re: Rewatch of the '10 Iron Bowl. (Yes, I'm relearning what we all knew)

I was watching the Bama/Florida game in The Swamp a few years ago. It was on CBS.

In the first half, a Bama player caught the ball about a yard short of the first down, was getting tackled, stretched the ball out beyond the first down marker, then pulled it back and secured it before hitting the ground. I didn’t know the rule and wasn’t sure if Bama should have been awarded a first down or not (they were). I wasn’t up in arms, I just wanted the call to be correct either way. But Gary was singing praises. Gary said Bama’s player had made such a smart, crafty, and amazing play to get the first down, it was practically a Heisman moment! I swear, he was going on and on to the point I thought Gary was about to run down to the field and blow the kid.

Then in the second half, a Florida player DID THE EXACT SAME THING. Exactly the same! (For the record, the refs awarded UF the first down, too.) Well, Gary was fit to be tied! The UF player had intentionally pulled the ball back behind the first down marker as he was going down! This wasn’t the goal line! No way that should be a first down! Outrageous!

Of course, I’m well aware that Vern and Gary love Bama. But Gary’s flip flop and extraordinarily different reaction to THE SAME PLAY by a Gator player was really above and beyond their usual Bama-homering.

My memory may fail me, but I think Gary made such a stink that CBS had a “rules expert” come on and explain the refs got the call right (both times). And again, to their credit, the refs made the same call both times. First Bama, then later Florida, were awarded the first down with little fanfare. So kudos to the refs for knowing the rule and calling the game fairly. A big “frick you” to Gray for his obvious bias and homership.