Big Eight to Review Colorado’s Fifth Down

A spokesman for the Big Eight Conference said Sunday a “complete review” of the officiating that allowed Colorado a crucial extra down in its 33-31 victory over Missouri would be made, adding it is doubtful that the result could be changed by Commissioner Carl James.

“I don’t think the commissioner has the power to change the outcome,” Big Eight spokesman Jeff Bollig said, adding that another announcement will be made today.

The extra down resulted in the winning touchdown on the game’s last play. Dick Tamburo, Missouri athletic director, has called for the Big Eight to reverse the outcome and award the Tigers the victory, but Missouri Coach Bob Stull said he doubts that will happen.

Referee J.C. Louderback said a touchdown, regardless of error, would be called back “only if there would be a penalty.

“Our record on the field as officials is that they scored on fourth down,” Louderback said.

Said Dave Nelson, secretary and editor of the NCAA rule book: “It (the rule) says the team having the biggest score at the end of the game is the winning team. Once the referee says the game is over, that’s it.”

However, there is precedent for a team forfeiting a victory it achieved on fifth down. In 1940, one week after Cornell beat Dartmouth, 7-3, in the final minute, Cornell president Edmund Ezra Day overturned the victory--and ended Cornell’s 18-game winning streak.

On the final play Saturday, Colorado’s Charles Johnson scored from the one-yard line to give the Buffaloes the victory. It was the fifth play in a four-down sequence.