Cornell’s fifth-down game

[George64]

The Michigan-Western Michigan game Saturday, reminded me of Cornell's fifth-down game at Hanover in 1940.  Dartmouth led Cornell 3-0 in the closing minutes, but Cornell scored a touchdown on what was apparently the last play of the game.  Review of game film days later showed that the referees erred and we scored on a fifth down.  Cornell conceded the game and Dartmouth accepted.  A 7-3 victory became a 3-0 defeat.  Bookies were pissed.  This was a really BFD, as Cornell had been undefeated since 1938 and was ranked number one in the country!

Things have changed in 86 years.  On what appeared to be the final play of the Michigan-Western Michigan game on Saturday, the Michigan quarterback threw a Hail Mary pass beyond the end zone and into the arms of a Western Michigan safety.  TV replays showed the clock hitting zero with the ball still in the air.  Big Ten replay officials, however, put a second back on the clock, giving the Wolverines another play.  The subsequent Hail Mary went for 47-yard touchdown.

On Tuesday, MAC commissioner Jon A. Steinbrecher opined, "After further study and investigation, it is now evident that replay protocol was not properly followed ... established replay protocol requires that the game clock displayed on the program feed be used in determining whether time remained."  Instead, the Big Ten replay crew relied upon the clock feed embedded within its replay system.  As a result, one second was added and an additional play was run.  Had the protocol been properly followed, Western Michigan would have upset the Wolverines!

For a more complete history of the fifth-down game, see Bob Kane, Good Sports, a book every Cornell sports fan should have in their library.