Wisconsin Just Got Robbed!

[Spence]

There are lots of examples. Ones like what happened to Wisconsin, though, the ones that can and should have been fixed in the moment are the worse. We can all point to missed calls both for and against teams we have a rooting interest in. They thought replay would fix it, but in lots of cases replay officials don't look for overwhelming video evidence, they try to go further and try to interpret what happened. If you can't tell instantly by looking, then the call shouldn't be overturned.

[RazorHawk]

There are lots of examples. Ones like what happened to Wisconsin, though, the ones that can and should have been fixed in the moment are the worse. We can all point to missed calls both for and against teams we have a rooting interest in. They thought replay would fix it, but in lots of cases replay officials don't look for overwhelming video evidence, they try to go further and try to interpret what happened. If you can't tell instantly by looking, then the call shouldn't be overturned.

I don't disagree at all, and I do believe that almost everyone feels that their conference officials are bad. I think it is more a matter of middle aged guys trying to keep up with youngsters and they lack the speed to do this. Also, many rules have become increasingly more dependent on interpretation (targeting, etc.)

I do not think having professional referees, would make much difference either, just add some cost.

I do think when many feel a mistake is made, and they have no dog in the hunt, as the Wisconsin episode, it is usually a pretty big mistake. Of course, many or most do not fully understand the rules, and this includes the professional announcers, and unfortunately, some of the officials.

[Spence]

That is true. There aren't that many big mistakes. I do believe that CFB would have been better off without replay. I don't think it has fixed any more mistakes than it has caused. I do think professional referees would help lots. It would cost benefits which would probably double the cost. It would make it possible for everyone to be on the same page as far as the rules go.

[donovan]

I have never been for instant replay in sports. Its a game. Play sandlot ball where you call your own balls and strikes, fouls, etc....and somehow it gets done because of one basic principle. If you started bickering and fighting over the rules, your mother would send everyone home. So if you wanted to keep playing, just get over it.

I am not suggesting mothers decide...though that may not be the worse idea out there...but I am saying, the refs make the call and get on with it. Trained refs is important. What I see with officials in College Football is not doing the most basic concept in officiating any sport. Get in position. They are always out of position and if you are, you are going to get a lousy call.

And if you don't like the way a conference officiates, don't schedule them.

[RazorHawk]

Football, particularly college football will probably never have professional officials. With only 12 or 13 games, I don't think there is anyway that there could be enough money to have them do nothing else. Not all college football programs make money.

The NFL, unless things have recently changed, does not even have professional officials. There certainly is enough money there, and they do play a few more games. I am not convinced that paying someone more money, and having them do nothing else would change the quality of officiating. I am also sure even if they did require full-time officials and they actually did a better job, fans would still complain about officiating.

[Spence]

No doubt fans will always complain about officials, but that doesn't mean officials are bad.

[warrriorsfan808]

If we're talking bad refereeing, then I've always liked this example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRFOoOUV9Vs

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I guess the poor stat guy on the sideline would have to record that as tackle made by U for Umpire!?!

[Derek]

Hello all.

To Spence: The ref in the video I put up is Jay Stricherz. He is so awful that his name has been immortalized in that a victim of a hideously awful call is referred to as being "Stricherz'd."

To Donovan: It's been a strange couple of years. I endured a serious illness which fortunately passed. I became fed up with the horrible state of the world and seriously considered going full survivalist and disappearing; I went far enough down that road that I sold almost everything I owned while I considered my options. In the end, I decided I still had a few things to prove before TEOTWAWKI and/or WW3 occurs and I just took a very good position with a French company in Houston Texas. I have been appointed as "engineer emeritus," and my task is to mentor their young engineers basically stick my nose into whatever business of theirs that comes my way, then hobnob with their mucky mucks in Paris once a year. I thought I still had some usefulness in me and I find it ironic it took a foreign company to agree. Today is actually my last day in Oregon. I would have liked to meet; perhaps it may yet happen sometime. My oldest daughter is finishing up her studies at Oregon State and she plans to go on to grad school, which I guess means that I get to continue paying child support on her. Whoopie.

Welcome back Fluid!!!!!!