Sep
Als left shaking heads
Courtesy Montreal Gazette:
It appears Avon Cobourne’s late TD that was disallowed wasn’t the only transgression the Alouettes were forced to deal with last Friday against British Columbia.
On the game’s second play, after a 55-yard reception by Jamel Richardson, Kerry Watkins fumbled at the Lions’ 12. Anton McKenzie forced the fumble that was recovered by Korey Banks. But many of the Als contend McKenzie, a linebacker, had one foot out of bounds.
They believe the reception should have counted. Quarterback Anthony Calvillo argued in vain, while head coach Marc Trestman was advised the play wasn’t reviewable, meaning he couldn’t throw a challenge flag.
Any player forced out of bounds can re-enter the field. If not forced out, they can still re-enter, but they can’t make the first play on the ball or the carrier, which McKenzie did.
Watkins claimed McKenzie went out on his own, quickly adding: “I should do a better job of protecting the ball.”
Calvillo argued McKenzie couldn’t create the turnover. The response he got is one reason CFL officiating is often ridiculed.
“They determined they didn’t see it,” Calvillo said, shrugging. “We’re all human. There were mistakes we made on offence. The refs are going to make mistakes. It’s part of the CFL. The refereeing has improved 100 times from when
I entered the league.”
Trestman, in only his second CFL season, said he hopes to get more information from Tom Higgins, the league’s director of officiating.
“It’s a good lesson for our players; he (McKenzie) never stopped playing,” Trestman said. “We all saw what we saw, and A.C. was over there, arguing. We didn’t get the result (we had hoped for), but I’m not going to belabour it.”
Meanwhile, CFL chief operating officer Michael Copeland yesterday acknowledged that commissioner Mark Cohon received the Als’ written protest over Cobourne’s disallowed TD along with $5,000 – forfeited should Cohon reject the protest.
For a protest to be upheld, there must be evidence an official intentionally misinterpreted or misapplied a rule. That, on the surface, seems to indicate the Als won’t win the argument.
“I don’t think the league will reverse the decision,” Cobourne admitted. “If they do, great. What happens after that? Who knows? I’m just glad we’ve got upper management fighting for it.”
Late in the fourth, the Als were forced to run a play from the Lions’ 8-yard line three three times. Cobourne scored on one of the plays, but the league’s command centre, in conjunction with the stadium supervisor, paged the officials, believing the clock required re-setting.
Once the page was sent the play didn’t count, according to the league. The Als contend the play should stand, since it was run, and dispute any whistle sounded until after the score, which would have reduced their deficit to 19-18, before the convert.
Still, the players suggest the game never should have reached that pivotal juncture. Too many plays and scoring opportunities were left on the field by an offence that failed to score a touchdown.
The Als entertain the Lions Sunday at Molson Stadium
