Some penalties seem almost impossible for officials to miss.
A face mask violation where a player’s head whips around almost 180 degrees would seem to fit in that category.
That happened Saturday in Knoxville as Tennessee hosted Texas A&M. Early in the first quarter, Aggies running back Le’Veon Moss took a handoff, sprinted left, and got his head snapped around by Volunteers lineman Tyler Baron, who held on so long, this should have been an easy penalty to call.
Except he did not get flagged.
CBS play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler and analyst Gary Danielson seemed stunned the infraction went unspotted.
“Ooop, might have been a face mask,” Nessler said.
“He didn’t call it,” Danielson said.
“His head sure turned around on that carry — he’s asking (officials) for it right now,” Nessler said.
As the broadcast showed the replay, Nessler noted, “That is a face mask.”
“(Baron) turned around and looked at the official to see if he got caught and he did not,” Danielson said.
“I don’t know how he missed that,” Nessler concluded. “But at any rate, no flag.”
"That is a facemask…I don't know how he missed that. But at any rate, no flag."
— Tough to argue with Brad Nessler here. pic.twitter.com/t1WuXe3vOq
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 14, 2023
In the end, the missed call made no difference in the game, as the Aggies scored a touchdown a play later. But with the added emphasis on player safety in recent years, it’s not good to see a blatant missed call on a play that could have led to a serious injury.
Fans sure seemed to think it was an obvious call.
HOW do you MISS that FACEMASK LOL⁉️#Tennessee
— Athens Steve (@rainy_steve) October 14, 2023
https://twitter.com/mgallegos123_/status/1713283345306554488
LOL howwww do refs miss the facemask on Tennessee???
— Jake Kaiser (@FlakyJake10) October 14, 2023
Then called a phantom hold on a big run by Tennessee. Costing Tennessee points.
The would be face mask would’ve been a 2 yard penalty. Completely irrelevant.
— Titans Truths (@Titans_Truths) October 14, 2023
[Awful Announcing; Photo Credit: CBS Sports]
