Goal Line Fumble? : Mississippi State vs Florida

No, I am not deliberately picking on the SEC officials, but damn they sure are bringing a lot of attention to themselves.

This Monday after the loss on Saturday to the Gators, head coach Dan Mullen for Mississippi State, decided he would take it upon himself to call out these officials.

I don't have conclusive video evidence that this was the wrong call, so I wont sway either way. But the fact that we have yet another call in a marquee SEC game that benefits the better team late in the game might put you on Mullen's side of the fence.

The game was 16-13 and Florida is driving. They eventually score and make it 23-13. A score that no one thought would be as close as it was. Mississippi State was pushing the defending National Champions to their limits.

On the Bulldogs next drive, a pass is batted up into the air and intercepted by Dustin Doe, a linebacker for Florida. As he is heading towards the end zone, he begins to "high-step" in celebration, when the ball is suddenly smacked from his hand.

Is he over the goal line already? Or did he fumble prior to crossing it making it a touch back and Mississippi State's ball?

You make the call:

(NOTE: Scan to the 3:40 mark to see the exact moment. The person who edited the video cuts away right at the moment of the ball being slapped. He obviously is a Florida fan, so I guess I don't blame him for doing so. )



Here is another video that is just highlights from the game. The interception is included, but it is still hard to tell whether or not the ball crosses the goal line before being fumbled:




Now although this isn't the clearest of calls. Dan Mullen shared his anger with the media this Monday and had this to say about the call:

"To me, I'm going to find out who that video replay was. I've seen it over and over, views of the ball being out of his hand before he crossed the goal line. That's twice that a SEC replay official - I don't know why we even have replay right now in the Southeastern Conference if they are not going to utilize it. That's twice that they've blown calls on the replay with our games resulting in big plays and I think that's unexcusable for that official. I mean, I hope he is severely punished, if (he) ever works another SEC game again, because I think it is completely unacceptable.

"I can understand making a bad call in a live speed on a game like the offsides call. There's no excuse for a guy that has the amount of time to replay the video to make sure they get the call right. That's why we do instant replay. And I think it's embarrassing that they blew that call. I've seen the still shots with the ball out of his hand. So I don't think that's acceptable on a guy that is not watching it in live speed, has the ability to watch all the different angles."

I hear you loud and clear Mr. Mullen. Loud and clear.



http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/10/25/mullen-its-embarrassing-that-they-blew-that-call/

SEC Suspension: FLA vs ARK

Well, we all saw the video. We all heard the story. Now comes the solution:

SEC suspends the crew of officials that called both the Flordia-Arkansas and LSU-Georgia game that ended in controversy.

"A series of calls that have occurred during the last several weeks have not been to the standard that we expect from our officiating crews. I believe our officiating program is the best in the country; however, there are times when these actions must be taken." - SEC commissioner Mike Slive

The crew will be sidelined from calling games until Nov 14th. This leaves this crew available for the week in which #2 Florida takes on #23 South Carolina. If this same crew gets that game, we will more than likely have some issues.

There is already a ton of speculation that SEC officials are being told to help their marquee teams survive. Giving these officials who have proved that they are incapable of calling close games the job in Carolina, will ultimately prove that accusation.

So does this suspension grant Arkansas victory? No.

But because calls like these are continuing to be made it's hard to argue the integrity of the game. These are college kids fighting for nothing more than a win every week, not professionals. Yet officials continue interrupt the flow and outcomes of these games like the mob has their whole family in a guillotine.

Unbelievable.

ALCS Game 4: Yankees vs Angels Blown Calls

What if I told you that in the picture above the runner was called "safe" in last nights ALCS game 4?

Well it was.

I am no where near a being called a big baseball fan. I can watch it and tolerate it depending on who is playing and what else is on TV at the moment.

However, the fact that its 2009 and the MLB doesn't want to implement Instant Replay to a further degree is just ridiculous.

The time it takes for a manager to come out and argue with the refs could be used to review the tape. Instead, they argue and get no where.

Baseball is by far the most traditional sport there is. However, its traditionalistic values are somewhat killing the sport. They say "using replay will disrupt the flow of the game".

And having managers go and argue with umpires for 6 minutes doesn't? When actually it would probably take about 2 minutes to watch the replay and get the call right.

If anything instant replay would disrupt the flow of football or basketball more than baseball. Baseball is the slowest sport next to golf. You have breaks in between each inning, a 7th inning stretch, you stop play every time you switch pitchers and you argue with umpires for an allotted amount of time to get absolutely no where. Its a damn joke.

With that being said, watch this video from game 4 of the ALCS last night and try and tell me the MLB doesn't need a further implementation of Instant Replay:




Here is Tim McClelland (umpire who made the calls) comments after the game:



Unbelievable.

Sure the Angels lost 10-1 but you have to admit those calls were 100% wrong. Either get better umpires or get better instant replay.

Baseball is getting down right ridiculous.

Review The Tape: ALA vs SC

Can we go one day without some sort of SEC controversy?

I guess not.

Apparently after reviewing the game tape on Monday, Steve Spurrier found something that may be in interest of SEC officials:

"I thought you just had to put it on the ground. But they had a little piece of white tape or something, and I looked at it on tape and I said, 'What's that little piece of white there?'. Then after the guy kicked it he grabbed it and put it back in his pocket," Spurrier said.

ESPN.com broke this story earlier today and also reported that the game tape has been sent in for investigation. If it turns out to be the case, then Alabama did in fact cheat. Here are the rules on using a 'marker' to elevate or help set the ball:

Rule 6-3; Article 10; subsection d -

"Any device or material used to mark the spot of a scrimmage place kick or elevate the ball makes the kick illegal. The kick is an "illegal kick" penalty and is set five yards from the spot of the foul."

At the 3:00 minute mark of the following video, Alabama lines up for their last extra point. Watch the kicker as he picks something up off the field after the kick. There is definitely something going on here:

Obviously, this isn't that big of an infraction. It won't deem the game played last Saturday a win for the GameCocks or even add an asterisks next to it.

However this is just more and more evidence that SEC officials are playing parts in games of high magnitude.

You had the LSU-Georgia game end in controversy. Florida-Arkansas ended in controversy. Now we have Alabama-South Carolina.

The only question left... Who's next?


http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4580985

SEC Strikes Again: FLA vs ARK

ESPN.com is reporting that the SEC is ready to apologize for its officials mistakes once again.

The personal foul called against Arkansas that led to a touchdown for Florida was sent in for SEC official review. They issued a statement afterwards:

"there was no evidence on the video to support the personal foul penalty."

Shocking.

These were also the same officials that called the Georgia-LSU game that ended in a controversy over the same exact penalty.

This is either a really bad case of irony or these refs are just too quick to throw that flag for very minor situations. You have to give these kids some leeway to celebrate. With the amount of emotion and intensity there is in these college games, how can you blame them for getting excited? I can barely control myself and I'm just watching it.

How many times are these refs going to do this before there is some sort of punishment? They are obviously effecting games if an apology is needed after every controversial game.

Unbelievable.


http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=4577932&type=story

Florida vs Arkansas: Personal Foul?

Arkansas has the lead late in the 4th quarter at the Swamp. Florida is on their heels.

The defense trying to get a stop and hold the Gators to a field goal. Then this happens:



Unbelievable.

Whats the difference between what Tebow does after he makes a play and what that guy just did? What could he have honestly said that was so bad it deserved that call late in the game?

And again, whats the difference in what guys say back and forth at each other throughout the game and what he may have said did right there?

Nothing, thats what.

Florida ended up winning by a field goal. There were plenty of calls that I can debate that happened in this game alone. But this one was by far the worst of the night.

Although Razorback nation may argue it was this pass interference call:



Regardless, the Razorbacks lost. Id say this is pretty suspicious.

Browns vs Steelers: First Down?

I didn't get to see this game.

No, unfortunately CBS thought it would be funny to make us watch the Titans-Patriots game instead.

However, after seeing this highlight... I knew I had some reporting to do. Let me set up the scenario for you:

Steelers go for it on 4th and 1 late in the 2nd quarter and Big Ben sneaks it up the middle. This play could lead to a possible swing in momentum or better yet, possible points for the Browns. If Ben makes the first down, Steelers can make a field goal and go up 10 at the half.

Put on your Officiating Cap and make the call yourself:



Unbelievable. First down? Really?

There is a clear distance in between where the ball is and where the marker is set. Id say that is about 3 inches of space. The fact that the ref didn't see that really has to make you wonder what he is even doing out there.

His name is Walt Anderson. After the game, he was asked about the call:

Question: Why it was a first down
Walt Anderson: "The ball has to penetrate the plane of the stake. When we set the ball up ready to measure and we bring the chains out, the chains are set beside the football, they're not put down on top of the football. So I get on the side and I'm looking straight in at that angle. So when the stakes go down I'm sighting in between the nose of the football and the stake. So if the nose of the ball touches the stake then it's a first down. It's kind of like a football touching the plane of the goal line. But we don't actually put the stake up against the nose of the ball because of the way the ball is shaped. The chains and the stake are laid beside...so it kind of depends on the angle you might be looking at it from."

Question: Picture showed ball short of the stick
Walt Anderson: "It depends on which angle you might be looking. I'm looking from straight on so I guess it's conceivable that's why I don't get it back at an angle because it can be deceptive because there's a little bit of a distance probably in the neighborhood of five or six inches between the actual point of the football and where the stake actually sets on the ground. If you shot at an angle maybe from back behind the ball it might look like it's short. If you shot at angle the other side, it might actually look like it's further in advance of the stake then what it actually."

Reading that first response left me scratching my head. It makes absolutely no sense what so ever. You can tell he was caught on the spot, probably nervous, and had to stick by his call no matter what because that is what he is paid to do. Was Walt Anderson about to pull an Ed Hochuli and fess up?

Question: Where he was measuring the nose of the ball was at the stake?
Walt Anderson: "It touched the plane of the stake because that's what I'm looking at."

Question: The correct call was made and you stand by it?
Walt Anderson: "Yes"

Guess not.

Hey Walt, people make mistakes. Its normal. But don't lie to everyone and ignore the fact that you made the wrong call. Don't ramble on and belittle everyone by pretending we didn't understand.

Steelers eventually won 27-14. Making this call late in a closer scoring game would really have raised some questions. But it will be pushed to side just like all the other bad calls throughout games that no one remembers.

Makes you wonder if those little calls actually might make difference after all...

NBA Rule Change: Traveling

This morning I woke up, turned on SportsCenter and hear that the NBA has made a rule change. Every year a bunch of little things in the rules are changed or experimented with to help make the game the best it can be.

So what do they do? What is the most missed call in the NBA?

Traveling.

In college, you never see a kid get away with taking 3 steps after he picks up the dribble. Refs call it every time in the NCAA.

In the NBA, it was never called. You weren't allowed to take 3 steps but everyone did and would hardly get a whistle blown.

Well now, you are legally allowed to take that extra step.

Great, now are we going to start seeing 4 steps being taken and no whistle? I mean, we saw it when the rule was 2 steps... Why wouldn't we see the same sort of evolution for 3 steps? At that point lets just get rid of the dribble all together. No one will need it.

And doesn't this mean that the NBA is pretty much acknowledging that they weren't following the rules in the first place? Sure they could've just changed the rule to what ever they want, they are the NBA.

But it makes you wonder if the refs are told what to call and what not to call despite what the rule book says.

This makes a pretty strong case for that argument.

Near Miss Disaster: #5 Boise State vs Tulsa

Boise Sate and Tulsa were in a shootout last night that came down to crucial 3rd down play in the 4th quarter.

Tulsa, trying to bust the once acclaimed "BCS-Buster" in Boise State.

Well, Tulsa got the stop on 3rd down. But one of the rarest calls made by a referee is made. Sideline Interference.

(NOTE: This video is the last two minutes of the game. It doesn't include the original call by the referee, but it does show their head coach going thermonuclear in the officials ear after the call. We also get some of the most bizarre commentary by the one and only Lou Holtz. Enjoy. )



Although the call was made. Tulsa stopped them on the next play. However this did take more time off of the clock for Tulsa, making them even more rushed.

I'm not saying Tulsa should have won, nor do I even care. They had their chance and didn't capitalize.

But for a call so minimal and so rare... It makes you wonder why it was even called in the first place...

And by the way ESPN never once showed a replay of it.

John Glenn Homecoming Game 2009

Now I wont normally do anything for High School games... But there is a huge controversy on whether or not what took place that Friday night in Michigan shouldve even happened at all.

You be the judge.



The way I look at it is that it's a High School game. There is no instant replay. There is no challenge flags. Everything has to be done in real-time.

We should be commending these officials for not blowing the whistle after the kick was blocked. At least they understood the difference in rules when kicking a field goal or an extra point.

And for the record.. No. I don't think his knee was down.

But great finish regardless.

Braylon Edwards Touchdown

Braylon Edwards should have one more touchdown added to his stats as the newest member of the New York Jets.

In the 4th quarter with 13 minutes left, Sanchez throws a deep pass towards the pylon to Edwards. The pass is caught and is ruled a touchdown on the field. But not so fast my friends...

The whistle is blown and the play is reviewed. Take a look at the play yourself...



His knee is down before the crosses the goal line, right? So he is down on the 1 yard line, correct?

Or is he?

This isn't college football. In the NFL someone has to touch you when you have that knee down for the play to be considered over. Is he touched before he crosses that goal line?

Its very close, but in my opinion he crosses the goal line after being touched. If you listen to the officials call he never mentions when contact is made.

Did he even look for that?

Welcome To "Blame The Refs!"

"When a team loses they blame themselves. When a fan loses, they blame the refs."

Blame The Refs is a blog dedicated to the terrible and controversial officiating we see across the world of sports.

Whether it is blatantly obvious or something anyone would easily miss.. we will cover it.

No longer will referees get away with controversial calls without some sort of observation. You will be surprised how many times a simple error on the part of officiating can turn the tide of a ball game, no matter what the sport is.

Obviously it is not possible to cover every little holding call.

It is also not possible to catch every missed pass interference call.

We will cover all the calls that matter. The ones that are game changers, momentum swingers, and obviously the ones that are just blatantly wrong.

Welcome to Blame The Refs.