Pac-12 releases statement regarding Arizona State vs. Wisconsin game

Sep 16, 2013, 5:46 PM | Updated: 5:47 pm

The following is a press release sent out by the Pac-12 with regards to the ending of Arizona State’s 32-30 win over Wisconsin.

Walnut Creek, Calif. — Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott has reprimanded and taken additional sanctions against officials in Saturday night’s Wisconsin at Arizona State game for failing to properly administer the end of game situation and act with appropriate urgency on the game’s final play, it was announced today.

With 18 seconds remaining in the game, Wisconsin’s quarterback ran the ball toward the center of the field, touched his knee to the ground and then placed the ball on the ground. There was initial uncertainty over whether the quarterback had taken a knee, given himself up or fumbled the ball. As a result several Arizona State players considered the ball live and a fumble, and attempted to recover the ball.

Neither the referee nor anyone on his crew moved with appropriate urgency to clearly communicate that the ball was to be spotted so play could resume promptly.

“This was an unusual situation to end the game,” said Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott. “After a thorough review, we have determined that the officials fell short of the high standard in which Pac-12 games should be managed. We will continue to work with all our officials to ensure this type of situation never occurs again.”

Arizona State defeated Wisconsin 32-30 on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Wisconsin 32-30 on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) 
Arizona State's Taylor Kelly warms up prior to an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Wisconsin's Joel Stave warms up prior to an NCAA college football game against Arizona State, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State head coach Todd Graham, right, talks with Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen prior to an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State's Taylor Kelly throws a pass against Wisconsin in the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State's Chris Coyle, left, breaks a tackle against Wisconsin's Ethan Armstrong in the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State defeated Wisconsin 32-30 on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Wisconsin 32-30 on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Wisconsin's Joel Stave (2) looks to hand off the ball in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona State, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State's Taylor Kelly, left, is taken down by Wisconsin's Joe Schobert (58) and Chris Borland (44) in the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Wisconsin's Beau Allen (96) celebrates his touchdown against Arizona State with teammates, including Michael Caputo (7), after the Arizona State punter had a snap go past him in the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State defeated Wisconsin 32-30 on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State punter Dom Vizzare, front left, loses the ball as Wisconsin's Chris Borland (44), Beau Allen (96) and Brendan Kelly (97) give chase and Arizona State's Carl Bradford (52) and Davon Coleman (43) also move in during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Phoenix. Wisconsin's Allen recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Wisconsin's Jacob Pedersen keeps his feet in as he makes a touchdown catch against Arizona State in the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State's Marion Grice, right, carries the ball as he tries to get past Wisconsin's Ethan Hemer (87) in the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State defeated Wisconsin 32-30 on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Wisconsin 32-30 on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen gives instructions to his players on the field in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona State on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State defeated Wisconsin 32-30 on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Wisconsin 32-30 on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Wisconsin 32-30 on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Wisconsin's James White runs with the ball against Arizona State in the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State defeated Wisconsin 32-30 on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Wisconsin 32-30 on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Wisconsin 32-30 on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Wisconsin's Chris Borland (44) and Ethan Armstrong (36) are able to bring down Arizona State's Frederick Gammage short of the endzone in the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State defeated Wisconsin 32-30 on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Wisconsin 32-30 on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State's Jake Sheffield (91), Kody Koebensky (67) and Chris Coyle (87) celebrate a win after an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Phoenix. Arizona State defeated Wisconsin 32-30. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State's Gannon Conway (95) celebrates a win against Wisconsin as time expires in the second half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Phoenix. Arizona State defeated Wisconsin 32-30. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen, middle, Brian Wozniak (85) and other Wisconsin players walk off the field in disbelief after a loss to Arizona State in an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Phoenix. Arizona State defeated Wisconsin 32-30. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen, far left, yells at officials as they attempt to leave the field after an NCAA college football game against Arizona State on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Phoenix. Arizona State defeated Wisconsin 32-30. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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