How To Fix Instant Replay

After further review, there is indisputable video evidence that instant replay in college football is broken.



Replay officials have failed to get calls correct on numerous occasions this year. Recent examples from 2009 include:

- TD catch for Maryland against Clemson
- Interception by LSU against Alabama
- TD catch by Indiana against Iowa
- Goal line stop by WVU against Cincinnati
- Lateral by UNC against Miami
- Fumble by Clemson against NC State

Not to mention the fiasco in the Oklahoma versus Oregon game in 2006 where the replay official botched two easy calls in a matter of minutes.



Here are some solutions to help improve replay.

Update Technology - It is hard to believe but fans sitting at home in their la-z-boy may have a better view of crucial calls than replay officials do, because the entire SEC and the majority of BCS teams still have replay booths that are not equipped with high definition feeds.

Allow All The Views - The Big Ten and the SEC only allow the replay officials to view plays that come from the television cameras while a number of extra views that are available from the scoreboard cameras are not used.

Why not give officials all the possible angles?

Add Goal Line Cameras - Add two permanent cameras along each goalines.

Improve Coaches Challenges - Currently, coaches have to call a timeout prior to the next play being run in order to challenge a play, but that requires getting the officials attention prior to the play, which doesn't always happen in-time (ask Tom O'Brien). Just give the coaches a bean-bag to toss on the field in order to challange a play, similar to the NFL policy.

Adopt NFL Policy - The NFL puts the ultimate decision to uphold or overrule a call on the field in the hands of the officials on the field. Despite controversial replay after controversial replay in College Football, when was the last time there was a controversial replay in the NFL?

It makes sense to have the official that actual saw the play live on the field to look at all the angles and decide if the call on the field stands or is overruled instead of putting the decision in the hands of completely separate local replay officials who generally seem to be biased towards the home team.

Replay officials can still review every play and signal the officials if a play needs to be reviewed, but the on-field officials actually make the decision whether or not to overturn the call on the field.

Remove The Word "Indisputable" - Instead of requiring "indisputable video evidence" to overturn a call on the field, base the decision on what option appears to be most likely based on the video evidence.

If an official thinks the evidence supports overruling the call even if the evidence isn't indisputable then that should be enough to overturn the call. Instant replay isn't a murder trial, and officials shouldn't have to be convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt to overturn a ruling on the field.



No system is ever going to be perfect, but with just a few simple changes the NCAA can go along way towards reestablishing faith in the replay system after a handful of questionable calls this year.