ACC officials suspended for calls

Reviews of video tape replays and interviews with officials and game administrators confirmed complaints by both schools, league officials said.

"Our review of the situation involving penalties during the Clemson-N.C. State game, leaves no doubt that the officials errored in their application during the course of the contest," ACC commissioner John Swofford said.

He called officials James Knight, Frank Overcash, Mike Looney, Bill Wampler, Rick Page and Virgil Valdez "extremely competent."

"However, the entire officiating crew works as a team and must be accountable as a team," Swofford said.

The experience of the officials ranges greatly - from 21 years calling games for Knight to one year for Looney.

ACC officials refused to elaborate on the specific errors in North Carolina State's 35-31 victory.

The game crew apparently erred once when marking off yardage on a penalty and once when the 25-second play clock apparently expired without a violation being called.

North Carolina State coach Mike O'Cain admitted Monday that he lost his composure while trying to get the officials' interpretation of a holding penalty midway through the second quarter with Clemson ahead 24-14.

N.C. State was called for holding in the backfield on a first-down pass play.

Officials assessed the penalty from the spot of the foul instead of from the line of scrimmage.

The resulting mark pushed the Wolfpack back to their 15 and the drive ended with a punt.

The officiating crew called a total of 26 penalties for a tally of 244 yards.

10-13-99