A Sun Belt spokesman said the league is reviewing the fumble by a South Alabama player that was ruled not a fumble in Georgia State’s 30-27 loss on Saturday in Mobile.
Late in the fourth quarter, running back Jay Jones appeared to fumble on first and 10 at Georgia State’s 20-yard line. The officials ruled it wasn’t a fumble, but reviewed the play. After review, the officials said there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the call. The ESPN3 television crew working the game were adamant that Jones fumbled. The Jags scored the go-ahead touchdown on the next play.
The Sun Belt spokesman said they were aware of the call on Saturday, but no further comment would be made.
“It was a fumble,” Georgia State coach Trent Miles said.
This could be the second time that Georgia State has been negatively affected by an officiating crew.
Officials were reprimanded after losing track of the downs when Georgia State had the ball in the first half of a loss at Louisiana-Lafayette earlier this season.
The crew that worked the South Alabama game was different than the one that worked the Louisiana-Lafayette game.
“I just worry about our team and how we perform,” Miles said.
Another strange incident occurred toward the end of the game when offsetting penalties were called after a South Alabama player punched Georgia State’s Keith Rucker at the end of a kickoff return. It appeared that the punch was unprovoked.
Miles said he spoke with South Alabama coach Joey Jones after the game about the incident.
“The conference and South Alabama will deal with it,” Miles said.
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