John U. Bacon

Author of THE GALES OF NOVEMBER: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a 15X NYT bestseller. Order here:

[John U. Bacon @Johnubacon]

Grateful for ringing endorsements from the best in the business.

[John U. Bacon @Johnubacon]

@ArmenKeteyian Agreed 💯

[Chris Vannini @ChrisVannini]

🎥 Here's my full, likely final read on what happened with Michigan-WMU, after talking to a lot of people 👇

The Big Ten uses Hawk-Eye technology, which is better and was correct. There has actually probably always been a tiny lag in the embedded clock on the program feed. That had never been a problem before because everyone was using the same tech and it was the best option. The creation and use of newer tech like Hawk-Eye showed a tiny lag existed. (It matters less in basketball because of the backboard light and because the game clock is in the camera shot).

There was no national protocol for that kind of review because the NCAA typically lets conferences set their own protocol, because not everyone has the same technology. Because of this situation, the NCAA has now put a national protocol in writing, leaning on the program feed clock in this situation because it’s a tech everyone else still uses.

No secret clocks, no conspiracy, just new and better tech that only the Big Ten has in CFB.

If Hawk-Eye didn’t exist, if this game was played a few years ago or almost anywhere else, or if it happens again, WMU would’ve won.

[Tony Paul | Detroit News @TonyPaul1984]

Western Michigan may be taking the loss to Michigan graciously (at least, publicly), but some ESPN talking heads -- most notably, @danorlovsky7 and @stephenasmith -- aren't buying what the Big Ten is selling in the wake of Saturday night's clock fiasco.
https://t.co/kuoWxg1U7P

[Western Michigan University @WesternMichU]

Official statement regarding the Western Michigan-Michigan football game.

🗒️: https://t.co/hhesfHYV0W

[MACtion @MACSports]

Official Statement Regarding Western Michigan - Michigan Football Game

🗒️: https://t.co/eYw49T9ABR

[Ralph D. Russo @ralphDrussoATH]

A memo, obtained by The Athletic, from the NCAA's secretary-rules editor and expected to go out to conferences and officials, clarifies the protocol to be used "When a replay review requires time to be restored ..." in a game.

[Tony Garcia | Detroit Free Press @RealTonyGarcia]

NEW: The MAC has filed an appeal over the ending of the Michigan-WMU game.

“The MAC has submitted a formal appeal to the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee and the College Football playoff. The MAC IS requesting that those bodies recognize Western Michigan as the actual winner.”

[Ross Dellenger @RossDellenger]

The MAC now says that “replay protocol was not properly followed” in the Western Michigan-Michigan game and the league has filed a formal appeal with the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee to be recognized as the winner.

[John U. Bacon @Johnubacon]

@Richard3132212 Alas, Richard. Alas…

[John U. Bacon @Johnubacon]

Last time I saw anything like that at the Big House, Colorado's Kordell Stewart was the quarterback, and Michigan was the victim. Only 32 years ago.

[The Sklar Brothers @SklarBrothers]

Be in frame with us at our special taping on September 27th! Tickets at https://t.co/HBfueNX3Yh 🎟️ see you there!! #losangelesevents #santamonica #twinsofinstagram #standupcomedyshow #taping

[John U. Bacon @Johnubacon]

@bz1585 Not trying to twist anything, or defend anyone. Think there are plenty of questions left and this is not over.

[John U. Bacon @Johnubacon]

Credit for a reasonable explanation, with visuals, dialogue, and *their* clock, which is apparently the official one. Would have saved themselves some grief if they explained all that last night, and won't satisfy the conspiracy theorists in any case, but better late than never.

[Big Ten Conference @bigten]

A statement regarding the results of tonight's game between Michigan and Western Michigan.

[John U. Bacon @Johnubacon]

@TomOmalley942 Maybe do a little homework. Or just look up “shill.”

[John U. Bacon @Johnubacon]

@Biffy40 Your eyes are good. 😊

[John U. Bacon @Johnubacon]

Today’s office. Could be worse.

[John U. Bacon @Johnubacon]

@jgrotzinger Thanks Jordan.

[John U. Bacon @Johnubacon]

@FricknMichFan Still more questions than answers. Don’t think this is done.

[John U. Bacon @Johnubacon]

I always respect your point of view. This should be looked into more, and if the Big Ten’s explanation doesn’t wash, then this would be one of the rare cases you could reverse the outcome. Game over. 12-7 WMU. (And yes incompetence usually trumps conspiracies!)

[Tim Brando @TimBrando]

John, I’m pretty sure you know that I’m a fair and objective broadcaster, and no I don’t believe in conspiracies, but I do believe in incompetence. Those clocks are supposed to be synchronized and if they weren’t, and @tjmcaulay was told they were then what else were any of us supposed to think? We also can easily rule out Conference bias (popular topic always)if we eliminated Supervisors of officials at the Conference level we would eliminate the talking points of the whacked out fans of yesteryear. Until I see the play in real time alongside the clock with tenths of a second exposed then I’m not backing down from how I see this play. We need to have one office and one leader for all officiating. The days of split crews and contract hassles over which teams responsible for officials and replay booth assignments should have been gone years ago! Beano discussed this 45 years ago. What happened last night was in real time
A travesty for all concerned. It cannot happen again. EVER!

[John U. Bacon @Johnubacon]

@zippy455 @GChernack @CitizenCohn Great thanks Jeff!

[John U. Bacon @Johnubacon]

@GChernack @CitizenCohn Great thanks Greg!

[John U. Bacon @Johnubacon]

@GChernack @CitizenCohn Fair question - and there are a few others too! Don’t think this is done.

[John U. Bacon @Johnubacon]

@PerfectFitAR Not sure but I bet there is.

[John U. Bacon @Johnubacon]

@extremekornball @dereksov Fair question.