Two days later and a lot of people are still talking about the Pat White’s first-quarter fumble and the confusion that followed.

ECU’s offense took the field and was joined by WVU’s defense. Just when it seemed a whistle would blow to stop play and send a question to the replay booth, the Pirates snapped the ball.

“They checked it upstairs,” Stewart said. “They told me it was checked and said it was done. I didn’t have the best view in the house, but if seven officials and TV can’t figure it out, they don’t need my input.”

Replays showed the play was at least questionable and worthy of review. That responsibility usually goes to the officials in the both.

“I thought they’d review it,” White said. “I’m not sure why they didn’t.”

They officials never interceded, which left the decision to the Mountaineers. Stewart, who is allowed to request one review per game and can retain the challenge if it’s upheld, never asked for a review.

White nearly called a timeout to allow his side to question the play, but stopped for some reason. Stewart, who was conferring with his assistants, including those in the coaching box above the field, did the same.

Before digging in here, it should be said that WVU wasn’t bitter or blaming that one play for its loss.

Jeff Mullen:

“At the end of the day, it wasn’t about a call or an official. We just didn’t play well enough to win. One play certainly didn’t cause the loss. It didn’t help us, but it didn’t cost us the game.”

The rule is pretty simple and seeing as if it was adjusted this season, it’s hard to believe anyone wasn’t completely clear on the application at that very moment.

Head Coach’s Challenge (Rule 12-5-1-b). A new rule expands the ability of a head coach to challenge a reviewable ruling on the field. The head coach now retains a challenge if his initial challenge is successful and thus results in a reversal by the replay official. The coach will then still have a single challenge that he may use anytime during the game if his team has not used all its timeouts. Thus a team may have a total of two challenges in the game, but only if the first results in a reversal of the on-field ruling.

Yet there was obvious hesitation. White, who was confident he had not fumbled, didn’t take it upon himself to call a timeout to convince either his coaches or the officials to review the play, which is within the realm of acceptability.

So, too, is the possibility Stewart didn’t want to use his challenge so early in the game and instead thought the play would be reviewed by the officials, which is the normal course of action.

Stewart didn’t have a very good view of the play across the field, but did confer with his assistants in the box above the field on the sideline where the play happened. They didn’t see anything, either, because their view was obstructed by the players on the sideline. They also didn’t have a monitor or a television in the booth, which prevented them from reviewing the play.

That’s rare and also significant because the best explanation for not challenging the play or calling a timeout was the Mountaineers didn’t have a good look at the play. Still, don’t you ask for a monitor or a TV before the game?