What's the true clock?

[bringbacktherantboard]

The Big Ten has provided an explanation for the end of the WMU-Michigan game that the true clock still showed 1 second on the clock, as opposed to the clock on the scoreboard that displayed 0 seconds. Where is this other clock? Do all stadiums have one or is it located at the Big Ten office in Rosemont?

 

[hdhntr1]

The Big Ten has provided an explanation for the end of the WMU-Michigan game that the true clock still showed 1 second on the clock, as opposed to the clock on the scoreboard that displayed 0 seconds. Where is this other clock? Do all stadiums have one or is it located at the Big Ten office in Rosemont?

I don't believe the scoreboard clock has ever been official. I believe it is kept by designated officials on the field. They coordinate during the game but this was the last play.

Here is what I found doing a search

AI Overview



The official game time in college football is kept by designated on-field game officials, not the stadium scoreboard or the television broadcast clock. [1, 2]

Official Timekeeping Rules

• • Game Officials: The referee, side judge, back judge, or line judge track the official timing of the game. [1, 2]
  • The Game Clock Operator: A stadium clock operator runs the visible scoreboard clock, but they must follow signals and take direction from the assigned on-field officials. [1]
  • Discrepancies: Neither the scoreboard nor the TV broadcast is the ultimate legal arbiter of time. If a review happens, replay officials rely on a direct, dedicated camera feed synced specifically to the official timing system used by the conference and crew rather than standard public feeds. [1, 2, 3, 4]

If you are looking into this because of a specific game or a recent replay controversy, let me know which matchup or rule you'd like to explore further.

 

[bringbacktherantboard]

I don't believe the scoreboard clock has ever been official. I believe it is kept by designated officials on the field. They coordinate during the game but this was the last play.

Here is what I found doing a search

AI Overview



The official game time in college football is kept by designated on-field game officials, not the stadium scoreboard or the television broadcast clock. [1, 2]

Official Timekeeping Rules

• • Game Officials: The referee, side judge, back judge, or line judge track the official timing of the game. [1, 2]
  • The Game Clock Operator: A stadium clock operator runs the visible scoreboard clock, but they must follow signals and take direction from the assigned on-field officials. [1]
  • Discrepancies: Neither the scoreboard nor the TV broadcast is the ultimate legal arbiter of time. If a review happens, replay officials rely on a direct, dedicated camera feed synced specifically to the official timing system used by the conference and crew rather than standard public feeds. [1, 2, 3, 4]

If you are looking into this because of a specific game or a recent replay controversy, let me know which matchup or rule you'd like to explore further.

So where is the true clock?

 

[hdhntr1]

So where is the true clock?

As it says it is with one of the officials. Probably different each game probably chosen just before each game to protect against knowing in advance and being able to skew the outcome

 

[bringbacktherantboard]

As it says it is with one of the officials. Probably different each game probably chose just before each game to protect against knowing in advance and being able to skew the outcome

Is it a stopwatch he carries around?

 

[hdhntr1]

Is it a stopwatch he carries around?

I think in the past it was. I have no idea now

 

[Yeswecat]

I'm sorry but I am very skeptical. Shouldn't the "Official clock" and the scoreboard clock have been synched up prior to what should have been the last play of the game because of its importance at that juncture of the game. I mean it happens frequently during games that the officlials tell the scoreboard operator to adjust the clock. The teams (and the fans) rely on the scoreboard clock. Maybe I have been missing something over the years but this is the first time I have heard about referring to a super secret clock to determine the outcome of a game. If what is being said is correct, then neither team would've known exactly how much time there was left on the clock prior to, during, and after the first pass attempt, if they couldn't rely on the scoreboard clock. That doesn't make sense to me. The Official clock should be transparent to all to preserve the integrity of the game.

 

[TheC]

What's funny is that over 100 million expert sports fans after all of these years did not realize there was a second clock until this weekend. We've all learned something here. Thank you Big Ten and thank you Michigan!

 

[Sheffielder]

I saw an interview Joel Klatt was doing with Mike Pereira yesterday (who, if you don't know, is the "rules expert" guy for Fox).

His comments:

“Here’s the key, and here’s where it got lost: The replay officials have been told that if there is a discrepancy, you use the television footage," Pereira told Fox colleague Joel Klatt on a podcast. "Do not use your footage in the Command Center. Use the footage that 2 million people are watching, not the one that’s three [people watching].”

It's important to acknowledge Pereira has no official authority here and his declaration that replay officials "have been told" this and "should" do that aren't really worth much, but I would also say his explanation makes absolutely perfect sense to me. The rational part of my brain will also acknowledge the officials, in the moment, were so concerned with the actual call itself that they overlooked this detail in what was literally a fraction of a second discrepancy on the clock that I will bet won't come up in the rest of my lifetime.

It is funny for all these years the talking heads remind us that the 1st down marker/graphic is approximate, but not once have I heard that about the clock...

 

[TheC]

I saw an interview Joel Klatt was doing with Mike Pereira yesterday (who, if you don't know, is the "rules expert" guy for Fox).

His comments:

“Here’s the key, and here’s where it got lost: The replay officials have been told that if there is a discrepancy, you use the television footage," Pereira told Fox colleague Joel Klatt on a podcast. "Do not use your footage in the Command Center. Use the footage that 2 million people are watching, not the one that’s three [people watching].”

It's important to acknowledge Pereira has no official authority here and his declaration that replay officials "have been told" this and "should" do that aren't really worth much, but I would also say his explanation makes absolutely perfect sense to me. The rational part of my brain will also acknowledge the officials, in the moment, were so concerned with the actual call itself that they overlooked this detail in what was literally a fraction of a second discrepancy on the clock that I will bet won't come up in the rest of my lifetime.

It is funny for all these years the talking heads remind us that the 1st down marker/graphic is approximate, but not once have I heard that about the clock...

On the one hand, from a fan perspective, that makes sense to use the television footage. However, the stadium clock is usually run by an employee of the host school. I would think fans would much prefer the "real" clock be run by a neutral official. It is just up to everyone to know the damn rules and for the broadcast guys to inform fans about those rules. You're right.... I've never, ever heard a broadcaster warn us that the tv clock is approximate. It sounds like the broadcasters didn't know that fact either. How could that be after all these years??

 

[EagerFan]

I don't understand why the stadium clock wouldn't be automatically synced to the "real" clock. This doesn't seem like much of a reach for B1G level football stadiums in the 2020s.

 

[Styre]

I'm sorry but I am very skeptical. Shouldn't the "Official clock" and the scoreboard clock have been synched up prior to what should have been the last play of the game because of its importance at that juncture of the game. I mean it happens frequently during games that the officlials tell the scoreboard operator to adjust the clock. The teams (and the fans) rely on the scoreboard clock. Maybe I have been missing something over the years but this is the first time I have heard about referring to a super secret clock to determine the outcome of a game. If what is being said is correct, then neither team would've known exactly how much time there was left on the clock prior to, during, and after the first pass attempt, if they couldn't rely on the scoreboard clock. That doesn't make sense to me. The Official clock should be transparent to all to preserve the integrity of the game.

From what I've seen, the physical clock on the scoreboard still shows 0:01 when the defender touches the ball to end the play. For whatever reason, NBC did not have their on-screen clock precisely aligned with the scoreboard clock, so the TV broadcast shows 0:00 when the defender touches the ball.

 

[hdhntr1]

What's funny is that over 100 million expert sports fans after all of these years did not realize there was a second clock until this weekend. We've all learned something here. Thank you Big Ten and thank you Michigan!

That the scoreboard and tv clock are not official should not be a surprise. Haven't you seen games where the clock keeps running and has to be reset?

 

[TheC]

That the scoreboard and tv clock are not official should not be a surprise. Haven't you seen games where the clock keeps running and has to be reset?

True, but I guess I always thought either the officials guestimated when the clock should have stopped, or they used replay to determine the time when it should have stopped.

 

[hdhntr1]

True, but I guess I always thought either the officials guestimated when the clock should have stopped, or they used replay to determine the time when it should have stopped.

If they were using a stopwatch, there is a lag between when the guy sees the end of the play (signaled by an on field official ) and when he actually hits the stopwatch, It is different for every person and situation, So there has to be one that is official and if possible, can have the backup of official film.