Malzahn pokes fun at NCAA rule change that would have prevented crucial Iron Bowl kick

Auburn University football coach Gus Malzahn on Tuesday evening took to social media to make light of a recent rule change by the NCAA that, if it were in effect in 2019, would have prevented a key Tigers field goal at the end of the first half of the Iron Bowl.

Auburn won the 2019 Iron Bowl 48-45, defeating the favored Crimson Tide who, as a result of their loss, were eliminated from playoff contention.

“Interesting rule change,” Coach Malzahn tweeted dryly on Tuesday night. The sly response was retweeted by over 1.6 thousand people and liked by 6.6 thousand times as of Wednesday morning.

The relevant NCAA rule change reads as follows:

“If the game clock expires at the end of a half and replay determines that there was time remaining and the clock should start on the referee’s signal after review, there must be at least three seconds remaining, when the ball should have been declared dead, to restore time to the clock.”

In essence, if a referee at the end of a half is late by three seconds or less in calling the play dead, then the half is over — even if instant replay reveals one, two or three seconds should be put back on the clock.

At the end of the 2019 Iron Bowl’s first half, instant replay revealed that Auburn back JaTarvious Whitlow had been tackled with one second of time remaining, after the half was initially whistled over on-the-field.

One second was put back on the clock and Auburn was allowed to snap the ball for kicker Anders Carlson to take the opportunity afforded by the resurrected time to kick a 52-yard field goal to end the half.

University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban was not happy with the outcome. He explained that if one second of time was all that was left, then Auburn would not have had nearly enough time to get their kicking unit into place during the normal flow of the game.

Interesting rule change. ??#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/zP9EtnXgOx

— Coach Gus Malzahn (@CoachGusMalzahn) April 22, 2020

In a separate rule change, the NCAA now mandates that all instant replay reviews last two minutes or less, unless the situation is “exceptionally complicated” or if the play involves “end-of-game issues.”

Speedier replay is, perhaps, something both the Tide and Tigers can get behind.

Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95