This season in college ball I have seen two patently bad calls, one supported by the replay booth. One may have changed the games out come the other could have.
September 6, 2008 BYU v Washington at Huskie Stadium. Both teams fought a hard tough game, each having alot on the line for the seasoner opener.
BYU wanting a quality win over a PAC 10 team to maintain their nationa ranking and to establish their course as a BCS Buster. Washington, to get last season behind them and start off on a winning note for the home town fans while knocking off a nationaly rated team.
This was a hard fought game that went down to the wire. With just 2 seconds left on the clock, Huskie quarterback Jake Locker gets it into the end zone making the score 28 - 27 BYU. Washington now only needing the pat to send the game into overtime.
As Locker gets up, he flips the ball over his shoulder and celebrates with a team mate, he is immediatly flagged for unsportsman like conduct. Not for taunting or getting in the face of BYU players, but for flipping the ball over his shoulder.
Did this call change the complexion og the game, it had to. Instead of the usual pat, Washington was looking at a 35 yard pat.
BYU blocked the kick winning the game 28 - 27 and yet the biggest play in the game, is not Locker fighting off tacklers to score, setting the Huskies up to go into overtime. Not the fantastic push by the Cougars and blocking the extra point, perserving the win. No the biggest play of the game is the unsportsman like conduct call from the officials.
The rules are very specific and yet vague enough to allow an officials interpretation of the rules.
After a score or any other play, the player in possesion immedialty must return the ball to an official or leave it near the dead ball spot.
Rule C is the part of the celebration rules that effected this call and game. According to rule C players are prohibited from throwing the ball high into the air. Very subjective, what is high in the air? According to the Washington - BYU officials tossing the ball over the shoulder meets the standard.
My opinion, bad call, Locker did not throw the ball high into the air, he simply tossed it over his shoulder and celebtrated with his team mates.
The next call we review is the "incomplete pass" call by WAC Officials at Bull Dawg Stadium Saturday night September 13, in a game featuring Fresno State v Wisconsin.
Again it was a tight game with alot on the line for both teams. Fresno marketed the game as the biggest regular season home game in Bull Dawg history.
A win over the #10 rated Wisconsin Badgers moves #21 ranked Fresno up the polls with a qualtiy win over a Big Ten Team. Advancing their quest to be this years BCS Buster.
A Wisconsin win gives them a road win over a nationaly ranked team and a leg up in their quest to play in the NC game in January.
It was first and ten Fresno ball, they were passing it down the field down 13 - 7 with 3:22 left third quarter.
The Bull Dog QB connects with his receiver who tucks the ball away starts up filed taking two steps. Wisconsin strips the ball and recovers fumble. Pat Hill, the Fresno coach challenges the play in what is clearly a clean strip and recovery.
The replay officials overturn the call, allowing Fresno to continue its drive. Fresno settles for a frield goal making it a 13 - 10 game, which is how the game ended.
Had the Bull Dogs scored 7 the game may well have ended 14 - 13 Fresno damaging Wisconsin both in the polls and creating a similar situation like the Oklahoma Sooners v the Oregon Ducks September 16, 2006.
The setting was Eugene, Oregon's Autzen Stadium where the Oregon Ducks were trailing the Oklahoma Sooners 20 - 33 late in the 4th quarter.
Oregon mounted a drive and scored making the it a 27 - 33 game. With 1:12 left on the clock Oregon needed an onside kick followed with a miracle.
Both teams lined up for the expected onsides kick. A Duck player clearly touched the ball on the 45 yard line. One yard short of the required 10 yards the ball must travel, making it Sooners ball. Furhter more Oklahoma recovered the ball, assuring their posession and would be able to run out the clock, escaping with a win.
What happened next is unbelievable. The PAC 10 refs sent this game pivitol play up to the replay booth. The replay officials ruled Oregon's possession. the Ducks went onto score winning the game 34 - 33.
Not only did this call effect the game it changed the landscape for the national title game. Oklahoma finished the regular season 9 & 2 instead of 10 & 1 as they should have. The Oregon game cost Sooner Nation a bid for the NC game.
Missed calls will always be part of football, that is inevitable. Bad calls and hometown calls have no place in the game and can have a negative impact on more than just the game being played.
Bob Stoops and the Sooners have said they will never again travel to a PAC 10 stadium and play a game refed by PAC 10 officials. To this day they have held true to their word, denying all PAC 10 fans the chance to see the storied Sooners in their house.
WAC teams such as Fresno State have trouble getting BCS teams to visit their stadiums, last Saturdays call will only add to that challenge.
Oklahoma was a legitimate national title contender, however that loss in Oregon cost them their bid.
No comments:
Post a Comment