James Madison head football coach Curt Cignetti was irate with a called touchdown during Saturday’s game against Utah State and tried to use an iPhone to show the referees that they were wrong. That is not allowed.
The Aggies, who ended up losing 45-38, lined up for a field goal on 4th-and-4 during the second quarter. Kicker Elliott Nimrod took a pitch around the outside and scampered 25 yards down the sideline for six points.
It was an awesome trick play, and everybody loves trick plays, but it probably shouldn’t have counted.
Nimrod had to break a diving tackle attempt at the line of scrimmage and was pushed even further toward the sideline. He appeared to step out of bounds while trying to regain his downfield trajectory.
The Dukes coaching staff believed that Nimrod stepped on the line and the play should have been blown dead. They might have been right.
James Madison head coach Curt Cignetti was irate.
As James Madison coaches made their case to the officials, one of the team’s assistants brought his cellphone over to Cignetti. On the screen, presumably, was either a still frame of the Utah State kicker’s foot out of bounds, or a video replay.
Cignetti grabbed the phone from his assistant and turned back to the officiating crew to plead his case with help from technology. His efforts were unsuccessful and illegal. As the broadcast pointed out, the use of outside resources — like a broadcast replay — on the field in such a manner is strictly prohibited.
The officials were quick to turn the phone away from Cignetti and brushed off whatever evidence he presented. The touchdown was confirmed.
Cignetti’s effort, though failed, was unbelievably funny. It marked the first time in college football history that a head coach showed the referees that they were wrong by showing them a replay from a phone!