Fort Lewis with the "W"

["Bobby" Boucher]

Due to Mother Nature and RMAC Bylaws Fort Lewis was awarded the Win for their week 1 game with Highlands. Not how you want to get a win but a win is a win. To Fort Lewis' credit Highland got the ball to start the 1st half. Here's the article link with the RMACs decision:

https://goskyhawks.com/news/2019/9/1...?path=football

[Turbonium]

Weak. I'm only surprised the RMAC didn't just award both teams a win and give them blue ribbons after their decision to do away with preseason all-conference teams so that everyone could get a chance to play in the sandbox.

[ccmoney8]

Due to Mother Nature and RMAC Bylaws Fort Lewis was awarded the Win for their week 1 game with Highlands. Not how you want to get a win but a win is a win. To Fort Lewis' credit Highland got the ball to start the 1st half. Here's the article link with the RMACs decision:

https://goskyhawks.com/news/2019/9/1...?path=football

Terrible by the RMAC.

The decision makes no sense unless Marty Fine knew at the time of the stoppage that he was forfeiting, which is highly unlikely since both schools considered the game "canceled" until today.

The by-law: "If a conference contest must be postponed due to weather or other uncontrollable factors, the athletic directors of the competing teams may mutually agree to end the game at any point with the final score being declared at the point the game was interrupted. If there is not a mutual agreement to end the game at the point of interruption, the game will be resumed the following day at a time mutually agreed upon by both institutions with the time and game situation in existence at the time of interruption."

So they are trying to tell us that Fine said no I'd rather lose than play this home game tomorrow. Because obviously the game wasn't played the following day.

Clearly what happened was Fort Lewis left with mutual understanding it was canceled, and no intention to continue. Why reward them for disregarding the 2nd part of the by-law?

["Bobby" Boucher]

Terrible by the RMAC.

The decision makes no sense unless Marty Fine knew at the time of the stoppage that he was forfeiting, which is highly unlikely since both schools considered the game "canceled" until today.

The by-law: "If a conference contest must be postponed due to weather or other uncontrollable factors, the athletic directors of the competing teams may mutually agree to end the game at any point with the final score being declared at the point the game was interrupted. If there is not a mutual agreement to end the game at the point of interruption, the game will be resumed the following day at a time mutually agreed upon by both institutions with the time and game situation in existence at the time of interruption."

So they are trying to tell us that Fine said no I'd rather lose than play this home game tomorrow. Because obviously the game wasn't played the following day.

Clearly what happened was Fort Lewis left with mutual understanding it was canceled, and no intention to continue. Why reward them for disregarding the 2nd part of the by-law?

Would be interesting to hear from the Highlands staff/administration. Might be one of those things where you sign as a coach that you've read and understand the bylaws prior to the season and then Coach Fine inadvertently going along with it. I know the game was originally listed as "Cancelled" on the schedule, then it moved to "Postponed", and now listed as a "W".

[Tech Boys]

This is so wrong. Highlands might have scored on the next play; it was 3rd and goal although the ball was at the 21 midway through the second quarter.

In 2007, Arkansas Tech had a game cancelled with 2:30 left in the first quarter due to lightning. This was the second lightning delay of the game. The other team was saying they should be declared the winner for several days since they were up 21-0. Tech did appear to be headed for a score. None of the stats or records of the game counted and it has now been completely erased on ATU's archives as if it was never scheduled.

What led to the decisions was a rule by the NCAA. A college football is considered to be complete after three quarters have been played. If someone can find if this rule still exists maybe they can use it to nullify this game.

[whodat]

Because they did not or could not play the game the next day, this is the proper decision for a couple of reasons.

1. It's simply not appropriate for the teams to play a make-up game in the coming weeks, as it would require the teams to effectively play 3 games in the span of 7 days. That is simply crazy and risks unnecessary injury.
2. By leaving the game as a no-contest, it actually hurts teams in the conference when it comes to playoff selection. If Fort Lewis finishes with a winning record, that actually helps, say, CSUP and others (assuming they beat Fort Lewis) at the end of conference play. The number or effect might be very slight, but in a highly competitive region such as ours, it can make a difference.
3. Game officials work other jobs, so organizing a crew I'm sure would be difficult.

So, obviously a tough decision for Highlands, but a decision that needed to happen nonetheless.

[sportsvine]

So they called this game despite the delay occurred in the 2nd quarter in a 7-0 game, and the team trailing had the ball in the red zone? If this is really what happened, if I were Highlands, I'd be furious. If Highlands (or Ft Lewis) were to far exceed expectations this year and be relevant for Super Regional rankings, then I wonder if this decision can somehow be re-evaluated?

[Inkblot]

From NMHU's preview for today's game:

After the RMAC decided to grant Fort Lewis a 7-0 victory due to a lightning delay last weekend, the Cowboys look to bounce back as they will take on the Grizzlies of Adams State at 1 pm on Saturday in Alamosa, CO.

It was a turn of events here at the Sanchez Family Stadium last weekend as the Cowboys hosted the Skyhawks of Fort Lewis. Even though Fort Lewis held a 7-0 lead, it felt as if the Cowboys were in control of the game since the opening kick-off. The Cowboys amassed 5 first downs and threw the ball for 109 yards on 7-13 completions. The only turnover of the game is what seemed to cost the Cowboys, as it led to the only score of the game.

[Boohaha]

So they called this game despite the delay occurred in the 2nd quarter in a 7-0 game, and the team trailing had the ball in the red zone? If this is really what happened, if I were Highlands, I'd be furious. If Highlands (or Ft Lewis) were to far exceed expectations this year and be relevant for Super Regional rankings, then I wonder if this decision can somehow be re-evaluated?

Easiest way to win is to keep the other team from scoring ...... simple as that.

This idea that the threat to score is as good as scoring is stupid, Ft Lewis scored, Highlands didn't stop them.
Unless the game was stopped at 0-0 then whoever has the most points should be declared winner, we can't control the weather, football is an outdoor sport, and the weather affecting the game is part of the deal including how long.

[Turbonium]

Easiest way to win is to keep the other team from scoring ...... simple as that.

This idea that the threat to score is as good as scoring is stupid, Ft Lewis scored, Highlands didn't stop them.
Unless the game was stopped at 0-0 then whoever has the most points should be declared winner, we can't control the weather, football is an outdoor sport, and the weather affecting the game is part of the deal including how long.

I expect this same attitude if Eastern is out of the playoff picture again due to a couple of losses and getting jumped by someone else. :)

[sportsvine]

Easiest way to win is to keep the other team from scoring ...... simple as that.

This idea that the threat to score is as good as scoring is stupid, Ft Lewis scored, Highlands didn't stop them.
Unless the game was stopped at 0-0 then whoever has the most points should be declared winner, we can't control the weather, football is an outdoor sport, and the weather affecting the game is part of the deal including how long.

So, if, in a college basketball game, after an opening basket makes a game 2-0, and an earthquake happens, suspending the game, and a makeup is unable to be scheduled, the team that scored the opening basket is declared the winner?

[Boohaha]

So, if, in a college basketball game, after an opening basket makes a game 2-0, and an earthquake happens, suspending the game, and a makeup is unable to be scheduled, the team that scored the opening basket is declared the winner?

yes, defensedefenses. If they want it differently then change the rules. The score is all that matters.

[ccmoney8]

yes, defensedefenses. If they want it differently then change the rules. The score is all that matters.

Absurd.

The actual rule says the teams had to agree to award the win to FLC, or otherwise play the next day.

Neither of those happened. The RMAC just couldn't be bothered to step in and enforce the rule on a weekend, so they made up this fake alternative after the fact.

[DAWGS]

Because they did not or could not play the game the next day, this is the proper decision for a couple of reasons.

1. It's simply not appropriate for the teams to play a make-up game in the coming weeks, as it would require the teams to effectively play 3 games in the span of 7 days. That is simply crazy and risks unnecessary injury.
2. By leaving the game as a no-contest, it actually hurts teams in the conference when it comes to playoff selection. If Fort Lewis finishes with a winning record, that actually helps, say, CSUP and others (assuming they beat Fort Lewis) at the end of conference play. The number or effect might be very slight, but in a highly competitive region such as ours, it can make a difference.
3. Game officials work other jobs, so organizing a crew I'm sure would be difficult.

So, obviously a tough decision for Highlands, but a decision that needed to happen nonetheless.

:good:

[DAWGS]

Agree with whodat here.