Did the Refs make the right call on Monday Night Football? Perhaps

I don't have a dog in this hunt.

I know most people think the Packers were robbed of a win by the replacement refs, especially Packer fans, but I think it's possible that the officials made the correct call, and I'll tell you why.

For a little background, you may remember a little officiating controversy revolving around a "non-catch" that Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions made a couple of years ago.  Here it is:

To nearly everyone on the planet, this looked like a catch.  But according to NFL rules, Johnson did not "complete the process" of making the catch when he let go of the ball and ran out of bounds.  This became known as the "Calvin Johnson rule".  Apparently the guy who nick names rules was on vacation that week.

Flash forward to now.  Monday Night Football.  Seahawks vs. Packers.  Last play of the game.  Hail Mary! 

This was called simultaneous possession which is rewarded to the offense resulting in a game deciding touchdown for Seattle.  Oops?   Maybe not.  Let's look a little closer.

At this point, Jennings has his hands on the ball, but there can be no catch yet because he hasn't come down inbounds with both feet.  He's still up in the air.

Another view.

Only one foot down.  Still not a catch but both offensive and defensive players have hands on the ball.  You might even say Tate is the only one with possession at this point.

Another view.

Here you see both players with possession with the act of making the catch being complete.

Another view of both players on the ground with possession with the process of making a catch completed.

A lot of things can happen from the time the ball is first contacted to the time it is considered "caught".  I'm sure there is plenty of wrestling going on in the pile, but I cannot see anything that makes me think that the replacement referees made the wrong call on this play.  AND the NFL has come out in support of the call, mostly because of the inconclusive replay.  But at any rate, the game is official.  Seachickens win!

New Feature: Team of the Week!

Many of you may remember in the not so long ago that Iowa Pro Sports had a little talk show on the internet that was actually doing pretty well until a lack of funding forced the platform to reformat and after it came back, we were unable to continue.  On the show we would have a different guest each week, usually someone or a few someones from one of the local sports teams or organizations.

In that same spirit, Iowa Pro Sports is adding a new feature: Team of the Week.  We don't have the show anymore, but we still want to do what we set out to do and bring attention to the pro, semi-pro, and minor league sports scene that Iowa has to offer.  Each week we will pick a sports team, organization, athlete, whatever, and put the spotlight on them for the week, bringing you information, news, schedules, links, whatever.

So watch for it starting as early as next week!  Follow IowaProSports.com on the website, blog, Facebook, and Twitter!

As probably nobody knows, IowaProSports.com is a one-man operation.  I rely heavily on social media activity and rss feeds from the various sports teams, leagues, organizations to discover news and information daily, and even run across new teams, sports, leagues, and organizations once in a while in the process.  Never hesitate to post your stories, announcements, etc. to our Facebook page, and feel free to send me links to your websites and/or rss feeds.  You can even send your press releases directly to my inbox at iowaprosports@live.com .

Iowa Crush Looking for More Coaches

The Iowa Crush, Des Moines' original women's tackle football team, is looking for more coaches for the 2013 season.  If you or someone you know would like to be involved with this fantastic sports club as a coach or in any other capacity, please contact the Iowa Crush.  You can contact them via their website, http://www.theiowacrush.com/  .

Hawks vs Clones, T-Mac Wins, Coach Honored

It's that time again!  The biggest game in college football (around these parts anyway) is only days away.  Iowa vs. Iowa State!   Hawkeyes or Cylcones?  Who is it going to be? I will be cheering for the Hawkeyes, cause that's just how I roll, but my head is telling me that Iowa State will win this one.  My biggest fear is that it won't even be close. Judging from last weekend's games, the Hawkeyes, and their fans, look like they're in for a long season.  The Cyclones, however, managed to roll up some offense, albeit on lowly Tulsa.  But still, if Iowa's defense plays like they did last week and Iowa State's offense plays like they did last week, it could be ugly for the Hawkeyes.  But the team that both of these squads may need to look out for is the UNI Panthers, who took a big, bad Wisconsin Badger team to the final bell, only to fall less than a touchdown short of pulling off the huge upset.  Anyone who has the Panthers on their schedule will NOT be overlooking them now.

The 2012 Lucas Oil Cup Series Season Championships at Knoxville Raceway saw an amazingly close points battle but it was the track veteran Terry McCarl claiming is seventh track championship at his home track edging out Davey Heskin by a mere 11 points.  T-Mac is now just one track championship shy of the all-time record which is held by Danny "The Dude" Lasoski.  Oh, and by the way, McCarl also managed to win the track championship at Huset's Speedway over the weekend as well, beating out his own son, Austin, for the title.

Over the Labor Day weekend, I was able to attend a field dedication for my old baseball coach, Dave Jauron.  He retired years ago, but had been coaching at Essex High School in Essex, Iowa since 1962.  Not only did he coach baseball, but he also coached football, track, and basketball; pretty much every sport the school offered.  He was the only coach  to ever take teams to state in 4 sports.  He also coached the 1965 "Cubs" youth baseball team that won the state championship and was presented with a baseball bat signed by surviving members of that team who were in attendance.  The field, now known as Jauron Field, looked absolutely perfect that night, from the MLB-style backstop to the perfectly formed mound and bleach-white bases, to the green grass of the outfield and the newly-remodeled dugouts.  It really is one of the best ball fields in the state, due mainly to Coach Jauron and the 15+ hour days he would put in to make sure the field and the players were always ready to go.  During the dedication, the Coach hit a brief infield practice to some of the 1965 Cub players who were willing to do it. (FYI Coach Jauron is in his seventies and still looks like he could be coaching full time.)  After the dedication, they held a "home run derby" for alumni who had played for Coach Jauron.  I played for him from 1986-1988, so of course I had to give it a shot. (I actually hit pretty well).  I didn't win, but by all accounts from those in attendance......I was robbed.  ;)

If you're ever driving by Essex (which is about all most people do), located along highway 48 between Red Oak and Shenendoah, make sure you check out Jauron field, the Jewel of Southwest Iowa. 

Coach Jauron at the Jauron Field dedication