1. The hold - I watched it on replay. Trying my best to be objective but it absolutely looks like the UVa player slipped and fell and was not taken to the ground by Baer. Even if the ref thought Baer took him to the ground, it was so far away from the play while Yarnell was in motion to pass, the kid in the 1st row eating popcorn had as much effect on the play. Shouldn't you let that goal?
2. Ever since they changed the rule after the Pickett slide to the ball being marked down at the point where you start your slide, I have been saying that QB's should dive head first. 2 reasons for this: 1. You give up 2 yards when you slide. 2 yards are important a lot of times. It cost us the game vs Wake Forest last year. Dive. Dont slide. The other reason is I believe its safer to dive. How many targeting calls do you see on a sliding QB. Seems like there's literally 1 per game. A sliding QB gives himself up and is at the liberty of the defense to "do the right thing." A diving QB is still making a football play and can better position his body at the end of the run to avoid a helmet to helmet hit. And you get 2 extra yards which is huge.
3. WTF. I watched this on replay. I've never seen this. I am not sure this call has ever been made in the history of the football. They didnt blow the play dead. The play was allowed to be run and then after the fact, the ref says he wasnt far enough out of the UVa backfield. Well, why did they let the play run. Why wasnt a penalty on UVa for snapping it before the ref got into position. Only at Pitt would something like this happen.
2. Ever since they changed the rule after the Pickett slide to the ball being marked down at the point where you start your slide, I have been saying that QB's should dive head first. 2 reasons for this: 1. You give up 2 yards when you slide. 2 yards are important a lot of times. It cost us the game vs Wake Forest last year. Dive. Dont slide. The other reason is I believe its safer to dive. How many targeting calls do you see on a sliding QB. Seems like there's literally 1 per game. A sliding QB gives himself up and is at the liberty of the defense to "do the right thing." A diving QB is still making a football play and can better position his body at the end of the run to avoid a helmet to helmet hit. And you get 2 extra yards which is huge.
3. WTF. I watched this on replay. I've never seen this. I am not sure this call has ever been made in the history of the football. They didnt blow the play dead. The play was allowed to be run and then after the fact, the ref says he wasnt far enough out of the UVa backfield. Well, why did they let the play run. Why wasnt a penalty on UVa for snapping it before the ref got into position. Only at Pitt would something like this happen.
