FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

The crew, though, was not used to instant replay. The Sun Belt didn't use it this year. And on one, the equipment upstairs malfunctioned (though they didn't tell the crew about it until it was too late for Michigan to get its time out back).

Remember, all replay in college originates from the booth, not on the field.

[formerd3db]

smeds:

I sense that you are making excuses for them .  Even if there was a malfunction, and even if the crew did not use it in the Sun Belt this year (heck, for that matter, most of the other crews at all the other levels didn't use it this year either, and especially in DII and DIII and they did a better job in that same type of situation than did the Alamo crew), the Sun Belt crew should have known instantly that those plays in question deserved to be reviewed.  Certainly, not every and the majority of plays deserve or should be reviewed, however, common sense should dictate easily which ones should.  Those were crucial plays (and although they perhaps may or may not have determined the final outcome pe se - and that could be debatable among all of us).   Nonetheless, my point is again, that they were aware that instant reply was available and in use for the game, and regardless of how soon they were informed of a "malfunction" in the system, they should have stopped the clock immmediately when summoned by the Michigan coaching staff, which the latter did occur immediately. 

[formerd3db]

Addendum:
If those in the booth are responsible for initiating the replay process, then that supports my point even more.  The booth people (of whom I was referring to in other posts on this subject as administrators along with the officials) certainly should have done the same.   Admit it, all of those people blew it on those aspects.

[wally_wabash]

I can't get behind the idea that the Sun Belt crew gets a pass on blowing the replay system because the Sun Belt didn't use it.  To my knowledge, the MIAA crew that did the Stagg Bowl didn't use replay all year either and they seemed to do just fine with it.

I think this speaks to a larger issue that if D-IA is going to use replay, then the use and the rules governing need to be universal amongst all conferences. 

If replay officials are going to be overly picky about when they stop play to get a closer look at an iffy call, then I'd like to see D-IA go to a coach's challenge system like they used in the Mountain West conference.  I've seen a lot of plays this year where a team burns a timeout in order to stop play and get a play reviewed that is supposed to be reviewed automatically.  Those teams don't get their timeouts back and it's unfair to penalize those teams that are being forced to lead these officials around by the nose.  Those timeouts that Michigan had to use were very important and very well could have altered the outcome of the game. 

[Li'l Giant]

I had the pleasure being at that game and I must say the officials stunk. I agree with Wally that despite the lack of a Slum Belt replay they should have been familiar with it.

I rooted for Nebraska the whole game but wanted Michigan to score on that last play just to say I was there for that.

The Alamo Bowl really needs to get a BCS conference crew to do a game between the Big Ten and Big XII.

Despite the poor officiating it was one of the better of the 7 Alamo Bowls I've been to. The best was the 1998 Purdue comeback over Kansas State.

[smedindy]

I am not saying the refs get a pass. You all are inferring things into my words.

I do know the refs cannot instigate a review - the booth must. The refs cannot do anything unless the booth says so. Therefore once the calls on the field is made it must stand until there is a review.

Two timeouts or not, the facts are Michigan choked the game away by itself, period, paragraph.

Oh, BCS conference crew, big whoopde. The refs in the SEC were abysmal this year, and the refs in other major conferences were questionable as well. The small conference officials can do the job. Just say no to more domination by the BCS schools!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Not so fast, Smed.  One of the two 4th quarter TDs came after an incomplete forward pass was ruled a fumble, giving Nebraska a VERY short field.  The huskers also scored a TD in the first half 2 plays after they fumbled, but were not called for it (yet another play which was critical, but not reviewed - the TV replays showed that Nebraska had clearly fumbled and Michigan recovered).  Add in the lack of a pass interference call in the end zone against Nebraska with 4 minutes left (the Huskers took over on downs when it should have been 1st and goal on the 2 for Michigan), and I think it is safe to say that Michigan would have won by 2-3 TDs with honest officiating.

Also, the crew DID have experience with review - they had worked an earlier bowl game.  They just sucked (or perhaps had money down on Nebraska?).  That crew should not even be allowed near a Pop Warner game!

[Li'l Giant]

Oh, BCS conference crew, big whoopde.

There is a huge difference between the the quality of football played in the Sun Belt and the BigTen/BigXII. Huge. Absolutely huge. The Sun Belt crew watched Sun Belt players all year long. Then they stepped on the field and watched BigTen/BigXII players. I think it makes a difference.

I saw two NFL games live this year and that is by far the fastest football I've ever watched. But watching BigTen/BigXII football is close. I doubt the Sun Belt comes close. It's a different game when its that fast.

Obviously there is room for disagreement on whether there should be a BCS crew for BCS teams. But what I can't see disagreement on is that this particular crew stunk.

[jdean]

.. and I think it is safe to say that Michigan would have won by 2-3 TDs with honest officiating.
They just sucked (or perhaps had money down on Nebraska?). 

I could agree that they were inept, incompetent, had a bad night, were out of position, didn't know what they were doing or they just sucked...but dishonest?

[Mr. Ypsi]

.. and I think it is safe to say that Michigan would have won by 2-3 TDs with honest officiating.
They just sucked (or perhaps had money down on Nebraska?). 

I could agree that they were inept, incompetent, had a bad night, were out of position, didn't know what they were doing or they just sucked...but dishonest?

Being SIMPLY incompetent, the bad calls should roughly balance out.  While I admit to being a partisan, if anyone can show that even one-quarter of the KEY bad calls went against Nebraska, I'll withdraw the allegation.  In my view, ALL of the CRITICAL calls went against Michigan.  And that begins from the very beginning of the broadcast (delayed due to BC-BSU) - after Stevie Breaston returned the kickoff 70 yards, the defender gave him a hard shove after he got up (after being already hit out-of-bounds): no flag.  And it continued throughout - the Nebraska fumble in the 2nd quarter which wasn't called (or reviewed) but which TV replays CLEARLY showed was a fumble - they scored two plays later, etc. 

I agree with the posters who have noted that Tyler Eckert should have either cut back to the middle or pitched to Breaston, and the hook-and-ladder (to the the nth degree!) would have scored, but with those refs it probably wouldn't have mattered - they would have belatedly detected holding back on the Michigan 25!  Nebraska did NOT win that game.

[oldguy]

Another instance of poor officiating in the Alamo Bowl dealt with the last possession for Nebraska.  After 3rd down the official set the ball and just stood there for a good 15 to 20 seconds without starting the play clock.  I have no idea why, and the announcers were almost yelling down to the field.  Since Michigan had no T.O.'s, they could only stand there and watch.  20 seconds could have been very big. 

There seemed to be some partisan officiating in that scenario.  It made absolutely no sense.  Its a shame that a great game with 2 storied programs ended that way.  I'm a Buckeye fan, so I have no love loss when Michigan loses, but even I think the Wolverines got hosed.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Thanks, oldguy,

Given the earlier miscues by the officials, Michigan should have been in a position to just take a knee anyway, but, yes, they were screwed on the clock TOO.

I hope I NEVER again see a game so TOTALLY stolen by officials.  I kinda like seeing the PLAYERS determine the outcome, not the zebras!

[jdean]

So lets say all the calls went against Michigan and Nebraska
got the benefit of every doubt. Does it then follow that the stripes had to be dishonest? Partisan or not, that isn't just a  a step but its a leap too far.

[Mr. Ypsi]

So lets say all the calls went against Michigan and Nebraska
got the benefit of every doubt. Does it then follow that the stripes had to be dishonest? Partisan or not, that isn't just a  a step but its a leap too far.

I'm not following your logic.  If ALL calls went against Michigan, yes, I would say that is evidence of dishonesty.  Incompetence alone should be essentially random - i.e., (roughly) equal bad calls against each team.  If calls are not 'randomly' bad, then they are 'biased' (statistics 101) - in this context, biased = dishonest.

(Be careful when you take on a stat prof who is on break and has time to reply!)

[smedindy]

LG - It doesn't make a difference at all. Refs ref the game no matter who is playing. Period. The difference isn't that big between the Sun Belt and the BCS teams.