FSU's Norvell says penalty in loss to Miami 'absolute joke' - ESPN

Florida State coach Mike Norvell called the holding penalty that negated a Hail Mary touchdown in the second overtime against Miami «an absolute joke» Monday during his news conference.

Norvell also questioned why the replay booth did not discuss simultaneous possession during its review of the final Hail Mary of the game, ruled an interception on the field though Miami safety Bryce Fitzgerald and Florida State receiver Duce Robinson both had their hands on the ball.

Those plays ended up costing the Seminoles a chance to tie Miami. Instead, they lost 43-35 in double overtime on Saturday night.

In his first comments since the game ended, Norvell said he spoke with ACC supervisor of officials Gary Patterson about the two plays. Holding was called on offensive lineman Xavier Chaplin on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Ashton Daniels to Micahi Danzy, negating the play.

«The holding call was an absolute joke,» Norvell said. «You go through the course of that game, same thing happened a few plays earlier that was not called. But in that moment, that play — it's a shame. It really is. We had to go convert the 2-point play, but for those kids not to be able to finish the game on the field in that moment is really disappointing. That was bad. I haven't gotten the final response from them, but If it's anything less than what I said, it tells me everything I need to know.»

The holding penalty left Florida State with one last chance to try and tie the game. On fourth down from the Miami 46-yard line, Daniels threw for 6-foot-6 Robinson in the end zone. As he went up for the ball, Fitzgerald went up, too. They landed in a tangle, their hands fighting for the ball. Officials called the play an interception on the field.

In a two-minute