Eli Drinkwitz was cool, calm and collected when asked by ABC about the play.
The Missouri coach might have just been emotionally spent after he shared of piece of his mind with officials Saturday in the first quarter after what he deemed a questionable call against Alabama.
Alabama’s Jaylen Mbakwe attempted to fair catch a punt inside the 10, bobbled the catch, then continued to run as he tried to bring it in. There was no flag.
“That’s a penalty, but they didn’t call it because it is a judgment call,” Drinkwitz told ABC after the first quarter. “But, I’m not gonna get fined today.”
By rule, a player can move if the ball is bobbled to control that catch. However, a player is not allowed to run once the catch is made. Rules expert Matt Austin appeared on the broadcast to be OK with the non-call by the officials.
The Tigers trailed Alabama 3-0 after the first quarter.
“We got to continue to stick with the run game,” he said. “Third downs, they have played a lot more zone than they shown. We just have to settle into that.”
Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.
