November 20th, 2018 at 12:58 PM ^
Is that Dilbert's boss?
November 20th, 2018 at 1:10 PM ^
Yes, if you believe the Jim Delaney/Big Ten conspiracy theory related to refereeing, they will want the team most likely to get into the CFP to win. If that IS the case here, Michigan will get the benefit of the calls on Saturday. If that theory isn't valid, you'll see the same incompetent, biased home field calls in OSU's favor.
November 20th, 2018 at 1:26 PM ^
I believe Delaney's greed is bigger than his bias against Michigan. So that crew is going to get a little pre-game pep talk about league economics.
November 20th, 2018 at 12:45 PM ^
There's no reason to think you're going to get the benefit of the doubt on close calls when you play on the road. That applies to any game.
November 20th, 2018 at 2:18 PM ^
The bad officiating in 2016 had nothing to do with close calls, at least for most of the game. Uncalled blatant pass interference. Uncalled blatant holding and blocks in the back. Uncalled blatant hit after the end of the play. That's not the sort of thing that you see in "any game." We're hoping for more of the "any game" sort of officiating than the 2016 game officiating.
November 21st, 2018 at 12:00 AM ^
They made sure the officiating was effective too. Calls made against Michigan were on 3rd down and extended OSU drives. Obvious calls on 3rd down that would have extended Michigan drives were “missed.”
November 20th, 2018 at 12:46 PM ^
Just win the damn game. Don't need the officials help if you're up 28 at halftime
November 20th, 2018 at 12:58 PM ^
Totally agree. If Michigan plays up to their potential, this game shouldn't be close enough for officiating shenanigans to matter.
November 20th, 2018 at 12:47 PM ^
It’s in the best interest of the Big we win. First rewarding a program for the terrible off season they had as the face of the Big 10 is dumb and second that Purdue loss will kill them vs Oklahoma for a playoff spot. So if Jim doesn’t want 6 million dollars for the conference he can stick with the ref show...
November 20th, 2018 at 1:07 PM ^
I'm definitely in the camp that believes we are the favoured side here. The Iowa loss in 2016 swung that dramatically against us, in this case, the Purdue L is an anchor around OSU's neck this time.
It's not a mandate from the BIG offices, its just and understanding of do whats best for the conference and you will continue to be rewarded.
I think the most egregious case of this was back in the 2009 Big XII title game. With Nebraska already declared as leaving the conference, and Texas in position to go the the BCS championship they simply couldn't move the ball on SUH led Nebraska, a few phantom penalties and an extra second at the end of the game allowed Texas to kick the game winning field goal. This got Texas into the BCS title game ensuring they got their shit packed in by Alabama.
I would just say follow the expected value in dollars if you want to guess what way the refs might be blowing.
November 20th, 2018 at 2:01 PM ^
Yea if there is any conspiracy it will be for us.
Also my thinking has always been that the refs didn't want to re-spot the ball correctly at the end of the 2016 game for fear of riot / their personal safety.
.gif)
November 20th, 2018 at 12:47 PM ^
Yes, there's a grand conspiracy against Michigan that's being orchestrated by Delaney and the Aliens that control the government. Wear tin foil hats Saturday to make sure their mind control rays don't get you
November 20th, 2018 at 12:56 PM ^
I understand that it is not cool to blame the refs but could you watch The Game in 2016 and believe that the refs were not purposefully aiding Ohio State? Literally everybody thinks that, even non-Michigan fans.
It may be tin foil hat stuff to suggest that the BIG is orchestrating some type of anti-Michigan ref show, but what purpose does is serve to deny something as patently obvious as what transpired in that game? That game in 2016 was not called fairly by the officials and if it had been Michigan would have won. It is not very often that I think you can say that as clean cut about a particular game but it is true as to that game.
November 20th, 2018 at 1:26 PM ^
Occam's razor would suggest that the more likely thing going on is a combination of incompetence on the officials part and people's subconscious desire to be people pleasing which leads to refs being influenced by the home crowd
Did the refs suck? Yes. Do I think there was a collective effort by the officiating crew to 'purposefully aid Ohio State'? I very much doubt it
November 20th, 2018 at 1:33 PM ^
Then you weren't watching close enough. As I discuss below a little bit below, even in a situation like that, obvious calls are still made. A defensive back pulling a wide receiver to the ground right in front of an official is called. ALL DAY holding calls are still made. There isn't a player on OSU's team aside from the ball carrier who wasn't holding on the play that set up the Barrett "first down." Grant Perry was grabbed by the shoulder literally two feet in front of the official in OT, a much more egregious infraction than what Delano Hill was called for that lead to OSU's game tying field goal.
You can tell me that it is very, very unusual for refs to intentionally influence a game one way or another. I agree with you. But I do not believe for a second that the ref job in 16 was anything but 100% intentional.
November 20th, 2018 at 2:01 PM ^
Refs aren't supposed to be smiling ear to ear while watching someone catch the ball in the endzone.
Anybody got that gif?
November 20th, 2018 at 2:24 PM ^
Michigan without a doubt was consistently screwed in 2016 by the refs. But I agree with you it wasnt purposeful. It was an underlying bias that led them to see what they wanted to see. And the way the game was called was predictable.
November 20th, 2018 at 2:46 PM ^
Is there any difference?
November 20th, 2018 at 1:32 PM ^
You sir, literally took the words out of my mouth. Well said.
November 20th, 2018 at 12:48 PM ^
Actually if you subscribe to the theory that the league, and be default it's officials, benefit when one the B1G teams reaches the final four, then we should get more than "fair" officiating on Saturday.
We're the only real shot the conference has to put somebody into the national spotlight - it would be nice for US to be on the receiving end of some 50-50 judgement calls for a change.
November 20th, 2018 at 12:50 PM ^
Are you done daydreaming so we can all get back to our sad reality?
November 20th, 2018 at 1:06 PM ^
I was going to make this same comment. Does the B1G want to be left out 2 years in a row? The B1G hasn't scored a point in the playoffs since the inaugural 2014-15 season. OSU would need a ton of help to make it at this point.
November 20th, 2018 at 1:09 PM ^
November 20th, 2018 at 12:49 PM ^
False choice. First of all, the idea that the conference administration would directly intervene in officiating to favor a team in this team is absurd. Second, it is quite possible for officiating to be unfair even without malicious intent.
It is quite possible that the officials believe they want to call an even, fair game, and due to incompetence, subconscious bias, and home crowd influence, treat us unfairly anyway.
That is, in fact, the most likely scenario.
November 20th, 2018 at 12:52 PM ^
Yeahhhh....after 2016 I no longer believe in the refs' desire to be fair. There's no possible way you miss THAT many PI calls against OSU but make every single one against UM.
November 20th, 2018 at 1:01 PM ^
No man. In 2016, the refs intentionally screwed Michigan. You can have your argument with literally about any other game in history where the refs have been bad. They had malicious intent in 2016. Urban Meyer was basically in the huddle with his players for the entire second half. He was literally on the field of play with his players between plays. Harbaugh got an unsportsmanlike penalty for throwing a play sheet that did not come anywhere close to the playing field. You may be too close to the situation to see it clearly. The refs in 2016 wanted OSU to win the game and did everything in their power to ensure that outcome.
November 20th, 2018 at 1:14 PM ^
Stephen:
Incompetence evens out over the course of a game. Officials will make as many bad calls for team A as they do team B. John Oneil, IMO, is incompetent and I dont see him influencing the game towards one side or the other. He just sucks.
Subconscious bias exists and is real. The 2016 game is "exhibit A" in having a group of officials who go into the game with a pro-OSU mindset given their home life and past history. And the league office selected those officials....I wonder why?
Home crowd influence is also real but extends everywhere. Officials are human and would rather make people happy than unhappy. So when presented with a 50-50 call they tend to err on the side of the call that makes the feedback loop (home crowd) the happiest. Over the course of a game though if you lose every 50-50 call it's gonna look a lot like one team is getting greased.
For the record I'm not implying the league is trying to "fix" the game. I'm just saying if there were to be outside pressure on having calls go in a certain direction (the premise of this post) then we would likely be the beneficiary of that influence.
November 20th, 2018 at 1:27 PM ^
I don't even think that crew was chosen for that reason. I just think they happened to be picked and it was incredibly shitty luck that they were.
November 20th, 2018 at 1:25 PM ^
Woodie Dixon of the PAC 12 just called in to overturn your opinion.
Edit: To say that this kind of thing is unlikely to happen at this level is absurd and completely ignores actual events.
November 20th, 2018 at 1:33 PM ^
You still think this even after Woodie Dixon, Pac 12 head of football, called in to the review booth to tell them how to rule on a play? The dude's a lawyer, not a trained official, and he's affecting the outcome of games. It happens everywhere.
November 20th, 2018 at 12:49 PM ^
Of course not. Beat OSU's ass and leave no room for officiating folly.
November 20th, 2018 at 12:50 PM ^
Depending on the fix, I'd expect it to be one sided our way or theirs.
November 20th, 2018 at 12:51 PM ^
No so don't let the game come down to a 4th and 2 and then we bitch about the officiating.
November 20th, 2018 at 12:51 PM ^
The best antidote for terrible reffing is to win with character and win with cruelty. Pre-complaining about the refs is a very Frames thing to do.
November 20th, 2018 at 12:51 PM ^
If a B1G team is to get in, the calls need to NOT be biased toward osu as it was in 2016. I think it will be very difficult for osu to get in as the B1G champ in most scenarios.
November 20th, 2018 at 12:53 PM ^
Considering that Ohio state averages zero penalties a game, and play flawlessly and both sides of the line, I think we know where the refs mentality will be.
November 20th, 2018 at 12:53 PM ^
No...had OSU lost to Maryland, yes. An OSU win might allow Delany's favorite team to get back into the playoffs.
November 20th, 2018 at 12:54 PM ^
I say yes. The B1G knows their best chance for a playoff appearance is Michigan. Will there be bias favoring Michigan? NO! But it will be fair. These people who say OSU still has a chance are correct. A VERY small chance. The playoff committee will look at OSU getting blown out at Purdue and 51 pts to Maryland and just say no. If Clemson, Alabama or even Notre Dame have one loss they would be ahead of OSU.
November 20th, 2018 at 12:54 PM ^
do you think the market will keep going down or go up instead?
ill hang up and listen
November 20th, 2018 at 12:55 PM ^
For all your conspiracy theorists, I feel like IF the Big Ten was trying to set one team up to win, they'd want Michigan to win. Michigan is the Big Tens best chance to be represented in the playoffs, and Urban Meyer is a terrible look for the conference so they may want him out.
November 20th, 2018 at 12:57 PM ^
is this by the same author of the 'overconfident vs. ohio' thread? or maybe his/her close friend?
do you think 'they' will call each other names? (or maybe they'll pick on me?)
November 20th, 2018 at 12:57 PM ^
What do you think.....
November 20th, 2018 at 1:30 PM ^
That should have been a reason for suspension
November 20th, 2018 at 12:57 PM ^
negatory
November 20th, 2018 at 12:59 PM ^
No idea. I just hope Michigan doesn't put itself in a position where if they do get hosed on certain calls, that they don't affect the outcome of the game.
Whether you believe the refs were intentionally out to get Michigan or not, the refs didn't cause Speight to throw two picks (one for a pick six), and fumble at OSU's one-yard line. They didn't cause OSU to get in 3rd and long in double OT and allow Curtis Samuel to scramble 10-15 yards backwards before managing to outmaneuver our entire defense and get all the way down to make it 4th and 1.
Michigan has no one to blame but itself for those particular situations. The team put itself in a position where those calls affected the outcome of the game. Take back any one of those mistakes, and we're not having this conversation.
November 20th, 2018 at 1:24 PM ^
Other people have the same perspective as me. I'm actually shocked.
November 20th, 2018 at 1:36 PM ^
But the refs did miss the face mask against the offense on Samuel's scramble, so there's that.