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Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey and head coach Dino Babers look on during SU's 33-7 win over Colgate.

(Stephen D. Cannerelli | scannerelli@syracuse.com)

Syracuse, N.Y. — ACC coordinator of football officiating Dennis Hennigan provided clarification to a rules debate Wednesday afternoon.

After Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino said he was told by an ACC official that the football cannot be snapped before the chain crew is in place, Hennigan indicated otherwise in an email statement to Syracuse.com.

"Assuming that the offense does not substitute, the officials will allow the offense to snap the ball when the officials are in position, and when the "box," i.e., the down indicator, is set," Hennigan said. "The officials do not wait for the chains to get set. Both the box and the chains move upon the direction of the officials."

Here's Petrino's quote from the ACC coaches' teleconference earlier on Wednesday.

"The chains have to be set," Petrino said on the ACC coaches' teleconference. "You've got to let the chains get down before they can snap the ball again. There were a couple times in that game where they didn't get set. So we have talked to the conference office and that's part of the official's responsibility, is to make sure the chains get set before the ball is snapped."

Hennigan's explanation aligns more closely with Babers' understanding of the rules.

"I was always under the impression that the (down) box was the most important thing," Babers said. "If the box was set, then the chains could come later."

There was only one instance in which an official delayed SU from snapping the ball in its season-opening 33-7 win over Colgate on Friday. That play occurred in the second quarter. Here's a look:

The Orange and Cardinals will kick off at 8 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

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