THE CATCH!

[DEBuckeye]

after watching Mili's replay - I realized that the refs did blow the call on this play - but not for Gonzo running out of bounds. If you look carefully, one of our linemen are downfield when he threw the ball...

Shhhh!! Don't tell anyone....

I think it's awesome how our guys come up with big plays and really shine in big games, especially The Game. It shows a lot of things- confidence, talent, coaching, desire. But what it really shows is BUCKEYE PRIDE. Playing 100% all year and then finding more when it really counts, and then (as Smith did with the O-line) share the credit with the team and use "we" instead of "I", - that's what it means to be a Buckeye.

 

[sandgk]

Shhhh!! Don't tell anyone....

I think it's awesome how our guys come up with big plays and really shine in big games, especially The Game. It shows a lot of things- confidence, talent, coaching, desire. But what it really shows is BUCKEYE PRIDE. Playing 100% all year and then finding more when it really counts, and then (as Smith did with the O-line) share the credit with the team and use "we" instead of "I", - that's what it means to be a Buckeye.

I'm not sure I agree with this interpretation that we got away with anything - but I don't claim to be a paid or unpaid zebra

Anyhow - here is how I saw this ....

The only downfield lineman I clearly see is 77

Who blocks on 56 for Team B within 1-yd of the line of scrimmage, and

Does not drive 56 further than 3 yards downfield.

He then releases and runs laterally within 2 yards of the original LOS - and is in clear view of an official the entire time.

Based on the original Point of Contact for the block and his limited travel downfield there is no ineligible downfield.

Legal catch by Gonzo, surely?

 

[Zurp]

After looking at the replay, it's clear that it was a catch. But watching it the first time, I felt fairly certain that it would be reviewed by the replay booth. I think the call on the field would stand (though I've seen the Big Ten reverse correct calls), but I was surprised it wasn't reviewed.

Great play by Gonzales. And there's one thing better than a Michigan fan crying over a loss: a Michigan fan who's crying over a loss AND over a referee call that was actually correctly made (or, in this case, correctly not made).

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

this is the guy espin wants to represent itself? this is the guy espin considers a college football analyst? good job, espin.

Matt, Bloomington IN: hey bob, I have a question about the end of the OSU-Mich game. On the last drive i believe, an OSU receiver made a big catch inside the 5 yard line. I noticed the referee's hat was off on that sideline, indicating that a receiver went out of bounds. Wasn't the buckeye WR the first to touch the ball? Isn't that a penalty? thanks

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Bob Davie: (3:20 PM ET ) I did not see the specific play, but if the reciever went out of bounds, it is critical to know if he was forced out or if he went out on his own. If he went out on his own, he cannot be the first one to touch the ball when he comes in. If he was forced out, and he comes right back in bounds, he can be an eligible reciever. Hope that answers your question.

edit: matt from bloomington must be mentally handicapped. the play has been discussed and discussed and discussed. if you listened to the game commentators or to college gameday analysts or to the sportscenter commentators, you would have heard the explanation multiple times.

 

[BB73]

After looking at the replay, it's clear that it was a catch. But watching it the first time, I felt fairly certain that it would be reviewed by the replay booth. I think the call on the field would stand (though I've seen the Big Ten reverse correct calls), but I was surprised it wasn't reviewed.

The replay booth would be allowed to review whether or not Gonzo stepped out before the catch, and whether or not he had both feet back in bounds prior to the catch, but not whether or not he was forced out.

The ref threw his hat before the catch was made, indicating that Gonzo had gone out-of-bounds. At that point, there's nothing for the booth to review, other than the fact that Gonzo had re-established position with both feet in-bounds prior to making the catch. That was obvious since he'd taken several steps once back in bounds. It was the ref's judgment that Gonzo was forced out, and since he came back in as soon as possible, he was eligible to make the catch.

The decision regarding whether Gonzo was 'forced' out of bounds or not is a judgment call, and is NOT subject to replay review. That aspect of the play is similar to pass interference in that regard.

 

[chril2us]

Gonzalez quote from O-zone

"The first thing I did after I caught was run over to the ref, I saw his hat was off, and I said, 'He pushed, he pushed me'. He said, 'you're ok, you're ok, don't worry about it'".

 

[FCollinsBuckeye]

SI.com has a cool analysis of this play - their 'play of the week':

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/football/ncaa/11/21/playofweek/

 

[lvbuckeye]

after watching Mili's replay - I realized that the refs did blow the call on this play - but not for Gonzo running out of bounds. If you look carefully, one of our linemen are downfield when he threw the ball...

if you watch the replay, you will also see that the defender hit Gonzo before the ball got there, which is Pass Interference...

it was a good no call on all parties...

 

[Zurp]

The replay booth would be allowed to review whether or not Gonzo stepped out before the catch, and whether or not he had both feet back in bounds prior to the catch, but not whether or not he was forced out.

I didn't make myself clear. I meant that I'm surprised that the replay booth didn't want to replay whether the ball was caught after the ball might have hit the ground. With the way Gonzalez landed, I thought that MAYBE he was bobbling the ball, and didn't secure it until after the ball hit the ground. After seeing the replay, I know that it was correctly called a catch. But with the importance of that play, and with how close it was, I just thought that there would be a good chance it would be replayed.

I'm confident that, had it been replayed, it the call would stand. But I've seen plays that were called correctly, originally, be reversed. (Unless I'm wrong, that catch the Indiana receiver made against OSU should have stood.)

 

[BB73]

I didn't make myself clear. I meant that I'm surprised that the replay booth didn't want to replay whether the ball was caught after the ball might have hit the ground. With the way Gonzalez landed, I thought that MAYBE he was bobbling the ball, and didn't secure it until after the ball hit the ground. After seeing the replay, I know that it was correctly called a catch. But with the importance of that play, and with how close it was, I just thought that there would be a good chance it would be replayed.

I'm confident that, had it been replayed, it the call would stand. But I've seen plays that were called correctly, originally, be reversed. (Unless I'm wrong, that catch the Indiana receiver made against OSU should have stood.)

OK, gotcha now. I would assume that the replay booth took a quick look or two at it, and decided it wasn't necessary to call down to the field and stop play in order to look more closely. The booth is looking at things all the time without having an official review that stops the action.

I agree with you on the Indiana shoetop catch being a bogus reversal.

 

[Tlangs]

NM

 

[Dryden]

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051123/SPORTS/511230331/1006

Catch puts Gonzo back in spotlight
By Jon Spencer
News Journal

COLUMBUS -- Cleveland St. Ignatius football coach Chuck Kyle was at home watching Saturday's Ohio State-Michigan game with his wife when former protégé Anthony Gonzalez levitated over cornerback Grant Mason for what future generations will remember as "Gonzo's Grab."

The acrobatic, 26-yard catch by Gonzalez with 37 seconds left set up the decisive touchdown in OSU's 25-21 victory. That play made the game an ESPN Instant Classic and cemented his place in Buckeyes lore.

"I looked at my wife and our reaction was 'That's Tony,' " Kyle said. "It didn't surprise us. He made some interesting catches for (Ignatius), and with 10 being ultra-wow on the wow meter, I'd say that was an eight or nine."
Just an eight or nine? Was he kidding?

"When he was in high school, he made some great catches," Kyle said. "When the pressure was on, and you know you want to go to your playmaker in crunch time, we would point-blank say, 'Go to Tony.' That catch he made against Michigan doesn't shock anyone at Ignatius."

Almost lost at Ohio State in the considerable shadows cast by Santonio Holmes and Ted Ginn Jr., Gonzalez was to Ignatius what Jerry Rice was to the 49ers and what TO was in Philly before he OD'd on ego.

Gonzalez led Ignatius to a state championship his junior year, earning MVP honors. He made 71 catches for 1,873 yards and 21 touchdowns during his prep career and set an Ignatius single-season record for average yards per catch (27.3) as a senior.

Now he's more of a third or fourth option, which says a lot about the talent assembled at Ohio State and even more about Gonzalez's ability to fit in and play a supporting role.

"Of all the personalities who could face that situation, he'd be the guy," Kyle said. "He sincerely wants the team to win. The week before (against Northwestern) he didn't catch a pass, but he blocked well. Watching them run to his side quite a bit is noticeable to us (at Ignatius) because we coached him."

Gonzalez is quick on his feet, whether he's catching or blocking downfield, giving insightful answers to media questions -- he's a philosophy major and 4.0 student -- or poking fun at himself.

On being prematurely bald: "If I could, I would have hair like Bobby (Carpenter), only jet black. I'd pull it back in a ponytail like (soccer star) David Beckham."

On his big catch against Michigan: "I know I don't jump very high, so if I was up pretty high it was an aberration."

On taking a backseat to Holmes and Ginn: "My role is when everybody else is covered, which isn't very often, to try and make a difference."

Kyle said the modesty isn't an act.

"Even though he put our team on his shoulders several times, he's a sincerely humble kid," Kyle said. "It's uncomfortable for him to talk about himself."

Others like Kyle and OSU coach Jim Tressel are more than willing to fill in the blanks about the elusive and unobtrusive Gonzalez.

"Every time I turn around, he's watching film with Troy (Smith) and all the guys," Tressel said. "He studies the game. I love that about him. He came up with a couple of changes (against Michigan) for us at halftime. We're either going to have to start paying him or put him on the coaching staff."

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr complained this week Gonzalez's catch shouldn't have counted because he went out of bounds before coming back in to snag the Smith pass. Carr contends Gonzalez wasn't forced out of bounds. A heads-up Gonzalez said he ran to the official after the play and told him he was pushed out of bounds. The official said the play would stand.

"He does whatever he's asked," Tressel said. "If we switch him around (from split end to flanker) because we're trying to feature Tone or Teddy, that's fine. He just goes out and does it. When you have unselfish people, who are out there trying like crazy, usually good things happen to good people. And that's what has happened with Gonzo."

Redshirted in 2003, Gonzalez came on strong at the end of last season, catching a 68-yard TD pass on the fifth play from scrimmage in a 37-21 win over Michigan and then scoring the team's first TD on a diving catch in a 33-7 Alamo Bowl rout of Oklahoma State.

Four catches Saturday against Michigan give Gonzalez 27 for 358 yards (13.1 average). He's third behind Holmes (48) and Ginn (43) and has three touchdowns.

"What happened (against Michigan) was what happens a lot to Gonzo," Holmes said. "They forgot about him. When you forget about a guy like that, he's going to make a big play."

Q&A
Ohio State wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez answers questions from News Journal sportswriter Jon Spencer:

QUESTION: Describe what happened on your highlight-reel catch against the Wolverines?

ANSWER: "That was a broken play. I actually didn't run the proper route. I was supposed to run a fade at the beginning, but I ran an out. Troy (Smith) had excellent protection -- which is critical, always -- and it was basically pitch-and-catch."

Q: Have you ever dreamed of making such a catch?

A: "That's what you think about when you're a little kid. You say, 'He's rolling out and the man is open ...' I've done that since I was 5 years old. To actually have it happen like that is a dream come true."

Q: What was the offensive mindset when Michigan went ahead 21-12 with less than 8 minutes left?

A: "This is a championship team ... and championship teams never panic. I never doubted we'd come back. I told Brian (Robiskie, backup wide receiver) on the bench before the final drive that we were going to score. All I was worried about was that we'd score too soon."

Q: What was your immediate reaction after you landed with the ball at the 4?

A: "I didn't think about it. I wasn't sure what part of the field I was on. I didn't know it was the 4. Santonio (Holmes) came up and gave me a hug. I thought, 'What the heck?' I didn't know what was going on and then I looked up and saw the ball was on the 4. It was a decently big play."

Q: How would you describe your role on this team?

A: "Whether or not part of my role is to make a big play in any situation, who knows? I enjoy being one of 11 guys on the field, doing whatever we need to win."

 

[JXC]

if you watch the replay, you will also see that the defender hit Gonzo before the ball got there, which is Pass Interference...

it was a good no call on all parties...

I've seen this many times. Gonzo touches the ball before he is hit by the defender. Nothing close to PI here.

 

[Steve19]

I could just watch that catch a thousand times and not tire of it. It was the absolute end of TSUN and they knew it.

 

[tyrus]

the spot

Did anyone else notice the spot? I think I am the only one who has brought it up. He came down inside the 3, and the ball was spotted between the 4-5 yard line. I haven't watched it since Sat, so I guess I could be wrong, but I was complaining Saturday. It doesn't matter now, but worth seeing what everyone else thinks.

lvbuckeye....If TS leads Gonzo, there was another UM DB coming over the top guarding TG (I think) If he led him or put too much air under it, that guy could've made a play.