Duke robbed for real in Miami game

The record is going to show that Duke University’s football team lost to the University of Miami on Saturday after a final eight-lateral, 91-yard play.

The problem is, the Atlantic Coast Conference has suspended the officiating team, including replay officials, for making several mistakes on the play, mistakes that cost Duke what was in fact a victory. Miami did not score legally. The play should have been over before the Miami player crossed the goal line with the “winning” touchdown.

Apparently there’s nothing Duke can do about it. So a Miami victory that wasn’t a victory amounts to a lie on the record books.

When something like this happens, and thankfully it doesn’t happen often, there should be corrective consequences. Miami should forfeit the game, and Duke should be credited with it. Period. There is no other satisfying or fair solution, no alternative.

Duke Coach David Cutcliffe, a gentleman who has resurrected the Duke program by playing it straight and playing it clean, was simply perplexed by the situation. He and his players deserve better, and it’s outrageous that the ACC can’t right a wrong as simple as this one.

This story was originally published November 2, 2015 at 6:58 PM with the headline "Duke robbed for real in Miami game."