COLUMBUS -- As Big Ten coordinator of officials Dave Parry reviewed a controversial play in Ohio State's 10-6 victory at Purdue two years ago, he probably said to himself, "Boy, it would have been nice to have instant replay in this situation."
That's no longer wishful thinking.
The Big Ten will use instant replay this fall, the first conference in the country to do so. If the one-year experiement goes well, other leagues are expected to adopt it.
"Other conferences around the country are watching us and watching us carefully," Parry said. "My guess is they want this to be successful because if it is, they will go to the (NCAA) and say, `Can we have this as an option for other conferences?' "
Under the Big Ten system, a technical adviser will watch the game from the press box. If he sees something questionable, officials on the field will be notified by pager and play will be halted while the adviser reviews the call. The call for review must be made before the next play begins.
The call on the field can be overturned only if there is "indisputable" video evidence.
"I'm sure there will be some controversy, that's the nature of the game," Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney said. "But I think we have a good chance to do it in a responsible way."
In the 68 Big Ten conference games televised last year, there were 42 replay opportunities and 23 calls would have been reversed. Based on that, Parry estimated that one game out of three would feature replay.
In the 2002 OSU-Purdue game Parry used as an example, the Buckeyes rushed their field goal unit onto the field and kicked a three-pointer as time was expiring in the first half.
"Most of the people in the stadium thought time had ticked off and the clock had already hit zero before the ball was snapped. We even got hammered a little bit on TV," Parry said. "But when they came back and showed it, with the technology they had, the officials were, in fact, correct.
"Now, if the replay showed the guy was late in snapping the ball back, we would negate the field goal because we want justice. That's the bottom line."
The only video the adviser can use in his decision is that from the TV feed. He'll also have a digital video recorder, a TiVo-like system, to immediately review the call if TV doesn't provide a replay. In the few cases where a Big Ten game isn't televised, the conference will do its own video production for the adviser to use.
The Big Ten has hired six technical advisers, with an average of 15 years of college and/or NFL officiating experience. Only the adviser can call for a review and he will have the final say on whether a call stands or is reversed.
"Our referees have been told that when that man upstairs speaks to you, he is the eye in the sky and he is going to correct one of your mistakes," Parry said. "Be very grateful this man saves you potential embarrassment after the ball game.
"We would come down very hard on any official whose ego is so strong that he would think, `I don't care what this guy says, I'm staying with my call.' That is not going to happen."
Only certain calls can be reviewed, such as goal-line and sideline plays, or interceptions and fumbles. Judgment calls like illegal blocks, holding and false starts can not.
Some might be inclined to call instant replay the "Joe Paterno rule." Several Big Ten games in 2002 had high-profile, controversial calls. Paterno was so angered by two late calls in a loss to Iowa that the legendary Penn State coach, then 75, sprinted down the sideline and grabbed an official by the jersey to complain.
Penn State later asked for a comprehensive review of the league's officiating program.
After meeting with coaches and athletic directors the following spring, the Big Ten decided to create a pilot program for instant replay. After testing it last season, the conference was given permission to use it on an experimental basis this season.
"I never really pushed for it," Paterno said, unconvincingly. "All of us want the game to be determined by the kids. There's nothing worse than somebody making a mistake that can be corrected before it becomes fatal."
Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez agreed.
"I commend our league for taking the lead in something like this," Alvarez said. "If you think about it, we've got the one sport where every game is important. With that much at stake, when there is a mistake -- an inadvertent mistake because the officials were blocked out or whatever -- we can get it right. We've seen it happen. It's no one fault, but it happens and I commend our league for doing something about it."
Instant replay met with unanimous approval of the Big Ten's head coaches. Unlike the NFL, where coaches have the option of surrendering a time out to challenge a call - Big Ten coaches will not be involved in the replay process.
"I think we've all watched games on TV where there was a major officiating error," Indiana coach Gerry DiNardo said. "It was conclusive on TV, and we all wish it could have been turned around. I'm in favor of (replay) and have been since the first discussion."
