Officials' Mistakes in Fourth Quarter Cost Bucknell Two Downs, Halt Drive

Bucknell's football team, driving toward a possible winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter Saturday, was literally robbed of two downs and the ball by a quartet of confused Soldiers Field officials. Given possession, with less than three minutes remaining, Harvard was able to hold on to a 26-26 tie.

After the game, Bucknell Coach Harry Lawrence said he was not planning to protest the game. "It was one of those things," he said stoically.

With the Stadium clock showing little more than two minutes to go in the game, the Bisons, who had driven from their own 20-yard line in an effort to score one more time, lined up on the Harvard 37 with a first down and ten to go.

Bucknell quarterback Jim Stewart handed off to fullback Bob Ford who fumbled the ball. Players from both teams piled on, and referee Charles Bridey signified that Bill Meigs had recovered for the Crimson. But no sooner had the line stakes been reversed, than field judge Alden Hewett told Bridey that the whistle had blown before Meigs had the ball.

Bridey then had the stakes once again turned toward the Harvard goal. They should have been lined up on the 37 and 27 yard lines with the pole signifying Bucknell had a second down and 13 to go, but they were on the 40 and 30 yard lines, with the pole reading fourth down and ten.

On the next play, Stewart faded to pass, but decided to run instead, gaining eight yards down to the 32. At this point, the ball was given to Harvard, depriving Bucknell of its two remaining downs.

During the confusion, Lawrence had been waving frantically from the sidelines, but he was not noticed by the referees.

In the referees' locker-room after the game, Bridey admitted that he must have made a mistake, but said he yelled to Bucknell at the time "Fourth and ten" and, no one complained. Harvard coach Lloyd Jordan said, "Everyone makes mistakes, and the referees had their day."