I remember cringing when the call happened.
It occurred during the 2014 4A Division I state title game featuring Navasota and Argyle, which had dispatched Graham on a last-minute field goal in the semifinals the previous week.
The Eagles were ahead by a touchdown and about a minute away from repeating as champions when Navasota’s Tren’Davian Dickson fumbled the ball out of the end zone.
Officials incorrectly ruled that Dickson was down shy of the goal line. The Rattlers scored and then won the championship in a double-overtime thriller. Thrilling for Dickson anyhow.
Making that result difficult to stomach to unbiased viewers was that television replays proved it was the incorrect call. I’m sure it was equally painful for those looking up at AT&T Stadium’s 60-yard video board.
That Argyle game was the first thing I thought of when the University Interscholastic League announced Thursday that instant replay was coming to state title games.
It’s a no-brainer to me. It won’t cost a single penny more and it won’t impact the coaches on the sidelines because they won’t have challenges. All reviews will be initiated by collegiate replay officials in a booth.
Maybe the games last a few minutes longer, but no one should have any qualms with a few extra minutes if it means getting a potentially game-changing play correct. A couple area coaches I talked to didn’t have a problem with it, either.
“I like it in college and the pros. It’s all about making the right decision.” Graham coach Kenny Davidson said. “Technology is getting better and better. It’d be hard to set up across the board because of different stadiums and funding, but I think it’s fine for title games.”
There will be some who argue the state title games should be played under the same circumstances as those during the regular season and earlier playoff rounds. But those games aren’t regional televised and most aren’t played on the Cowboys’ home turf either.
If officials embrace replay, then nobody should protest. Jason Hickey, who’s in charge of assignments for the Wichita Falls chapter, said the officials he knows who work college games don’t have any problems with it.
“I wouldn’t either,” he said. “We’re always looking to get it right, but sometimes we’re going to miss things.”
Hickey remembered the Argyle-Navasota without being prompted. At the time, his reaction was that mistake “could easily have been fixed.”
Argyle coach Todd Rogers told the Denton Record-Chronicle “it’s a day late and a dollar short," but he was certainly a fan on Thursday’s announcement.
“It creates a better, fair environment for players,” Rogers told the DRC. “We weren't the only ones impacted and it's a tough situation. The video board kind of exposes some of those missed or incorrect calls and makes it bigger than what it normally is.”
It’s not a question of if this should have been done, but why did it take so long?
Another Turner in Graham
One of the most intriguing coordinator openings in the region was recently filled in Graham by someone with a surname Young County people will be familiar with.
Davidson hired Logan Turner to be the successor to Casey Dacus, who left to take over at Navasota. Turner, who played college football at Southeastern Oklahoma State and Hardin-Simmons, is the older brother of 2014-15 Steers starting quarterback Landry Turner.
In fact, Logan’s father Brad spent one season on Graham’s staff between head coaching gigs at Springtown and Haslet Eaton. Logan spent time coaching at Bells with Scott Ponder and was on Rocky Smart’s staff at Clyde last year.
“He’s been around football for so long and I was impressed with him,” Davidson said. “He grew up a coach’s kid and he played in college. He’s young and he’s got a lot of energy.”