Dino Babers Discusses Blocked Punt First Down Call, Challenge, Conversation With Officials

North Carolina retained possession after the controversial call when the punter was short of the line to gain.

The first question in Syracuse head coach Dino Babers' post game press conference following the Orange's loss at North Carolina was regarding the controversial play in the first quarter. Syracuse blocked a punt and Tar Heels' punter Ben Kiernan scooped up the ball. He ran towards the first down marker and was tackled about a half yard to a yard short of the line to gain. The officials, however, gave him the first down. Babers challenged it, but the ruling was upheld. 

Here is Babers explaining his discussions with the officials and his reaction to the call. 

Q: Can you walk us through the blocked punt, the call, and you challenging it?

Babers: "I had a very good angle on that play even though it was on the other side of the field. I felt like the ball carrier had the ball in his left hand and he did not hit the 42 yard line. I asked them and I said, 'you guys he didn't make the 42.' And they said, 'let's see where the mark is.' They marked it as a first down. I said, 'you guys he did not make the 42.' They said, 'coach we're reviewing it.' They took it up, they reviewed it and then they said, 'coach we reviewed it and he did make the 42.' I said, 'you guys he did not make the 42.' They said, 'well coach, we reviewed it.' I said, 'I'm going to challenge it anyway.' They said, 'coach, we've already reviewed it.' I said, 'I want to challenge it anyway. I want it in the record that I challenged that he did not make the 42 yard line.' When I challenged it, they reviewed it for like *snaps fingers three times*. They came back and told me, instead of saying he made the 42 their statement was 'we do not have the camera angle to reverse the call on the field.' Which was totally different than what they told me the first time. If they told me that the first time I never would have used a timeout, that they didn't have the camera angle. What they told me was he made the mark. That's what they continually told me. And I said, 'he did not make the mark.' So that was the conversation and that's how it ended.  

NOTE: Here is a clip of the play. Notice Kiernan has the ball in his left hand as Babers said, turns so that the ball is behind him when he gets hit.  

UNC punter Ben Kiernan with an impressive athletic effort... before getting obliterated. 🏈😬 pic.twitter.com/JyTbCRU0Y9

— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 7, 2023

Q: Did you have someone up in the box calling down to you too that they had seen it on the replay?

Babers: "Other people in the box were saying it but I had a good view on it. Sometimes you do, sometimes you don't. I had a good view on it. It really didn't matter what they said, I felt like that should be challenged. I had a good view." 

Q: Did the fact that you did not challenge the targeting call last week influence the decision to challenge this call? Did you feel you needed to prove a point?

Babers: "I don't do stuff like that. It comes down to believing in what you saw. I challenged two plays in the Army game where both calls were challenged and we won both calls and no one wrote about that. But I saw those calls. I had a good feel for them. I had good eyes on that. I didn't need to listen to anyone else." 

Q: Where were you standing on that play?

Babers: "You can go back and watch the film. I was probably on the line of scrimmage." 

Q: If they said they already reviewed it, why did you need it on record that you challenged it?

Babers: "Because I want them to understand that I know they're wrong. There's rights and there's wrongs. Well you guys tell me, did he make it or not? You guys had TV. Now you guys don't want to talk but you want me to talk." 

Emily Leiker of Syracuse.com: "I didn't think so." 

Babers: "Thank you Emily." 

Leiker: "Sparrow came over from the side. Dude's foot might have been over the line but from what we saw on TV it did not seem like he made it." 

Babers: "The ball was in his left hand, am I right in remembering that?"

Leiker: "I believe so." 

Babers: "His back hand with his front hand going forward. Well, it's on record now." 

Q: That play was in the first quarter but what was your reaction to that on the sideline?

Babers: "You guys listen. That play would have given us great momentum and maybe who knows what would have happened in that first quarter. But this is a good football team. The way that game ended. That's a good time. But again, right is right and wrong is wrong." 

SUPPORT ALL SYRACUSE

SUBSCRIBE TO ALLSYRACUSE.COM NOW TO GET ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE INSIDER CONTENT

FREE ALL SYRACUSE NEWSLETTER TO GET THE LATEST ORANGE UPDATES SENT TO YOUR INBOX

JOIN THE ALL SYRACUSE FORUMS FOR FREE AND DISCUSS THE ORANGE WITH OTHER FANS AND OUR STAFF