Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 9, 1995 TAG: 9509110082
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Dan Wooldridge could have taken the Fifth Amendment when asked about an inadvertent fifth down awarded Virginia Tech in its football game Thursday night with Boston College.
``I haven't seen the tape yet,'' said Wooldridge, supervisor of football officials for the Big East, ``but I've already heard about it from too many people. Yep, I'm pretty much convinced it happened.
``We're very, very fortunate that an error in mechanics or judgment did not effect the outcome.''
Boston College defeated the Hokies 20-14.
Tech had picked up its final first down with 44 seconds remaining when Jim Druckenmiller connected with Jermaine Holmes on a 5-yard pass to the BC 27.
An 8-yard completion to Michael Stuewe should have given the Hokies a second-and-two at the 19, but game tapes show that the down marker still registered first down.
``Evidently, everybody thought the play [to Stuewe] had generated a first down,'' said Wooldridge from his hotel room in Miami, where he will observe the Hurricanes' game today with Florida A&M.
``We can't be sure, till we see the tape, whether the chains got moved or didn't get moved or what happened. That's possible. But, it's still our problem. It's still my responsibility. We cannot - and will not - blame this on the chains crew.''
Repeated viewing of the ESPN telecast shows that the chains may not have been set following the pass to Holmes, which came on fourth-and-three from the 32.
``I'm told the box [with the down marker] was on the 27, but the chains were not re-set by the time the next play started,'' Wooldridge said. ``That happens all the time, though. The box is supposed to come first.''
Wooldridge said he spoke Friday with Virginia Tech officials, who confirmed the apparent fifth down. He hopes to review the tapes and issue a statement by the end of the weekend.
``It would have been a travesty if Virginia Tech had scored on a fifth down,'' Wooldridge said. ``I'm not dodging the issue and I will not dodge the issue. Any individuals involved will be dealt with appropriately.''
by CNB