Reviews becoming a major element in college football

PASADENA, Calif. — Instant replay has become an integral part of college football, as integrated into the fabric of the game as blocking, tackling, running and throwing.

In UCLA's 42-28 Pac-10 victory over visiting Washington State on Saturday, it seemed even more obtrusive.

The Cougars' go-ahead fourth-quarter score was taken away after the extra-point attempt, something not allowed by the rules.

"The official came over and told me they got buzzed right before they kicked the extra point," said UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel.

But no official reacted, running in to stop the attempt or even blowing a whistle. In fact, until referee Larry Farina came to the Cougars' sideline to talk with the officials upstairs, no one on the WSU sideline knew there was any question about Jeff Tuel's 1-yard score.

The replay showed Tuel was down short of the end zone and WSU had to regroup and score again. It didn't.

But if a replay had been called four plays earlier, the Cougars might have scored anyhow.

Marquess Wilson, who caught five passes for 118 yards to tie Phillip Bobo for the most 100-yard games as a freshman, gathered in a pass from Tuel at about the 35-yard line and raced down the left sideline for the end zone.

Safety Tony Dye battled through blocks and threw himself at Wilson inside the 5. Wilson stuck the ball out as he was flying out of bounds, with replays seemingly showing it crossing the plane before his right foot came down about a foot out of bounds.

"I honestly did think I got it in," Wilson said.

But the play was not reviewed.

Getting the time

With the Cougars now running a spread set on nearly every down, the pressure is on the offensive line and running back to protect Tuel.

The sophomore was sacked five times, including the last two offensive plays. Up until then, however, Tuel, who finished 20 of 37 for 311 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions, had time on most of his throws.

"For the most part, the O-line did a really good job protecting," WSU coach Paul Wulff said. "They've put a lot of pressure on people with their pass rush. Overall I think we did a pretty darn good job."

Angry Wulff

Wulff was obviously miffed by a couple of penalties that were called and a couple more that weren't, animatedly charging toward an official at one point and jumping up and down at another.

"I've got to fight for this team. They're young, they need help. I've got to fight for them, and they've got to fight for themselves."