Using this opportunity, I took a closer look at the infamous face mask call (or no call) close to the end of the first half. I viewed it from every replay provided and came to a conclusion. I can see why the crowd was very angry, and I was too initially, after viewing the replay they played on the jumbotron and most highlighted on tv. However, if you replay the whole sequence, note how the crowd was pretty tame when the no call actually happened. It was only after the replay came on the big screen did they freak out. Why is that so? It's because the replay shown was misleading. The illusion provided in the replay was that the memphis player was swung around by the opponent holding his facemask. I agree, if that was the case, the call clearly should have been made. But that wasn't the case as can be seen in the other replay angles. The guy is being held by BOTH the facemask AND by the back of his shirt. The hand on his back was what swung him around, not the hand on the facemask. And as this was happening BOTH players had hands on each others facemasks... in one angle you can even see the memphis player's fingers brush by the nose and into the mouth of the opposing smu player. This is why call wasn't made. The ref seen both facemasks clearly and he also seen what everyone else seen BEFORE the misleading replay was played on the jumbotron, and that he was swung around by a hand in back of his shirt, not by the mask. So what do you do? Make a facemask call on both, which cancel out, or just pretend it didn't happen and let the game progress. He chose the later. I bet today he wishes he just called both. But it is what it is.
Using this opportunity, I took a closer look at the infamous face mask call (or no call) close to the end of the first half. I viewed it from every replay provided and came to a conclusion. I can see why the crowd was very angry, and I was too initially, after viewing the replay they played on the jumbotron and most highlighted on tv. However, if you replay the whole sequence, note how the crowd was pretty tame when the no call actually happened. It was only after the replay came on the big screen did they freak out. Why is that so? It's because the replay shown was misleading. The illusion provided in the replay was that the memphis player was swung around by the opponent holding his facemask. I agree, if that was the case, the call clearly should have been made. But that wasn't the case as can be seen in the other replay angles. The guy is being held by BOTH the facemask AND by the back of his shirt. The hand on his back was what swung him around, not the hand on the facemask. And as this was happening BOTH players had hands on each others facemasks... in one angle you can even see the memphis player's fingers brush by the nose and into the mouth of the opposing smu player. This is why call wasn't made. The ref seen both facemasks clearly and he also seen what everyone else seen BEFORE the misleading replay was played on the jumbotron, and that he was swung around by a hand in back of his shirt, not by the mask. So what do you do? Make a facemask call on both, which cancel out, or just pretend it didn't happen and let the game progress. He chose the later. I bet today he wishes he just called both. But it is what it is.
The runner is allowed to touch the facemask of the D. As long as he doesn't twist or cause unnecessary roughness. Happens every game via stiff arms. The difference is the runner is trying to get away, while the D is using it to illegally - and dangerously - make a tackle.
And if you were at the game, you would have heard the groans immediately - then it was confirmed with the reply.
Finally, the crowd is sitting hundreds of feet away. The ref is standing 10 feet away. He is getting paid to spot such things.
Agreed. Rules are rules. The guy with the ball can do things the guy trying to tackle him can not. I sit in section 101, 20th row, and I saw the horse collar first, then the facemask second, in real time. Plain as day.