my thoughts are if the dean has the watch and that is indeed what it is, he should be able to loop now. Probably too contrived for the show, though. :-/

Is there any meaning behind the pocket watch Jane puts in the dean's coat during their initial conversation in the pilot? Is that what lets her create the time loop? I haven't read the books but curious if there is any significance to that scene now that we've gotten this far into the show.