During Thursday’s Rate Bowl, Rutgers lined up for what looked to be the Tush Push near the goal line. However, the play ended up being a diversion with college football fans on social media debating whether the play should have stood as called.
The fake play saw Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis pretend to dive into the rugby scrum of players like he was Jalen Hurts.
Instead of following his center’s behind into the end zone, Kaliakmanis handed the ball off to Antwan Raymond, who went untouched by the Kansas State defense into the end zone for a touchdown.
Some fans have claimed that since Kaliakmanis is not the ball-carrier that the scrum should have come with holding penalties.
There are others that believe in the non-scrum portion of the play, Rutgers senior Reggie Sutton holds a Wildcats’ defender.
Either way, the score was not called back with a penalty and the online conversation commenced.
Rutgers lined up for what looked to be the Tush Push near the goal line but it was a fake
Kansas State ended up winning the game over Rutgers despite the play standing as called
‘Major hold @theACC,’ one college football said, criticizing the officiating crew from an impartial conference.
‘I like it.’
‘Holding on 70!’
‘That was a good play-call.’
A collection of social-media messages either loving or hating Rutgers’ fake Tush Push play
Despite the Scarlet Knights touchdown, the Wildcats overcame a 17-point deficit to win the game 44-41.
Kansas State scored four of the final five touchdowns of the game, with the fake Tush Push being the only one to break up the streak.
Some of the gridiron fans who liked the call expected the Eagles to break out this variation for their next game on Sunday against the Cowboys.
