Texas came away with a 41-36 victory over Oklahoma State in Week 6. The final score of the game was a 2-yard run from Longhorns running back Joe Bergeron with 30 seconds remaining.
There are likely more than a few OSU fans who thought Bergeron’s touchdown shouldn’t have been one at all. Bergeron dove forward into a goal line pile, but it was Cowboys safety Daytawion Lowe who came up with the football. Still, linesman Brad Edwards had already signaled touchdown, the call was reviewed and confirmed in the booth.
According to the Daily Oklahoman, the Big 12’s head of officiating Walt Anderson called OSU coach Mike Gundy and “apologized profusely” for what was determined to be a botched call. Anderson reportedly told Gundy that Bergeron indeed fumbled the ball before crossing the goal line (you can review the play for yourself HERE). Additionally, the Oklahoman reports “a second source added umpire Scott Teifer, who was watching the play from the end zone, also did not communicate properly with Edwards by telling him the ball was on the ground before it crossed the goal line.”
In that regard, the call on the field (touchdown) would be incorrect. However, by rule, since Lowe did not demonstrate clear recovery, possession would have stayed with Texas.
However, the Big 12 conference’s official Twitter page released a short statement a while later saying the Oklahoman report was “inaccurate.” Additionally, OSU associate AD Kevin Klintworth tweeted “AD Mike Holder is unaware of an apology from the #big12.”
During his Sunday teleconference, Gundy expressed his disappointment in the call, but added that nothing could be done about it.
Apparently, not even an apology. Or, a fake one for that matter. Either one.