Miami AD says ACC acknowledged multiple incorrect calls at Duke
Miami athletic director Blake James sent a letter informing season-ticket holders and donors that the Atlantic Coast Conference has acknowledged “multiple incorrect calls” against the Hurricanes in last Saturday’s win over Duke, reports the Associated Press.
Miami took issue with the officiating during the game, asserting that Duke’s go-ahead touchdown scored with only six seconds left in the game should have been reviewed further to determine if the ball carrier broke the plane of the goal line. The Hurricanes also found fault with three pass interference calls against them during that drive. One of those calls nullified an interception by cornerback Artie Burns that could have won the game.
“Earlier today we sent a formal letter to the conference office, summarizing and reiterating our concerns, and now consider this matter closed,” James wrote. “Per ACC policy our football staff submitted the plays we believed were incorrectly called as a matter of weekly protocol, and were notified by the league that multiple incorrect calls impacting out team occurred during the game, including a pass interference call on the final drive.”
• ESTES: What to watch for in Week 10’s biggest matchups
The Hurricanes beat the Blue Devils, 30–27, with an eight-lateral kickoff return as time ran out. Following the game, the ACC announced that the referee crew had made four errors during the return, including failing to overturn the ruling despite a Miami player’s knee touching the ground during one of the laterals. The officials were suspended for two game as a result of the errors.
Following the game, Duke coach David Cutcliffe criticized the the referees. “There were all sorts of issues that the conference has to resolve,” he said.
James wrote that the ACC acknowledging the mistakes made on the game winning touchdown does not take away the team’s win or “incredible spirit.”
- Xandria James
