PAC -10 Suspends Officials For Calls in Oklahoma Game
 

Easily the worst call I have ever seen in college football.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2593564

Agreed. that call was unbelievable.

I can think of some calls in the OU Texas game that were just as bad :)

Interceptions in the n-zone ruled incomplete when the guy caught the ball while sitting on a knee in the middle of the end-zone, balls which bounced off the turf being ruled interceptions, etc. :)

But yeah, in recent history, and with replay, I fail to see how this could be a 'mistake' as the Pac-10 wants us to believe. I can't see how they couldn't see what was going on here. I can't see how this could possibly be anything but an intentionally biased call by the replay officials. They ought to be banned from the sport.

In the words of Lee Corso, "Not so fast, my friend . . . "

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/ore...l=7&thispage=1

"Equipment malfunction"? We're not talking ESPN Ocho camera angles here, we're talking ABC Prime Time. If nothing else, this should be a lesson to replay officials to look at every angle before making the call.

-- if he's offering, I'll take it.

"This is probably a good time to remind ourselves that sports isn't war. It's not life or death. College football is supposed to be a pleasant, passionate weekend diversion, void of death threats for sure. There's just something that doesn't feel right about villifying Riese, especially after further review.

The above is right on.

For whatever reason, the replay official made a bad call, upholding a bad call.

He is agonizing about it. Let it rest.

Unfortunately, there are potential huge stakes -- mostly involving BCS appearances, big money and national recognition.

But, to coin a phrase, nobody's perfect.

If the article that KSigRC linked is true, the biggest fault may be with the Pac 10 replay process itself.

I was directing NFL football when replay was first used, and we basically played EVERY replay that was even close to showing the play. If this man really only got to see one replay -- or as the article says, one frame (that's a still frame of 1/30th of a second) -- there's a huge problem with the system.

Replays are always tense for everyone -- and they're made worse by the artificial time limit imposed because of the people waiting in the stands, the TV audience and other issues. The pressure is on everyone. However, if replay is going to be used -- it has to be done right.

In this case, it obviously wasn't. That doesn't make it the replay official's fault, though.

He doesn't get access to the ABC feed (which is GOOD), nor does he have (instant) access to or control over their camera angles.

This is the whole point - he was forced to make a decision based on the amount of time, by the other referees and the ABC production team, and he totally blew it. He admits this freely, and knew at the time that something was wrong, but didn't get the angles he needed (which requires him to say "can't overturn").

Why would he not get access to the ABC feed or control over camera angles. That is the most insanely idiotic thing I have ever heard. One look at atleast 3 of the ABC camera angles would have made the call more than easy.

Are you talking about last year? Who cares.....its not like that game was gong to be close anyways. The Oregon OU call was the worst I have ever seen. For you to compare them to an OU TX game is kind of dumb.

The season stakes were much higher for OU in this game aswell.....which makes it all the more sickening.

I also hate it for us....because it is going to make it awfully difficult to decide who goes to what bowl when there are a bunch of one loss teams stuck in the Top 10. (this is assuming that we don't lose again) The liklihood that we play another Top 10 team is pretty slim to none.

I am surprised no one has mentioned the controversial call in the LSU/Auburn game.

To clear one thing up. NOBODY gets "Control" over TV's camera angles except the producer and director of the telecast.

If the TV crew is doing its job, though, as I said above they're going to play every replay that have that has ANY view of the play. Remember that some of the cameras may be isolated on different players -- but there are always at least one or two cameras (replays) that "follow the ball."

For the replay official not to have access to ALL of those pertinent replays is ridiculous.

ETA that when NFL replay began, a separate feed from the TV truck directly to the TV booth was added and the booth official had two VCR's of his own, with slo motion capability (and a person to operate them for him), so that he could look at the "first" replay, while the second machine was still recording the rest of the replays so he could watch the rest when he was finished with the first and nothing would be missed.

Since this is a football thread and all...I'm going to ask a dumb female football question...

I was watching the ASU game last weekend and they QB made a pass from the 10 yard-line and the receiver missed and the ball hit the pylon. They ruled it a touchback instead of an incomplete pass. Why is it a touchback, since it never touched the other team?? (I understand about 75% of the rules in football, but this is one I just don't get).

The tipped ball was a pretty big call......but I think the call in the Oregon OU game was far worse.

Isn't this the first year the replay system has been in place in the NCAA? It seems like this can serve as a good "teaching moment" for preparing officials, TV crews, replay booth operators, etc., for subsequent seasons.

Sure, it's a shame for OU, but based on the links above, it sounds like the OU President is taking this a little too far. I understand that there's a lot at stake, I really do. But seriously, remove the game's outcome from teh record books? Come on. Suspend the officials for the remainder of the season? Now you're just going too far.

There has to be indisputable evidence to overturn the call on the field. The booth operator didn't have indisputable evidence since he didn't have access to all the camera angles (again, based only on what I've read). If he had overturned the call with the evidence he was given, then Oregon would be griping and the OU people would probably just be saying, "Get over it."

But, since I didn't see the game, my opinion probably doesn't count for much here. (Although, even those who did see the game evidently got to see more than the booth operator saw. So, perhaps those of us who didn't get to enjoy this game are a little more objective.)

You know in Norman they have a saying for when an official blows a call that goes Oklahoma’s way. They like to call it “Sooner Magic.”

From what I saw on TV...there wasn't a single Orgon fan that was interviewed that didn't think the call was completely blown.

The fact that the official reviewer for the plays in the game didn't have access to all of the camera angles is horrible, inexcusable, unacceptable, etc. etc.

I would agree with this. But, that's part of what happens when something new is implemented. You see what works, what doesn't, what needs tweaking, etc. I bet there won't be a similar problem next season (or maybe even next weekend - you never know how quickly positive changes can be made). Like I said, it's a shame, but there's nothing that can be done about it (other than improving the system). OU just needs to pick up, move on and focus on the next game or they'll be looking at a 2 (or more) loss season instead of just one.

Well and the SEC has come out and said that the ball in the Auburn game was uncatchable, which it was. Even LSU friends of mine aren't that upset about it, they don't like it, but they're not blaming the loss on it.

As for the Oklahoma call, its ridiculous, but I think theres no way the NCAA should throw out the game. This is obviously not the first time a game has turned on a bad call, and I've never heard of the NCAA doing it before. I'm sorry, but my sympathy for Oklahoma is gone after 2004.

^Yeah I agree totally. 2004 was a joke as well.

He doesn't get the ABC feed b/c that would allow the ABC commentators, producers and etc. undue influence in the outcome of the game (through speaking, or even by choosing which angles to replay).

Because of the replay rules, every D1 game is now filmed (even ones w/out any sort of TV coverage - HI BIG XII SYSTEM!) by multiple camera angles, and the replay official has access to those angles, as well as the ability to play back, slow down, etc (these may or may not be also used in the telecast - as far as I know, some are, some are not). Note that slowing down is a new ability - in the past, they were forced to watch it in 'real time' - but even with these options the replay official is limited in the amount of time allotted. This amount of time is determined by the Head Judge on the field, IIRC. Here, the ABC crew was reportedly putting some pressure on, as well - they have advertisers, etc to keep happy, integrity of the game be damned.

This means technical difficulties can and will happen, and will directly affect how the replay official can do his job because of the time limit - it's just crappy that here, they happened after an already attrocious call. The guy in the booth needs evidence to overturn even the worst call - he didn't get it, so he did what he was supposed to do.

I believe it was done in the Mountain West Conference last year which became the pilot for the college game.

In terms of President Boren, I agree he's gone a little too far. I've met him and he's a pretty impressive guy, and generally a seemingly fair one -- former US Senator, etc. Again, this could mean a LOT of money one way or the other, assuming the Sooners have a strong year, but a season long suspension? That's harsh.

Finally, to the best of my knowledge, there is no precedent and no way to reverse or eliminate a win or loss in the NCAA. Maybe there should be, but as it stands, the game is over and that, as they say, is that.

ETA, in the NFL, the replay officials did not monitor the network audio -- only the pictures. If the colleges use their own camera angles exclusively, that's too bad because the normal telecast (especially network) will offer more angles from better equipment with longer lenses operated by professional camerapersons. All of that is too expensive for an athletic department to duplicate. If a producer or director chose to be selective and show only replays that favor one team or the other, they would be fired. The network couldn't afford to do that. As I said above, we offered every replay available in every challenge situation...period. I'd worry more about camera angles and shots made by a university employee who might have a bigger "home" stake in the game.

The Big 10 used replay 2 seasons ago, as did a few others; last year was a wide-ranging group of replay systems implemented on a conference-by-conference basis. This was so flaky, they implemented a universal one this season.

While we're at it, I'm still pissed off about this travesty of officiating. Offsides my cats' asses -- all of them.

I was at the game, in the Oregon section (the only scalper ticket I could afford) and the people next to us turned to me and said, "You got robbed."

It is not going too far to ask for a suspension for the season. Calling football is their JOB, if I screwed up that much at my job, I'd totally understand being fired. I'd be thanking my lucky A$$ that I'd only got suspended.

Also, there is a lot at stake. Money, bowl games, et cetera... I think Boren is right on track asking for the game to be sticken from the books. Football is religion down here.

Yeah, but why should Oklahoma get treatment other schools didn't get?

I don't know what you mean by no TV coverage in the Big XII, oh well.

So why couldn't they play the ABC feeds with no sound? Pretty sure you didn't need any to get that call right.

Yeah, obviously there is nothing that can be done to the records.

However, I did hear that there is a possibility of having the poll voters and sports writers "disregard" this loss from their voting process......which could significantly change the outcome of OU's season, barring of course that they don't lose anymore.....which I think they will.....

Actually, it might be considered a part time job. Officials have real jobs, and their own lives as well.

They get paid for the services they provide.

I agree with her completely.

The 'different standards' argument doesn't really make sense. I can't independently recall another account of the review system going so bad. It is without question OU would have won had they recovered the onside kick as they should have. If they could have successfully taken 3 knees, game over.

I can't think of another blown call subjected to review, and still blown with the same unquestionable ramifications.

I don't think that's asking for a 'different standard,' I think it's asking that Oklahoma not be subjected to unfair penalties (a loss on their record) for someone else's mistake or malfeasance.

Its funny.....alot of people don't realize that OU recovered the onsides kick anyways. Nevermind the fact that the guy touched it before 10 yards.....OU recovered it, stood around the ball while the camera was focused on the pileup....and then HANDED the ball to the ref.

Last year, the PAC-10 officials overturned two turnovers which would have probably changed the outcome (the score at the very least) of the UCLA game. Stoops has asked Castiglione (the AD) to cancel the Washington game if the PAC-10 doesn't change its rules to match the rest of the conferences regarding bringing your own officials to away games.

Oh - I wasn't taking a cut at Big XII teams here, just that the Big XII signed a pretty bad TV contract a while back, which doesn't put every game on regional coverage (because it's slanted toward much wider coverage of important games, read: Texas teams minus Baylor) . . . this means that some of the teams had to pay for video for their non-conference games, even though it wouldn't be on TV, purely for replay purposes. AFAIK, this is the last year of that tragic deal, and they'll be making much more per team with future deals.

When I say "feed" I mean the literal feed to the viewer, as dictated by the production trailer - they do have access to most (if not all) camera angles. This actually was part of the problem in the Oregon case, if I'm reading correctly - the two angles that were clear (and they were VERY clear) were the ones that didn't come in before the HJ asked for a ruling, and he couldn't slog through the others fast enough.

Either way, there's no doubt OU got jobbed here - I just don't think it was intentional. PAC-10 officials may very well suck on the whole, but in this case it just seems like a confluence of shitty events for the Sooners. No way the record can be changed, though - that would be a terrible precedent.

The absolute only case when a game should be overturned or negated is when the final call which ACTUALLY decides the game is completely blown. I'm talking when a field goal is good and they say its not, or when somebody is in/out of bounds on the last play in the endzone...I don't think there should be any debate in the OU case, the call was bad, but the bad call led to a drive that won the game. Game deciding yes, but the conclusion was still drawn on inferences.

I agree as well with this exception. (And maybe it's just the way I read her post)

While they are paid, and should do the job right, this is not the way they make a living. This is done in addition to their main jobs.

A lot is expected in terms of study and proficiency for a very part time job, done only several weekends a year.

I don't believe that there was anything sinister in this case -- just a real bad call under less than ideal circumstances.

The truth is, that given the very few opportunities to perform these tasks, I'm pretty impressed that there aren't a lot more really bad situations. "To err is human"...etc.

I agree. This is why I feel like the OU President has gone too far in his requests. If the call was made intentionally to blow the game, then I think a case could be made for "firing" the officials involved. But since the mistake was indeed a mistake, I personally believe the officials' punishment is fair. And as for the request for the game results to be removed from the records, that's just asking for a domino effect with potentially worse repurcussions for OU (and every other D1 team) than keeping the stat on record.

I've said it before and I'll say it again... it really is a shame that the call influenced the outcome of the game, and I know there's a LOT at stake for OU. But, game outcomes can't just be ignored, regardless of how bad the officiating might have been. And for Boren to ask that the officials be suspended for the year, that just sounds like someone who is trying to flaunt his power and position. That might not be what he's doing, but it seems like it. Surely he's made a mistake somewhere during his professional career that affected someone else. Situations like this call for understanding.

It's one thing to lose to a better team, it is quite another to have the game stolen out from under you by officials.

Happens every year. Sometimes you benefit, other times you don't.

Not Stolen
 

The game was not stolen. Yes, there was a bad call. However, Oklahoma could have won the game by not letting Oregon score and get in a position for an on-side kick, not letting Oregon score after the on-side kick or by simply making the field goal at the end of the game.

Stoops is lucky that the bad call has taken the focus off his coaching. It was totally unexplainable to run AP with no timeouts left and 17 seconds on the clock, when a short pass would have made the kick a gimme' or an incompletion would have stopped the clock.

i wont matter anyways. oklahoma will lose to texas and possibly to oklahoma state.

Yeah, I disagree with you,

1.) Stoops and the Offensive Coordinator made the right call. The clock starts when the ball is placed......so it was actually smarter to run the ball, try to gain some yards, and then spike it......rather than try to throw the ball, which eats up clock time, and risk having the ball dropped or intercepted. If the pass was dropped there would have only been enough time to kick a field goal.......from around 50 something yards rather than the 44 yarder they got after the run.

2.) The game was stolen. Plain and Simple. You can't blame a defense for losing a game after they made two very good defensive plays and were completely screwed. It seems you forgot about the blown pass interference call....that set up Oregon inside the 20 after the onside kick fiasco.

3.) It doesn't matter what happend before the onsides kick. Oregon scored, bid deal. OU was still up by 6 with, what?, a minute left? I mean, by this reasoning you could go ahead and say that none of the calls would have mattered if OU had held Oregon scoreless all day. C'mon you're smarter than that.