quote:
They also messed up the defensive holding call a few plays later. They replayed 3rd down when it should have been an automatic first.

I believe that you are wrong on that as well. I've read that it is only an Automatic 1st down on a pass play, Hurts never threw the ball on that play so it is not an auto 1st down but a 5yard penalty and in this case 1/2 the distance and replay the down.
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Wrong.

NCAA Rule 9-3-4

In the 2009-10 edition of the NCAA Football Rulebook, Rule 9 covers “Conduct of Players and Others Subject to the Rules.” Section 3 covers “Blocking, Use of Hands or Arms” and Section 4 is directed at defensive players.
quote:
They also messed up the defensive holding call a few plays later. They replayed 3rd down when it should have been an automatic first.

I believe that you are wrong on that as well. I've read that it is only an Automatic 1st down on a pass play, Hurts never threw the ball on that play so it is not an auto 1st down but a 5yard penalty and in this case 1/2 the distance and replay the down.

Section 3, Article 4 of Rule 9 states that a “defensive player may use hands and arms to push, pull, ward off or lift offensive players when attempting to reach the runner.” But they may not use hands and arms to tackle, hold or otherwise illegally obstruct an opponent other than a ball carrier. This is, by definition, defensive holding and carries a 10-yard penalty that is awarded to the offense as well as an automatic first down.

You're probably confusing Def. holding and pass interference. When a receiver is held before the pass is thrown, it's holding, but if it occurs while the ball is in the air, it's pass interference.