September 18, 2006

Pac-10 suspends officials for 1 game: The Pacific-10 Conference, finding merit in Oklahoma's complaints about the officiating in its loss to Oregon, issued a one-game suspension Monday to the officiating crew and the instant replay officials who worked the game and an apology to the Sooners.

posted by lex2000 to football at 06:47 PM - 25 comments

No matter which side of this game you were on it was obvious Oregon didn't come up with the ball on that play (even though they touched the ball prematurely in the first place). That was one of the worst calls I've seen in a while, even worse than last year's "football move"-interception-fumble-incomplete pass by Polamalu (this all coming from both a Ducks fan AND a Colts fan). While no amount of apologies can rectify the fact that the Sooners still get a '1' in the 'L' column, I think the suspensions are justified.

posted by lex2000 at 06:55 PM on September 18, 2006

The suspensions aren't log enough. Unless they have really, really good explanations for why it happened, the suspensions should probably be for the season. Mind-boggling (esp. on the part of the replay official.)

posted by tieguy at 08:22 PM on September 18, 2006

1 game? What a joke. Both calls were easy to make based on a first, live action viewing over TV. I don't understand how either call could have failed to be overturned. The replay official should never be allowed to work a football game in that capacity again. Absolutely appalling. I think someone needs at least to look into whether there was some exterior motive behind the failure to overturn the first call in particular. Are officials encouraged to do small things to keep games close by the NCAA? Does stuff like this happen regularly, just on a smaller scale? Was this just an out of hand example of a norm? Its a scary thought.

posted by fatfryar at 08:55 PM on September 18, 2006

i think oklahoma should be allowed to drop the game from their record.. therefore keeping their undefeated record intact

posted by devildog37 at 09:54 PM on September 18, 2006

David Boren (Oklahoma University President) has sent a letter to Conference Officials requesting the game be void in the record books Also, the review officials be suspended for the rest of the season, which I personally think that is a somewhat soft. If you watch the play, the ball never stopped through entire pile, where it thens goes through Oklahoma's #9 Ingesais legs, then immediatly Oklahoma's #23 Patrick scoops and secures the football. Apparently officials were reviewing the 10 yard infraction that Oregan committed and either didn't see the loose ball come out or was not allowed to review that aspect of the play.

posted by sgtcookzane at 10:06 PM on September 18, 2006

This was a much worse blunder by the zebras, and not only was the victory allowed to stand for Colorado, but they were annointed Co-National Champs with Notre Dame at the end of the year. A bad call for The Sooners for sure, but OU should look forward to the next game and put this behind them. It's in the books...

posted by mjkredliner at 10:15 PM on September 18, 2006

David Borene's letter to conference commisioners.

posted by sgtcookzane at 10:20 PM on September 18, 2006

I didn't see the play or the game, so I thought that everyone was just being a bitchy fan and complaining because their team had lost. But after further review (pun intended) I understand what all the fuss is about. While I applaud the suspensions, it still doesn't help Oklahoma's season. What a shame. We should probably check the officials' background and see what school they went to.

posted by wingnut4life at 12:32 AM on September 19, 2006

After watching the game, and I was rooting for Oregon, everybody in room said that the Okies had been screwed. The person in the replay booth is either totally incompetent or blind. Get rid of him, but thank him for the money I won on the game.

posted by BADICEDOG at 02:06 AM on September 19, 2006

The calls sound bad, but Oklahoma still had two chances to overcome them -- by stopping Oregon in a 53-yard touchdown drive that began with 1:09 left and by kicking a 44-yard field goal as time expired. The pass interference call only gave Oregon 13 yards. Oklahoma gave up a 24-yard touchdown pass on the next play that had nothing to do with the zebras.

posted by rcade at 08:50 AM on September 19, 2006

rcade is right. I have several friends who are OU fans and while they were upset about the call they commented that OU defense dropped the ball by letting Oregon score. Punish the refs but there was still game played after the call so the loss still should stand. Had it been the final play that resulted in a Oregon win I might agree with voiding the game.

posted by scottypup at 09:10 AM on September 19, 2006

I think season-long suspensions are a bit of an extreme suggestion, not to mention unrealistic. The officials definitely blew it, but I don't think the mistakes warrant losing their positions for the remainder of the season or even their careers.

posted by lex2000 at 11:35 AM on September 19, 2006

i agree sorta with rcade.. however the defense would not have even been on the field if the refs got the call right.. you cant overlook the fact that the game was basically over on the onside kick that oklahoma recovered

posted by devildog37 at 11:39 AM on September 19, 2006

What about the phantom offensive pass interference call against the Giants last weekend when they were driving against the Colts at the end of the game?? Are we gonna go back and change the outcome of that game too?

posted by LaKeR4LiFe at 11:41 AM on September 19, 2006

well i do believe the ball wasnt tipped on that call.. therefore the infraction is not reviewable

posted by devildog37 at 11:47 AM on September 19, 2006

I guess I missed Boren's letter complaining about the officiating in the OU-UAB game to start the season when OU fumbled a punt return and UAB recovered deep in OU territory in the fourth quarter. Officials would not even give UAB a replay, saying they had blown the whistle calling the OU player down. Replay with sound showed that the whistle blew long after the fumble. It's all about whose ox gets gored. Bad calls happen all the time. You complain about it, you cuss about it, you cry about it. But in the end, you take your lumps, forget about it, and move on.

posted by graymatters at 01:40 PM on September 19, 2006

you cant overlook the fact that the game was basically over on the onside kick that oklahoma recovered Bad calls are a part of the game. Aside from a bad call on a game-ending play, most teams have a chance to make up for them, and Oklahoma did Saturday.

posted by rcade at 03:05 PM on September 19, 2006

Pat Forde hits the nail on the head.

posted by lex2000 at 04:48 PM on September 19, 2006

Here is what I think should happen. Do not suspend the officials for their mistake. Instead the NCAA should not let any Pac-10 officials participate in any BCS games this year & in any Bowl Games the Big-12 plays in. If You punish all of the Conferences Officials when one crew screws up this bad, then they are accountable for the rest of the crews in that conference future in calling the BIG GAMES at the end of the year.

posted by dlg at 06:31 PM on September 19, 2006

Bad calls happen all the time. If you have not been screwed by a call in an athletic event, you have never played organized sports. Yeah, it sucks, but we all get over it. Take care of business on the field and make sure it doesnt become the defining moment. Or maybe we shouldn't keep score anymore and just have judges decide the winner like in figure skating, diving and gymnastics.

posted by urall cloolis at 07:14 PM on September 19, 2006

Maybe when a player screws up royaly with a stupid play they should be suspended. Would help prevent point shaving and beating the point spread. If the call went Oklahoma's way they would be glad to take it. Stop the whining and play the game.

posted by joromu at 07:25 PM on September 19, 2006

If You punish all of the Conferences Officials when one crew screws up this bad, then they are accountable for the rest of the crews in that conference future in calling the BIG GAMES at the end of the year. Might end up playing the bowl games without officials though, considering how many screw-ups there are during a year around the country.

posted by graymatters at 07:54 PM on September 19, 2006

you cant overlook the fact that the game was basically over on the onside kick that oklahoma recovered
Not even trying to make a strong case, eh? Basically over and over are not the same thing. I find myself in agreement with Mr. U. Cloolis and think that at this point Oklahoma needs to get over it before it manifests into a huge excuse and becomes the primary focus of their season. If it isn't too late.

posted by geekyguy at 08:03 PM on September 19, 2006

We should probably check the officials' background posted by wingnut4life at 12:32 AM CDT on September 19 The person in the replay booth is either totally incompetent or blind. Get rid of him posted by BADICEDOG at 2:06 AM CDT on September 19 Here is an interesting article on one of the officials past reputation.

posted by skydivemom at 10:21 PM on September 19, 2006

Bottom line and synopsis of game: First Downs Oregon by 7 Total Yards: Oregon by 120 Return Yards: Oregon by 25 Score: Oregon by 1 Crying Fans: Oklahoma by 85,000 or more End Result: PRICELESS

posted by urall cloolis at 12:18 AM on September 20, 2006

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