Consider “lag time” the newest expletive in the Notre Dame fan’s lexicon.
A Big East officiating crew did not flag Michigan State for delay of game on the decisive overtime snap in a 34-31 win over the Irish on Saturday. And the league affirmed the ruling Sunday, saying “there will always be a small amount of lag time” between a back judge seeing the play clock hit zero and then checking on the snap.
“After review, the Conference believes that the game officials correctly applied the proper mechanics and guidelines that are in place to determine, in a consistent manner, when a flag should be thrown for delay of game,” a Big East statement said.
The conference also said the play is not reviewable under NCAA rules.
Irish coach Brian Kelly didn’t share the outrage over the non-call preceding a game-winning fake field goal for a touchdown.
“We’re splitting hairs on what happened at the end of the game,” Kelly said Sunday. “Could there have been zero on (the clock) before it was snapped? Yeah, there’s that possibility. But I haven’t spent much time thinking or complaining about that as much as, we gotta defend the play.”
— Brian Hamilton
