Potential referee implication for remaining games
Not to get too tinfoil hat here, but isn’t there a legit chance that the same conference that is attacking their largest member is also going to do so through referees?
I don’t think it’s any secret that since Harbaugh started here the B1G refereeing has been objectively in the favor of opponents. Could it be bad luck or a coordinated effort, no way to know. But if it has been coordinated in the past, and the B1G’s entire narrative is based around the previous games being dominant due to the sign stealing; if UM runs away with this game, that whole narrative dies. To me, the scum in the B1G have to sway the outcome of this game, and what better tool than the refereeing.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:00 AM ^
B1G refs have always represented the height of competence and professionalism, so it would be truly shocking if they suddenly started to decide games with poor calls.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:01 AM ^
Not sure if serious gif
November 11th, 2023 at 11:07 AM ^
It's too opposite of the truth to justify uncertainty.
Sometimes you just don't need the /s
November 11th, 2023 at 11:02 AM ^
Incompetence yes. Criminal fraud - probably not.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:09 AM ^
I have seen so calls come very close to it.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:15 AM ^
Corum blitz pickup says Hi.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:20 AM ^
It's actually possible to have both! We just saw this with Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX. Arguably a lot of securities fraud would fall into that camp: companies claim in official filings that they're competent at X, but actually they're incompetent at X.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:00 AM ^
A distinct possibility and it doesn't even have to neccassarily be Big Ten coordinated. The officials are human and if they have only been reading or seeing things from certain sources they themselves might have a negative opinion of UM. Last weeks game besides the idiotic Corum call was actually pretty fair but that is a whole different ballgame when you have a home night crowd to keep the officials in check.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:00 AM ^
Stop it - you are now talking about fraud and maybe RICO.
Refs were against us in the 2016 Game and a few other unfortunate moments (Sparty 2021) but I haven’t noticed anything in the last couple of seasons. Whistles against OSU the last two years have been fine.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:02 AM ^
You are just assuming the only possibility of it happening is the Big Ten flat out directing it and not the scenario of human beings listening to certain things now having a negative bias or opinion of UM.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:27 AM ^
The OP's "coordinated effort" comment is likely what he was referring to. That seems so farfetched as to be unrealistic.
This is truly tin foil hat territory we're in now.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:01 AM ^
Look at Michigans penalties now and then compare over the next 3 games. If there is a significant uptick…well…
November 11th, 2023 at 11:01 AM ^
The conference has, thus far, acted like they don’t want to hurt the players. And have said all of this is to prevent erosion of the integrity of the game. If they do something to harm either, then the lawsuits become 1) easy and 2) very expensive. So I doubt it.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:13 AM ^
Billions not millions due to brand degradation.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:18 AM ^
If the conference meant what they said about having the other teams signs as a threat to player safety, Ryan Day, Greg Schiano, and Ryan Walters would all be suspended today as well.
The fact that that isn't the case tells you all you need to know about how much the conference gives a shit about player safety.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:22 AM ^
Jeff Brohm coached Purdue last year. Walters was the DC for Illinois.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:46 AM ^
Under the sportsmanship clause, you are penalizing the INSTITUTION, not the head coach, remember?
November 11th, 2023 at 11:01 AM ^
Of course they will. They are truly out to fuck us.
November 11th, 2023 at 1:45 PM ^
He's (Li'l Titti) compromised fer chrissake! Why else would you go all in with nothing uncommon in the league as evidence in the face of countervailing evidence that shows the normalcy league wide of the charge and accusation?. Turn loose the lawyers and their investigative associates.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:02 AM ^
Except for the previous B1G games this season we are the least penalized team, so…
But, things HAVE changed. Will be interesting to see what happens.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:15 AM ^
Wasn't Michigan one of, if not, the least penalized teams in the Big Ten, while OSU was the most in 2016? How'd that work out?
November 11th, 2023 at 11:45 AM ^
The good news is the game is in Ann Arbor this year.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:02 AM ^
I do reflexively fear this because of 2015 MSU and 2016 OSU, but on the other hand if Harbaugh is actually serving the suspension it does not seem as likely the conference would try to interfere on the field as well. Who knows though. I won't be surprised to see an All PI offense work at times for Penn State today, for example.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:02 AM ^
Don't think this required its own thread, but of course.
Why the B1G wants to wreck its biggest chance since 2015 to win the NC perplexes me. They'll have time to sort that for themselves going forward.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:03 AM ^
I’m still in shock. I’m just as annoyed w moore acting as head coach today. We clearly don’t have a coaching mismatch like we usually do with Franklin. And that’ll hurt us. Sorry I’m being a bitch, but I don’t see us winning this game.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:32 AM ^
I agree, but only with the first half of your last sentence.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:04 AM ^
I was going to post the same idea. If we see more holding calls - especially with JJ out of the pocket with a wide open receiver - you’ll know the fix is in.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:13 AM ^
Also calls that extend PSU drives and stall UofM drives.
Penalties/yards never tell the whole story as all penalties are not created equal.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:05 AM ^
The Big Ten's gotten its pound of flesh (Harbaugh suspended) so I don't see what's in it for them to also screw us over in refereeing. At a minimum, they have to realize that alienating one of their most valuable programs isn't in their best interests.
That said, I did wonder about this if the TRO had been granted today and Harbaugh on the sidelines.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:14 AM ^
They are violating their own rules to go after us and have shown bad faith from the start. Why stop now?
November 11th, 2023 at 11:26 AM ^
Because there's much more for them to lose at this point than there is to gain. They thought we were going to be a pushover and accept it. They did not expect us to consider leaving (which the Regents are discussing, per reports).
November 11th, 2023 at 11:18 AM ^
jmblue, but the B1G DID alienate their most valuable program - over their best interests!
November 11th, 2023 at 11:22 AM ^
Yeah, but how far do they want to go with that? Our Regents have discussed leaving the conference. If I'm the Big Ten, that would scare the dickens out of me.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:05 AM ^
I was worried about this last week, but the refs were fine outside outside of two obvious missed calls both ways. The hold on Corum (egregiously bad) and Michigan running into the kicker in the first half (which would have given Purdue a first down).
November 11th, 2023 at 11:07 AM ^
That was a home night game that the officials would have had to deal with the fury of the home fans if they were one sided. I don't think that applies to today's game.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:15 AM ^
Also a blowout that their calls wouldn't make an ounce of difference in the outcome.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:40 AM ^
Don't think it was running into the kicker. Ball trajectory changed after it passed CJ's wrist.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:06 AM ^
Aren't we one of the least penalized teams in the country so far? If not the least? The fact that that has stood since this "story" became a thing is a good sign. And if there's a significant uptick in our penalties, it'll be glaringly obvious due to our low penalty rate beforehand.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:14 AM ^
We have also not played a game where the score was within 3 touchdowns where a ref can impact a game. That changes now. (well hopefully we win by 3 TDs vs PSU Maryland OSU but in theory...)
November 11th, 2023 at 11:07 AM ^
I have thought this too. But not sure referees are willing to risk their career over Pettiti
November 11th, 2023 at 11:07 AM ^
More likely to see them just ignore PSU penalties like holding and DPI than see them make bad calls against us.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:11 AM ^
I mean sure, but that is actually the problem because if they did it that way it wouldn't be as glaringly obvious but still have a significant impact.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:21 AM ^
I never claimed it wouldn't be a problem. Just commenting on the means the refs could use to screw us.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:11 AM ^
Been saying this for days.
There is zero chance the institution currently in a legal battle with Michigan will also officiate fairly.
I'm more convinced than ever that the B1G explicitly told the officials to tilt the field in 2016.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:14 AM ^
UM is amongst the least penalized teams in the nation. If it starts changing next 3 games you have your answer. But I am not going to tin foil until evidence starts to appear.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:14 AM ^
Michigan is one of the least penalized teams in the country. If there is a massive uptick in penalties today and it’s not because of fundamental breakdowns, we’ll probably know why.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:14 AM ^
I don't think that this is entirely off the wall, but I'm not sure what Michigan can do right now other than play the game today.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:14 AM ^
A referee job is a non-secure, transient job that is done at pleasure of the Big Ten conference. As a ref, you have to make many 50/50 calls per game. If you are a ref in this game, it is very clear where your employer wants you to come down on these calls. That shadow follows you around, you can't completely ignore it.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:21 AM ^
I’m fully expect that every call goes against us.