FOX analyst, Big Ten and PJ Fleck weigh in on controversial Michigan-Twin Cities loss decision

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Gophers coach PJ Fleck wasn’t ready to publicly comment, but FOX rules analyst Mike Pereira immediately chimed in. And the Big Ten Conference largely abstained on the issue.

The Gophers had scored 14 straight points and cut Michigan’s lead to 27-24 on Saturday when Matt Kingsbury was caught offside on an onside kick attempt with 1:37 to play. Minnesota had recovered the kick and would have had possession at the Wolverines’ 39.

But after the 5-yard penalty, Michigan recovered the re-kick and secured the victory at Michigan Stadium.

“I don’t think he’s offside,” Pereira said as replays were shown on the television broadcast. “If you look at the high shot, the All-22 (player view), I don’t think it breaks the plane.

“It’s so technical,” Pereira added. “For me he isn’t. It’s awfully close. Nothing can be done: obviously not verifiable.”

Color commentator Joel Klatt wanted more as the replay was far away on the other sideline. “Boy, you’d love something to be clear and obvious,” he said. “That one looked like just a hair.”

If so. But Fleck wasn’t prepared to get anywhere close to a foot or perhaps an inch.

“I didn’t see the last play, nor did either play win or lose the game,” Fleck said. “Everyone will focus on that. I’m not going to sit here and get fined and all these other things. I have more respect for my boss and the University of Minnesota and the Big Ten when I say this is a thing.”

Fleck was asked by a reporter to share what he saw and heard from officials at the subway station about the under-scrutiny Big House call.

“I was 10 meters away,” Fleck said. “I was down where the ball was supposed to be received because that’s what I really want to see.”

It was the official standing on the U sideline at the kickoff line who made the decision. It was right in front of him. When the call was made, Kingsbury was on the extension number. The flag was raised immediately after Kingsbury and his teammates crossed the finish line.

The officer told Fleck that Kingsbury “broke the plane.”

And according to the Big Ten Conference, that’s pretty much it.

The Big Ten has a pool reporting policy that allows reporters to ask officials questions about calls in games. However, this is reserved for clarifying or explaining rules and not questions with binary answers, such as whether a player was offside or not, Big Ten spokesman Paul Kennedy told the Pioneer Press on Saturday evening.

Kennedy said the conference also has not made any statements regarding game judgments, as a large number of these decisions have taken place every Saturday across the schedule. This policy does not change for calls when the stakes are raised in late and close games like Saturday at Michigan.