What are some occasions when Michigan was the beneficiary of bad officiating?

Submitted by Blue Knight on
It seems like we have frequently been hurt by bad officiating. However, are there examples of times where we were helped? I'll start, I've always thought Rumeal Robinson wasn't really fouled by Seton Hall, or at the least, it was a very cheap foul.

coldnjl

November 27th, 2016 at 7:12 PM ^

Come on people...this is getting whiny...

There are always missed and wrong calls...with officiating being abysmal throughout all levels of football, could it just be that we are just seeing proof of this instead of some type of secret collusion against us?

coldnjl

November 27th, 2016 at 7:17 PM ^

Yeah, but it goes both ways...

For example...when we played South Carolina in the bowl, we got a first down when it was obvious that the chain was well clear of the football and hence no first down...Ultimately, it didn't matter, but that was the WORST officiating I ever seen...there was nothing objective about the call...it was just wrong and we benefited.

TheDirtyD

November 27th, 2016 at 8:44 PM ^

The big ten officiating crew for the game contained Daniel Capron (lead official), Kevin Schwarzel (back judge), and Bobby Sagers (side judge). See http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/112616aaa.html.

Schwartzel is an Athens, Ohio businessman who refs Big Ten games. He's also a life-long Ohio State fan. Without even taking his fandom into account, he was barred from officiating the 2006 Michigan/osu game simply by being from Ohio. Yet he officiated the game yesterday. http://www.athensnews.com/news/local/local-businessman-has-interesting-…

Sagers is also from Ohio. This year, he was inducted into the OHSAA hall of fame, ceremony in Columbus. http://www.wsaz.com/content/sports/Fifteen-Individuals-Set-to-Enter-OHS…

And Capron--the lead referee--was fired by the big ten in 2002 for poor officiating.
http://www.purdueexponent.org/sports/article_f22a455e-1bc6-504f-957d-87…

So this is the situation. You have a self-pronounced life-long Ohio State fan in the position to make the no-call on Grant Perry's pass interference, and the pass-interference call on Delano Hill--crucial, game-changing calls at the end of the game. You also have an official inducted in the Ohio High School hall of fame--someone who is likely connected with other Ohio higher-ups--likely spotting the ball at the end of the game. (I'm not sure if he actually spotted it, but I'm pretty sure he's one of the guys running in from the sidelines along the yard line that he thinks the ball is on.) Whoever actually spotted the ball knew that, because overtime play starts at the 25 yard line, spotting the ball exactly on the 15 will give OSU a first down. Finally, all of this is reviewed by a lead official whom the big ten fired in 2002 for incompetence.

An OSU victory also was good for the big ten. If Michigan wins, it goes to the big ten championship, where the winner of Michigan and Wisconsin will make the playoffs; but if OSU wins, it sits home, while Wisconsin and Penn State play each other. OSU makes the playoffs, as does the winner of Wisconsin and Penn State. That's double the TV revenue on New Year's Eve for round one--money that Maryland and Rutgers and everyone else who sucks and have contributed nothing to anything get to share.

I'm not going to defame anyone and say that the game was indeed fixed. All I can do is point to inherent biases in some of the officials. And I can highlight Jim Delaney's and the big ten's "motivation" for fixing the game (again, not saying they actually did it without further proof). My hope is that we can learn from this experience and create a better process for selecting officials in the future.

lilpenny1316

November 27th, 2016 at 7:13 PM ^

Two fumble calls that the refs screwed up were the reason we won that game.  One fumble, the Illinois RB recovered his fumble but the refs said Michigan recovered.  Then we actually fumbled going in to score and the refs said A-Train was down.

 

Chork

November 27th, 2016 at 7:14 PM ^

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LSAClassOf2000

November 27th, 2016 at 7:29 PM ^

That's something you'd have to lobby Brian and Seth about.

I honestly agree with you from a mod standpoint, and to be honest, I don't know why the threshhold is so low unless it is to encourage people to test their MGoWings once they get the minimum amount. 

It does make cleaning up a bit of a chore, but for now....well....

KC Wolve

November 27th, 2016 at 7:39 PM ^

Yes, it is bizarre that people consistently feel the need to start new threads just to voice an opinion on a topic that has been beaten to death in other threads. I have no idea how many points I have and I'm sure I'd be above any new threshold, but I give no fucks. I'm pretty sure I've started maybe 2 threads in the however many years I've been on here.




Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Blue Knight

November 27th, 2016 at 7:50 PM ^

that it would be fair to bring up times we benefited. It's impossible to be objective, because we love the team so much.

I can appreciate the work of the moderators, so raise the threshold if it makes the job easier. I stand by the topic of my post, FWIW.

ZooWolverine

November 27th, 2016 at 7:19 PM ^

That was the first one that came to mind, simply because it was the most ridiculous I've ever seen. They called him back over to look again. Also ridiculous, the review against Michigan State when we (I think Brandon Minor?) got a touchdown for catching a ball and hitting the pylon with his foot on the way down. After video review, no less.

Gucci Mane

November 28th, 2016 at 4:01 AM ^

I always thought that was a terrible call (and I believe is the reason Clowney almost murdered Smith) but looking at the picture it might have actually been a first down. The camera angle is way behing the ball, it looks very close.

fksljj

November 27th, 2016 at 7:22 PM ^

One off the top of my head was back when A-Train was our rb. I think it was either against either Illinois or Northwestern. Illinois/NW were driving, and the rb fumbled the ball. Upon closer review the ground had caused the fumble and it should have stayed with them. Keep in mind this was before the days where they reviewed every damn play and the game wasn't 5 hours long. So we get the ball back, and A-Train fumbles. They rule him down. Replay shows clearly it was a fumble. Michigan goes on to win.

 

however, with that being said, yesterday's game was still corrupt because the bad calls were happening the entire game, from the get-go.  Plus they're all ohio born and self professed butt-guy fans. One of which was fired which is why I don't understand why he is back in the officiating industry.

 

 

edit- looks like somebody beat me to it. lol

SFBlue

November 27th, 2016 at 7:22 PM ^

Penn State home game in like 2002. Badly blown fumble call.



That is all that comes to mind. This year's Ohio game is the only that I can recall would have made a difference in the outcome. I think all of the calls were judgment calls rather than clear error; it just happens that there were many and all went against Michigan.

enlightenedbum

November 27th, 2016 at 7:23 PM ^

There was the TD we got in the Rodriguez era where a WR hit the pylon with his foot, they got it right on the field and then incorrectly reversed on replay.  Home game, think it was Hemingway, couldn't tell you who the opponent was.  Probably Northwestern.  Who like 90% of pro-Michigan bad officiating happens against.

Ty Butterfield

November 27th, 2016 at 7:24 PM ^

The TD against Staee in 2008 but Michigan ended up losing the game anyway. The Illinois game in 2000, I think, is the only one I can think of off the top of my head that really turned the game in Michigan's favor and directly led to a win for Michigan.

mi93

November 27th, 2016 at 11:14 PM ^

I think Brian already does an incredible job of this within the UFRs.  I've come to value his objectivity in UFR in making me a little more rational post-game.  Most games have puts and takes and he calls them out - chances are we got away with a grab or two in The Game.  So that means, all the more, when Brian says it was an inside job, I believe him.

Sadly, I'm expecting that this week.