After its 33-30 overtime loss to Syracuse on Saturday, the University of Toledo has petitioned to have the result of the game officially vacated.
Late in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game, Syracuse scored a touchdown to take a 29-27 lead with just over two minutes to play. Syracuse kicker Ross Krautman kicked the ensuing extra point, which was ruled good. Looking at the replay however, the kick actually missed wide left. Despite reviewing the play, referees still determined that the kick was good.
Toledo proceeded to drive down the field and tie the game with a field goal and send it into overtime. Syracuse would later win the game on a field goal of its own.
Toledo argues that if the kick was correctly ruled no good, they would have won the game in regulation. Big East conference officials issued a statement Saturday acknowledging that the play was called incorrectly.
According to the Toledo Blade, Toledo athletic director Mike O'Brien has requested that Mid-American Conference commissioner Jon Steinbrecher talk to the Big East about having the game's results vacated.
"This can be looked upon in a variety of ways," O'Brien said. "Whether it be sour grapes, that athletic director is a sore loser, or praised, I think it's important we show our football team that we truly support them, that we show our football coach and his staff we're here for them and support them and tell our fan base that it wasn't a situation where the University of Toledo just lays down."
Toledo head football coach Tim Beckman was also upset with the call.
"I'm here today to fight for our Rocket football team," Beckman said. "The game of football has numerous human errors throughout a game. The players, coaches and officials are all apart of these. That's football. But when you add technology to a call and it is not used properly, it is injustice. The use of instant replay is there to make a call right."
There is no word yet on what MAC or Big East officials plan to do about the situation.
