MIAA: ESU-Northwest game cannot be overturned by conference office
NCAA rule states game cannot be changed after officials leave the court; official Tom Svehla suspended for season
By Jesse Newell
Originally published 01:46 p.m., February 11, 2008
Updated 01:46 p.m., February 11, 2008
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The MIAA responded to Emporia State's official appeal of Thursday's ESU-Northwest Missouri State game today by announcing that the result will not be overturned, at least by the conference office.
In Thursday's game, ESU's Andrew Davison hit a potential game-winning 50-foot shot at the end of regulation that was later waved off by officials after a cell phone stopwatch was used to determine the time in the game. Northwest went on to win the game, 91-83, in double overtime.
According to the conference's release, the referee "improperly used video replay to reverse the call on the court."
But, according to NCAA rule 2-4.4, once the officials have left the confines of the playing floor and the final score has been approved by those officials, it cannot be altered.
"If the conference were to take the action to declare the game completed at the end of regulation, that would be doing exactly what the referee did — inappropriately setting aside the rules of the game," MIAA commissionner Jim Johnson said.
"It is unfortunate when the action of one individual has such a significant impact on what was an outstanding Division II college basketball game. However, I do not believe there is an avenue for me to take that would be appropriate within the rules of the game."
The MIAA did announce that official Tom Svehla — the official who decided to use the stopwatch — has been suspended for the rest of the season and will not work another MIAA game this season.
"Like all officials, the gentleman in question will have his position on the MIAA officiating staff reviewed at the conclusion of the season," Johnson said.
"I appreciate the professionalism with which Emporia State director of athletics Kent Weiser and head men's basketball coach David Moe have handled this unfortunate situation."
Emporia State athletic director Kent Weiser said ESU would continue to appeal the game all the way to the NCAA level.
bobhornet (anonymous) says...
This miserable excuse for a referee should never officiate another collegiate game. It's high time ESU start standing up for its student-athletes and demand better officiating from the MIAA. This stuff has been going on for far too long.
Commissioner Johnson's reasoning seems sound, if unfortunate for us, but I applaud Kent Weiser's decision to pursue further the appeal.
February 11, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
Sometimes you eat the hog and sometimes the hog eats you . ESU never should have returned to the floor.
February 11, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yankee49 (anonymous) says...
I agree with booker5m we should have never returned to the floor. everybody who saw that shot knows that it left his hands in plenty of time BEFORE time expired
February 11, 2008 at 5:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporialifer (anonymous) says...
So we should have called the commissioner during the game to tell him about the call, so that way it wasn't on the books?!
I guess that is good logic and an easy decision for a commissioner with ties to NW Missouri.
February 11, 2008 at 6:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )