November 2, 2015

Page 1

Special senior day

Alum talks political career

Duke women’s soccer underclassmen send seniors out in style with 5-0 rout | Online

Macon Phillips worked on President Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign | Page 3

The Chronicle T H E I N D E P E N D E N T D A I LY AT D U K E U N I V E R S I T Y

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2015

WWW.DUKECHRONICLE.COM

ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVENTH YEAR, ISSUE 42

NOT DOWN (?) AND NOT OUT Miami’s 8-lateral kickoff return erases Duke comeback

ACC suspends officials Ryan Hoerger The Chronicle The ACC has suspended the members of the on-field officiating crew and the replay officials involved in Saturday’s wild game between Duke and Miami at Wallace Wade Stadium due to numerous officiating errors committed on the game’s final play. The Hurricanes left Durham with a 3027 win after eight laterals on the game’s final play—a squib kick by Duke’s Ross Martin—produced a touchdown by Miami junior Corn Elder. In a statement, the ACC noted that “a series of errors” were made, including that a Hurricane player was down with the ball still in his hand. If this ruling on the field had been correctly reversed, the game would have ended as a 27-24 Duke victory. “The quality of our officiating program is of the highest importance to the league and its schools, and the last play of the game was not handled appropriately,” ACC Commissioner John Swofford said in the statement. “Officiating is an extraordinarily difficult job but our players, coaches, programs and fans deserve the best that can be offered. We will continue to strive to meet that standard.” The on-field officials, replay official and replay communicator will serve a twogame suspension.

Khloe Kim | The Chronicle After its miraculous kickoff return was upheld despite evidence that running back Mark Walton was down, Miami stormed the field to celebrate.

Brian Mazur The Chronicle Duke looked poised to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat—until Miami stole it back on the game’s final play. Following a Blue Devil two-point conversion to put Duke ahead 27-24, kicker Ross Martin squibbed the ensuing kickoff down to the Miami 25-yard line, where a myriad of laterals sent the ball flying around the field deep inside Hurricane territory. Eventually, punt returner Corn Elder got his hands on the ball and zoomed past the Blue Devil kickoff coverage for a return touchdown as time expired, giving the Hurricanes a 30-27 win on Halloween night at Wallace Wade Stadium. At first, the play was called back for a block in back near the Duke 25-yard line just before Elder marched into the end zone. After a lengthy review, head referee Jerry Magallanes turned on his microphone to deliver the outcome:

|

|

“After review, there was never a knee down by any of the runners of Miami. However, the block in question was from the side, not from the back. It is a legal play. Touchdown. The game is over.” Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said he was confused and shocked on the sideline, and did not get any communication from officials prior to the announcement that dealt the No. 22 Blue Devils their first conference loss. “I can’t tell you what happened or what the sequence was,” he said. With the penalty changed and the touchdown good, interim head coach Larry Scott’s team erupted in celebration. Following the game, questions remained about whether or not running back Mark Walton was down before pitching the ball during the return and whether it was appropriate to pick up a flag against Miami for a block in the back. Additionally, replay footage showed at least one Hurricane player running onto the field before Elder crossed the plane, which would have been a dead-ball

|

|

|

penalty for 12 men on the field. Cutcliffe was preparing his defense for one last stand after the penalty—but it never occurred. “Nobody ever suggested that [the touchdown was going to count],” Cutcliffe said. “I was coaching our defense for if they tried to take a shot at the end zone.” Regardless of the questions, the outcome following the eight-minute review was clear: Miami pulled off a miracle at Wallace Wade on Halloween night. “I would like the whole play reviewed in detail,” Cutcliffe said. “I thought the guy was down and I think pictures will prove me right.” Before the last second fireworks stole the show, redshirt junior quarterback Thomas Sirk led the Blue Devils on a fierce comeback that set up the finish. After a Miami field goal extended the lead to 24-12 with 5:54 to play, the Duke offense put together a much-needed touchdown drive See FOOTBALL on Page 7

INSIDE — News 2 Sportswrap 5 Classified 9 Puzzles 9 Opinion 10 Serving the University since 1905

|

See REFS on Page 7

Khloe Kim | The Chronicle The Blue Devils were left stunned after head referee Jerry Magallanes announced Miami’s kickoff return would stand.

@dukechronicle

|

© 2015 The Chronicle


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.