loss marred by missed-INT call

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(3) Alabama (9) LSU

24
15
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If this cleat mark could talk ... it'd confirm that Patrick Peterson's fourth-quarter interception should've counted for LSU.
Andy Staples/Special to SI.com



TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- With 5:54 remaining in Alabama's 24-15 win against LSU, Tigers cornerback Patrick Peterson appeared to intercept Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy between LSU's 31 and 32-yard lines. At the time, LSU trailed Alabama by six points.

Officials initially ruled that Peterson caught the ball out of bounds, but the immediate reaction along the LSU sideline suggested another look was in order. Referee Thomas Ritter announced the play would be reviewed. While replay official Gerald Hodges reviewed video of the play, CBS showed several replays that appeared to show Peterson getting not one, but two feet down before falling out of bounds. After several minutes, Ritter announced that Hodges had upheld the call on the field.

"When I caught the ball, I tried to get two feet in. I believe I got two feet in," Peterson said. "Definitely, the foot mark was left on the field. Not even on the white. It was on the green."

After interviewing Peterson, I returned to the field, where I snapped a few photos of a small gash in the field between the 31- and 32-yard lines. A video replay confirmed that this was the same spot where Peterson caught McElroy's pass. There is no way to confirm that Peterson's foot made the mark; it could have been made at any point during the game. But judging by video replays, Peterson's left foot --which landed first -- would have made an identical mark on the disputed play.



Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/andy_staples/11/07/lsu.alabama/index.html?eref=si_writers#ixzz0WEIq3BrZ
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