USC football: Referee comments on controversial end of regulation play
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After USC’s 56-48 triple-overtime loss to No. 4 Stanford, USC Coach Lane Kiffin said he was disappointed with the officials because there should have been one second left on the clock at the end of regulation to kick a possible game-winning field goal.
The situation occurred after receiver Robert Woods caught a pass from quarterback Matt Barkley and tried to get out of bounds on Stanford’s sideline. Officials ruled that Woods was tackled before he got out of bounds to stop the clock.
Kiffin said he told an official that he was going to call a timeout with one second left. He also said that the referee told him after a replay ruling that if there was one second left, he wouldn’t have time to call a timeout.
‘But I’ve been around football long enough and seen plenty of timeouts called with one second left on the clock,’ he said. ‘That isn’t my opinion and I’m not complaining. I’m just stating the facts.’
Referee Mike Batlan said time had expired.
‘The ruling on the field was that we were going to overtime,’ Batlan said. ‘Through review, it was seen that the knee was down and time had expired, and therefore we were headed to an overtime peirod.
‘Any coach can ask for a timeout, but he doesn’t get one until the official grants or signifies it. I was not part of any conversation or meeting with regards to a requested timeout. I really can’t comment any further after the review and ruling on the field.’
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--Gary Klein