ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, August 23, 1996 TAG: 9608230061
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: NFL NOTES
SOURCE: From Knight-Ridder/Tribune and Associated Press reports
Instant replay came to Chicago's Soldier Field on Thursday night as part of its NFL experimental tour. So far the reviews are good, although still inconclusive.
``Overall, we're pleased the system is operational,'' said Jerry Seeman, the NFL's director of officiating.
In eight preseason games, coaches have called for 12 reviews. Of the 12 plays, three have been overturned, including two touchdowns that the cameras proved weren't touchdowns.
Such examples are likely to have a significant impact when owners decide in the spring of 1997 whether to revive a limited form of replay for the first time since 1991. The replay system used from 1986-91 proved too cumbersome to continue.
In its experimental stage, Bears coach Dave Wannstedt and Kansas City Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer will have red flags they can toss onto the field three times a half to challenge only three reviewable categories. They include end zone plays, sideline plays, and number of players on the field. Of the 12 challenges so far, six have involved end-zone plays and six sideline plays.
In the Bears' game, the referee will go to a sideline television cart, put on a headset and talk to a technician in the press box who mans two video cassette recorders taping ABC's replays. From the time the referee starts talking, he will have two minutes to either verify or overturn the decision made on the field.
According to Seeman, the average time for the 12 decisions through Wednesday was one minute.
During this regular season, the league will continue to conduct experiments, but they will be only for in-house study. Officials will not be able to overrule calls and games will not be interrupted.
According to Don Shula, the former Miami Dolphins coach and former chairman of the competition committee, the new system appears workable.
``I like what I've seen so far,'' said Shula, like most coaches an advocate of replay. ``I knew replay the way we had it before would never pass again because there were too many interruptions, delays were too long, and some of the reversals weren't very meaningful reversals.''
The challenge system suits Shula, and having the referee on the field remain in charge rather than a replay official in the booth suits former referee Seeman.
``We've had excellent examples of what you could do with a system and the big thing is it keeps the decision on the field, so we don't have to be a god in the sky,'' Seeman said.
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Cincinnati running back Garrison Hearst works outby CNBThursday at Spinney Field in Cincinnati. Hearst and the Bengals are
preparing for a preseason game with Detroit tonight.