fourth-and-31 situation. Daniels then lofted a pass toward 6-foot-6 receiver Duce Robinson in the end zone. Miami safety Bryce Fitzgerald went up for the ball, and the two players came down tangled together with their hands fighting for possession. Officials ruled the play an interception on the field.

Questions about final play review

A replay review lasting approximately two minutes followed. Officials in the ACC command center in Charlotte focused on whether Fitzgerald had control of the ball when the players hit the ground. They determined that he did and upheld the interception, ending the game. Norvell said the review should have included a discussion of simultaneous possession, given that both players appeared to have their hands on the ball as they went to the turf.

"You've got two guys going up for a catch and they both come to the ground, simultaneous possession — that has to be a part of the discussion. I'm not an official, I'm not sitting there in the command center, but when you broadcast it and that's not mentioned, that's something that at least should be part of the discussion I would think."

Mike Norvell

Under NCAA rules, simultaneous possession is defined as joint control that is maintained throughout the entire process of the catch, including when the players go to the ground. In the end zone, the ball becomes dead as soon as one player establishes sole possession on the turf.

ESPN football rules analyst Steve Shaw, who was on the broadcast, said Fitzgerald clearly had his hands on the ball when the players went to the ground and that the interception call was correct with nothing available to overturn it.

Norvell on earlier fumble play

Norvell also addressed a play earlier in the game in which Danzy was held during a fumble recovery attempt. He said he did not believe the contact warranted a penalty and instead praised the Miami defender (JJ Dunnigan) involved.

"I thought that was a really heads-up play by their player. I thought that was actually one of the plays of the game by their defender."

Mike Norvell

Norvell addressed questions about his future on Monday and said his focus remains on preparing for the remaining five games on the schedule. Florida State has a bye before hosting Clemson on Oct. 31.

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