CBS broadcast, Gene Steratore calls out officials for not reviewing Nique Clifford elbow to head vs Maryland

A controversial non-call went without a review in a game between Colorado State and Maryland. Rams star Nique Clifford appeared to catch Terps veteran Jordan Geronimo with a nasty elbow to the face.

However, despite the contact and the fact that Geronimo needed to be tended to, officials did not review the contact. TBS rules expert Gene Steratore thought it might have risen to the level of an ejection had the officials gone to the monitor.

“I think this is a definite Flagrant 1 foul for this contact with the elbow parallel to the floor,” Steratore said. “And that blow, I quite honestly think if you take a look at this, that with that action right there it also to me could get into the category of Flagrant 2.”

Clifford was in the paint when his team secured a defensive rebound. And as he turned to go, he whipped his left arm up around him.

That resulted in his elbow catching Geronimo square in the face. You can view the contact below.

Basketball play? 🤔pic.twitter.com/GnSlhzyqhR

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That there was not a review was a serious surprise to the broadcasting crew calling the game. They harped on it multiple times.

“I’m very surprised naturally and unfortunately that the officials on the court don’t see that,” Steratore said. “But there’s an alternate over there too that can look at this and rewind, because a player’s on the court that could have potentially helped as well. But definitely a Flagrant 1.”

The contact between Clifford and Geronimo was serious enough that even at halftime the broadcast crew chose to ask about it. Clifford stopped for a brief interview with sideline reporter Andy Katz and it was the second question posed to him.

He noted that the contact was incidental. He offered the following:

“Yeah, I didn’t mean to get him on that,” Clifford said. “I apologized to him and said, ‘My bad,’ because I ain’t trying to hurt nobody.”