Periodically, Rogers Redding, the national coordinator of College Football Officiating, will provide insights about rules changes and the mindset of college football referees. The CFO is the national professional organization for all football officials who work games at the collegiate level.

Instant replay entered college football for the first time in 2004. That year the Big Ten Conference used it in regular season games on an experimental basis. The other conferences in the Football Bowl Subdivision adopted instant replay in 2005, and it has been part of the major college game ever since.

The purpose of instant replay is to correct critical rulings that have a competitive impact on the game. These include such things as whether there was a fumble, whether a pass was caught, whether a player scored a touchdown, etc. It is not intended to correct minor problems or to change judgment calls on fouls.

A review may be initiated either by the Instant Replay Official (IRO) in the booth, or the head coach may use his challenge. The IRO makes the final ruling based on video evidence provided by television replays. He then informs the Referee on the field who announces the final ruling.

Instant Replay uses the latest sophisticated video technology. Most replay booths are equipped with high-definition television monitors. The IRO also uses electronic equipment for selecting several views of a play with fast-forward, reverse, slow motion, etc., so that he may analyze all aspects of the play. Television coverage of the game provides the various views of a play. The IRO is assisted by a second football expert, usually called the Communicator, and a technical assistant who manages and maintains the electronic equipment. Typically the IRO and Communicator are former field officials who must maintain their knowledge of the rules.

Next time we will look at the process of reviewing a play.