Which was the worst blown call of the week?
It seems like all season this year the refs have been even worse than normal, such as in the ASU vs Wisconsin game earlier this year. This past week in college football saw three game changing calls go to official review, and on all three, there was not evidence to overturn the call on the field. Which call was the worst by the refs?
Was it the fumble by Texas vs Iowa State that would've clinched the game for the Cyclones?
Was it the questionable spot by the refs in the 4th and 1 for Northwestern that would have kept their drive alive vs OSU?
(Sorry, Youtube is a blocked site at my office so I am unable to embed anything other than pics or gifs here, so here's a sad Kain Colter instead)
Or was it the trap/catch in the Washington vs Stanford game that potentially gave Stanford the win when this was ruled no catch? (again couldn't find this in gif form, only picture).
For my vote, I'm going with the Iowa State vs Texas one as the worst blown call of the week, and I think Iowa State's coach agrees with me given his explosion at the refs Thursday night in his press conference. But I think the Northwestern vs OSU one was also pretty awful, and had to be heartbreaking for those in attendance. I know that I was screaming at the TV on that one.
What do you guys think?
Also, if anyone can embed the videos for #2 and #3 here, I'd appreciate it! I would if youtube weren't blocked at my office.
October 7th, 2013 at 11:04 AM ^
Officials are human beings that make mistakes just like the rest of the human population. Reviews can help to alleviate the mistakes made but ultimately the game is called the best that it can be and there are some things you just cant do about a mistake that might be made.
The officials at the DI level are some of the best in the country and are deserving of being at that level. If you dont like the calls they make then why dont you become an official yourself and work to make the best calls that you can make and stop all the complaining about the officials?
Players and coaches, regardless of how upset they might get in the moment, know that the game is won or lost not by the officials but by the play on the field. Any team that plays their best and makes the best of every opportunity has nothing to worry about when it comes to the referees. If you dont like it then you have every opportunity to become a part of the game yourself and work to make the officiating better so why not try. If you love the game of football what is better than being an official and being a major part of the game you love? Try it and see what you think
October 7th, 2013 at 11:12 AM ^
the game is won or lost not by the officials but by the play on the field
October 7th, 2013 at 11:46 AM ^
I wont dispute that. The picture is a great example of just such a mistake. However those mistakes are not what wins and losses a game for a particular team. It may seem like it at the time but its not the case.
For example: a few weeks back I was working a game that went into overtime with a score of 20-20. The visiting team took the ball in the first overtime and was unable to score a touchdown and settled for a field goal to take a 23-20 lead. The home team, on their possession, brought the ball to the 3 yard line with a 1st and goal. After 3 plays the team had pushed the ball up to the half yard line and with 4th and goal had one last chance to end the game. On 4th down the QB kept the ball and dove into a massive pile of bodies to try and score. Neither of my wing officials had sight of the ball and I, as the umpire, had no sight of the ball. As a crew we all pinched in to the pile and I began to dig for the ball. As I pulled players off and got down to the bottom of the pile I saw the QB with the ball pulled tight to his chest and half his body inside the endzone with the ball clearly inside the endzone. We called a TD for the home team to win the game 26-23 in OT. Its very possible that the QB on his initial push never actually made it into the endzone. Maybe he just wormed his way in at the bottom of the pile after he was already down. Its hard to say. But ultimately we as a crew did the only thing we could do, find the ball and make a determination on the play.
The visiting team wasnt happy and thought we botched the call but there isnt much else for us to do in that situation until we actually see leather. Because of our decision the visiting team lost and you could argue we cost them the game. But what about the fact that they were unable to score a touchdown on their overtime possession? What about all the other opportunities the team had prior to the end of the game to score that would have won the game for them and would have helped them avoid that situation? The visiting team pput themselves in that position to lose, the officials simply did their job in making a tough call. Mistakes are made by officials every day but the players and coaches know the job they have to do and they know that officiating isnt always perfect so all you can do is play your best and make the best of every opportunity given and you should win.
October 7th, 2013 at 11:50 AM ^
In that situation, the defense has to keep fighting even after the whistle.
October 7th, 2013 at 12:44 PM ^
But if you can't distinguish between the call you made in that game and horrifically nihilist mind-blowing rejections of reality, then I don't know what to tell you. The call you describe is NOT why instant replay was made standard.
October 7th, 2013 at 11:14 AM ^
What would you like to talk about today Bighousemike84?
October 7th, 2013 at 11:58 AM ^
If one doesn't like the way the plays are being called, why don't they become coaches and get the Michigan job? That's always a lame argument.
If coaches can be fried for making one bad call that costs them a game, or a player can be raked over the coals for making one bad play that costs them the game, even though there are tons of other plays in the game that could have made a difference, refs can take the same heat. If they can't handle it they should be doing something else.
October 7th, 2013 at 9:45 PM ^
Its a legitimate argument for any situation. How can an armchair QB claim to know how and why his favorite team and QB screwed up and have the answers to fix it? How can any person who has never coached any team at any level have any idea just how demanding a job coaching a team can be? How can any person who has never spent a single snap on the field officiating the sport claim to know how and why an official screwed up?
The only thing here thats lame is some dude on his computer claiming to have all the answers. If you were willing to take a chance and go out on to the field and officiate the game you might have similar sympathy for those in that position. If nothing else, you should have a better perspective on the game and what goes in to each and every play. Until you do you have no ground to stand on and you dont have any idea what could have caused those officials to make the "mistakes" you seem so upset about.
Ultimately, what good does complaining about it even do? What can you gain by bitching about a game that is now 2 days past and cant be changed? Its nothing but a waste of time and very, very lame.
October 8th, 2013 at 4:01 PM ^
unless you've done it is always a bad argument. I can't comment on the job the President is doing, because I've never been the President. I can't say a doctor committed malpractice, because I've never been a doctor. It leaves it only up for discussion anything you have direct experience with in life.
And it's not something you really believe, unless the topic is refrees. Because while you don't post much, you've criticized coaches and ADs without having coached at a major college level or hiring a Division 1 coach:
http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/support-brian-and-hoke#comment-914353
A player without ever having played big time college football:
http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/roundtree-clutch#comment-638204
And athletic department actions without having ever worked in an athletic department:
http://mgoblog.com/content/names-named-heads-should-roll#comment-495115
And so on. It's not something that isn't done by everyone else. There's nothing wrong with it. But to claim you have to have tried to do it yourself before you can really understand the mistakes that are made isn't something you regularly adhere to, except in this case. I mean, what good does complaining about all the above examples do since none of them could be changed at the time you made the statements? Well, it's discussion and analysis; it's what thinking beings do.
October 7th, 2013 at 10:24 PM ^
October 7th, 2013 at 11:20 PM ^
So somehow my argument for the refs is not debating the subject? My argument that officials are human beings who inherently make mistakes is not an argument that I am putting forward against the belief that the officials screwed up? My arguments are the anthithesis of a debate. I am arguing that the officials did the best they could and putting forth evidence for my argument. What the hell are you arguing? Oh thats right, your just agreeing not arguing.
October 7th, 2013 at 11:08 AM ^
I say the TX/IA State game was a bigger blown call.
October 7th, 2013 at 11:13 AM ^
October 7th, 2013 at 11:23 AM ^
The ISU-Texas was such a "bang-bang play" that it would have been impossible to overturn the call, IMO. However, it was a strip/fumble, and the refs were way to quick with the whistle as the UT RB was still moving the pile from what I could tell.
The NW-OSU call that I had issue with was the 3rd down call, I thought it picked up the 1st down. As for the 4th down, Colter botched it when he dropped the snap, and from there is was doomed. Whether he got it or not is impossible to tell.
October 7th, 2013 at 11:25 AM ^
When Ohio State punted and NW had the ball placed on the 1 foot line (right before the Punt was blocked for a TD). The Ohio State defender had his foot on the line when he caught the punt. Should have been reviewed and ball moved to the 20.
October 7th, 2013 at 11:27 AM ^
In college, it doesn't matter where the player's body ends up. All that matters is the ball.
October 7th, 2013 at 11:41 AM ^
Did not realize that.
October 7th, 2013 at 11:31 AM ^
Just terrible. But I would like to write in the non pass interference on Devin Funchess. If those awful/ biased announcers thought it should have been PI, then it really must have been a blown call!!!!
October 7th, 2013 at 11:35 AM ^
That Washington incompletion wasn't even close IMO. It was the correct call.
October 7th, 2013 at 1:44 PM ^
I was called on this morning by a Washington and a Stanford fan to review the play. I don't know if it was a catch or not, but I didn't see anything conclusive so how could you reverse the call.
October 7th, 2013 at 11:43 AM ^
I think it's clear the ISU/Texas game was the blown call.
As for the OSU/NW call, I think they got it right. I do just have two points. First, regarding NW's use of a timeout rather than booth review- earlier in the half the booth did not review a Carlos Hyde touchdown and Meyer was forced to use a timeout.. The booth is not as always fast as we'd like and sometimes a coach is forced to make a decision. It happens.
Second, do not pay attention to the yellow line first down marker when viewing the replays of this play. The first down line is at the 33, but in the replays from behind the yellow line is incorrectly placed at the 34. If you are basing your judgments without utilizing the yellow line, that's fine, but if you assume that he got the first down because he passed the yellow line you would be incorrect.
Was a heck of a ball game this weekend.
October 7th, 2013 at 12:21 PM ^
That stuff is pretty common in college football - seems like every week I watch a game where a team has to burn a TO in order to guarantee a replay from the booth. To me, I was more perplexed by the whole yellow line thing because on TV, it really looked like he got the first down. Having said that, I don't think it's a blown call. Spotting is so judgmental in the first place and the bigger issue was Coulter slipping right at the beginning of the play.
The Texas-Iowa State game takes the cake this week in terms of failed officiating.
October 7th, 2013 at 11:56 AM ^
For sure the Iowa State/Texas call and I don't think it's even close.
The NW/OSU ball spot was completely 50/50. I would not consider it a "blown call", though I do believe the reply booth should have reviewed the spot without NW having to call a timeout. What shocked me the most was that they did not have any camera angle that showed the other side of the field where you would have been able to actually make a judgment either way. I only saw replays from the side opposite the ball (could not see Colter once he ran into the pile) and from behind (could not see where Colter was relative to the field/yard line). It was definitely one of those calls where whatever was called on the field is going to stand because it was not 100% conclusive either way. Still boggles my mind I didn't see another angle than the 2 shown because it seems that every game and every play has at least 3-4 different angles for replay. Anyone else notice that?
in UW/Stanford, I honestly felt the Washington receiver did not catch the ball. I saw it go through his arms and the nose of the ball hit the ground. The ground helped him catch the ball--a "trap" if you will.
October 7th, 2013 at 12:14 PM ^
Didn't anyone else notice the ref on the top of the screen coming down ran in and wasn't even straight running in? His spot fluctuated as he ran in from the sideline by almost two yards. I rewatched this play and the spot over and over and it seems as though he was on the ohst 33 but fluctuated almost all the way down to the ohst 35. How can you run in a drunken-like fashion and still be an official? That was one of the most inaccurate spots I have ever seen. From the back, it looks like The NW QB (Colter, I believe) got the First by about 1.5 yards and then they spot it and he's back a yard? It made no sense, whatsoever.
It disgusts me even more that there was well over 40% Buckeye fans at NW. I know NW doesn't really fill up with a lot of their own fans when we play them... but you could hear ohio chants throughout the 4th quarter and it just disgusted me. I hate this team more than any other team right now; so much so, that I wish someone would beat them just so they are not allowed to go to the BCS NC game. I would rather watch a 1-loss Bama, Oregon, or Clemson than an undefeated prison team.
Beat ohio.
October 7th, 2013 at 12:37 PM ^
Northwestern got absolutely hosed on that 4th & 1 spot, the OSU players pulled him forward.
October 7th, 2013 at 1:08 PM ^
All the calls were really bummers as they ruined what could have been extremely exciting ends to each game. The fumble one seems the most egregious but overturning the Washington one is close. Northwestern was never going to get that spot unfortunately.
October 7th, 2013 at 4:38 PM ^
I am not saying it was for sure a 1st down, but it is funny how they had camera angles for replay from every angle of the field except the sideline that would have rendered the most information about placement.
October 7th, 2013 at 10:17 PM ^
I watched that Iowa State Texas replay over and over again but all I see is the ball being stripped simultaneous with the knee touching the ground. I just don't see that is obviously a blown call. My best guess is that it probably was a strip but there is no way the refs could overturn the call on the field with those replays.
October 7th, 2013 at 10:28 PM ^
A good few frames before the knee goes down you can see a "holy shnikes guys I found a football!" reaction from the guy who stripped it.
October 8th, 2013 at 12:45 AM ^
but I absolutely hated and can not understand the reversal in the Washington game. That does not under any definition meet "indisputable".