Rich Seubert was lined up as an eligible receiver. The officials did know this and this was never the issue. The ineligible receiver downfield was Tam Hopkins.

A couple of quotes from A.P.:

Actually, Mariucci thought Okeafor would be called for pass interference, but when he wasn't, the coach joined his team in the celebration.

Okeafor admitted he interfered with Seubert and said he expected the refs to throw a flag on him.

"Woulda, shoulda, coulda. I'd have done the same thing again,'' Okeafor said. "I wasn't going to let him catch it, score and be over then. I was at least going to make them use another play, give us another chance.''