This is precisely why we have instant replay. During the first quarter of the Sun Bowl between USC and Georgia Tech on Monday, USC kicker Andre Heidari clearly missed what should have been a relatively easy 37-yard field goal. The only problem was the official standing underneath the left upright didn’t see it that way, and he signaled that the kick was good.
After an animated protest from Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson, the play was reviewed and overturned. As you can see from the photo below, the ball clearly passed over the upright and missed wide left:
Fortunately for instant replay, there was no harm done. Unlike the close call in the Patriots-Ravens game earlier in the year that inspired Bill Belichick to grab an official, the play was reviewed. People make mistakes. Had it not been for technology, USC would have been given a much-needed three points in a game it wound up losing 21-7.
Helmet smack to Deadspin
