REFS FOOLED BY VICK FAKE, BLOW WHISTLE WHEN HE'S TACKLED BUT OUELLETTE HAS THE BALL AND IS STILL RUNNING!!!
CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP!!!
They probably did the right thing by re-running the play.
I LOVE THIS MCCABE THING!!!
actually Vick had the ball, it was AJ that was tackled on the fake that drew the whistle. Re running the play might be the right thing from a moral point of view but I don't think it is right in terms of the rules. Luckily it wasn't a close game at the time.
Actually, it was the correct interpretation of the rules, though it does appear wrong on the surface. To wit:
"The rules regarding inadvertent whistles are just as unfair as the whistle itself. There simply is no good way to correct for the stoppage of a play in mid-stream.
The method of handling inadvertent whistles (NFHS 4-2-3; NCAA 4-1-2b) depends on the type of play and the status of the ball. Those can be divided into three categories: During a snap, legal forward pass or legal kick; a ball in player possession; and a loose ball following a backward pass, fumble, illegal forward pass or illegal kick.
Snap, pass or kick. Whenever an inadvertent whistle sounds during a snap, kick or a legal forward pass, the ball is returned to the previous spot and the down is replayed (NFHS 4-2-3a; NCAA 4-2-2b3). Neither team has an option and rightfully so. There is no practical alternative to that rule.
Play 1: A punt is in flight or rolling along the ground when an official inadvertently sounds his whistle. Ruling 1: The ball is dead immediately and returned to the previous spot. Replay the down.
How far would the ball have rolled? Could a player of the receiving team have picked up the ball and advanced it? How far could he have run? Those are all questions that cannot be answered. Unless there was an accepted penalty during the above play which in effect negates the play, there is no viable option other than doing it over.
Player possession. If an official blows his whistle while a player has possession of the ball (NFHS 4-2-3c; NCAA 4-1-2b1), the team in possession has one of two options. It may take the ball where it was blown dead, or replay the down at the previous spot."
So, the correct, though confusing, call was to replay the down and there is not provision to change the clock.