An ACC official has reportedly quit out of frustration after how a review was handled during the Week 2 college football game between Syracuse and UConn, according to ESPN.
Gary Patterson, an ACC official since 2002, was the head referee of the matchup, and reportedly terminated his contract after the officiating crew had to backtrack plays due to a review of a potential fumble by Syracuse quarterback Steve Angeli.
Patterson was set to officiate the Backyard Brawl rivalry between Pitt and West Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 13, before terminating his contract.
ESPN reported the situation that led to Patterson’s decision occurred with 1:02 remaining in the second quarter, when Steve Angeli and Syracuse faced first-and-10 from their own 25-yard line. Angeli’s arm was hit as he threw on the play, and officials immediately ruled it an incomplete pass.
Angeli’s pass on second down was nearly intercepted, but two UConn defenders collided.
Patterson’s frustration mounted after second down, as a flag was thrown after the second-down play. It was unclear as to why the flag was thrown at first, but it turned out that the ACC’s command center had signaled to review the first-down pass for being a potential fumble, despite second down already being played. The on-field officials, including Patterson, weren’t signaled for review in time before the second-down play.
Patterson and the command center then discussed the potential fumble on first down, before ruling the play was upheld and there was no fumble. The situation negated the second-down play, despite Angeli nearly tossing an interception.
Here’s a look at the situation, which unfolded starting at the 58:19 mark in the video below:
‘Sources who have reviewed numerous camera angles of the sequence said there was no physical indication by any official on the field that they had been buzzed by the replay booth before the second-down snap,’ ESPN wrote. ‘An ACC spokesperson said that officials were buzzed to initiate the review but that the timing was not ideal for it to be a seamless replay.’
ESPN reported the ACC has addressed how the situation was handled internally. ESPN’s rules expert, Bill LeMonnier, also said the instance was the fault of either the replay booth or command center, not the on-field officials.