Expert: Thom Brooks - 12/27/2009

Question
I am not a Boston College fan, but I watched the game last night when they played Southern Cal in the bowl game.  I have never seen as many erroneous calls, which were all in favor of SC.  I finally couldn't stand to see any more.  This could destroy the sport.

I wish the referees could see this, but I feel they could care less.


Answer
Roland, hello and Merry Christmas!

I've taught over 45,000 in my insurance schools, but one of my students graduated from Southern Cal.  He told me the Trojans were known as the Fighting Methodists before they changed their name!  So, that bowl game was the Methodists and the Catholics squaring off!!  No wonder!


America is always torn over the officiating in Sports.  When the officials are perfect, they're ghosts and no one notices the perfect calls.  This year seens to have shown more official errrors than I've ever seen in college ball.  In high school, and lesser grades, the officials see penalties on nearly every play, especially below the high school level.  When the clock is running, it's an unnamed rule that you don't throw the flags unless it's relevant to the play.  I've always disagreed with that premise because a penalty is a penalty.  But, it's tough to call penalties and take minutes off a game clock.  Those kids and parents want to see football plays not some official showing how to call a violation..........when the clock is moving in 8 and 10 minute quarters.  It does stop in high school but most fans are impatient with delays in the game.

With that being said, the officlals gave the wrong call twice on the punt that hit the SC player.  It was recovered by BC and the officials on the field ruled that the defender was blocking the KR, thereby preventing him from catching the ball.  I didn't like that call, either.  It should have been BC ball.

If you were dissatisfied with the runner fumbling into the end zone, that was a great call in that the offense lost the ball and the defense took over at the 20.  Different game, same disputed calls!  Pitt vs. NC.

I saw a TD called back on North Carolina because the Heels didn't have 7 men on the line of scrimmage.  The TE was not at least halfway through the body of the O-Line.  By rule, only 6 were on the line at the Snap.  The coaches and players knew the rule and pushed the window.  They should have been paying attention.  It was a good call, by the rule.  That NC TE made such a beautiful one handed catch on the TD that was called back but he should have been on the line, not setback.  

I saw some No Calls that some thought should have been Pass Interference, one was called Holding since the ball was uncatchable.  The TV angles do not always show the best shot of why the play was called a violation.  That defender held the guy about 15 yards further back which kept him from arriving in the vicinity of where the ball was due to land, even though it was an errant throw.  

I saw a Chop Block called (inside the Free Blocking Zone) but it was a good call.  That play could end the career of the D-Lineman that got clipped from behind.


In my first year of officiating, the guys with 35 years experience kept screaming at me to not watch the ball, but rather the area around the ball.  It is amazing how different one observes the game as a player, coach, fan and official.  It is beautiful from all angles!


The officials called a pretty good game from what I saw.  I don't think they favored the SC team but some days a team just seems to not be able to get the breaks.  They could play again next week and we could see calls go against the other team..........  It's definitely an imperfect science.  We sometimes forget that those are young men out there that do not always concentrate on the next play.  Sometimes they're looking off into the stands talking about one of the beautiful ladies screaming for them.........  They're still only 18-22 years old and lose that mental focus throughout the game, as do the officials.  


I'm still sore about the officials calling an Unsportsmanlike penalty on A.J. Green after the Bulldogs had taken a lead with 1 1/2 minutes in the game, againsst LSU.  That turned the tide of that score.  The official never should have thrown that flag and it disrupted the mental pysche of the Georgia team for 3 weeks.  Officials should never determine the outcome of the game on a controversial call.  If you're not sure if it was a penalty, you should not throw the flag.  The White Hat should have picked up that flag...........


If I omitted any of the calls you disagreed with, write back and if I can remember them, I'll give an opinion.  I didn't see the entire game so maybe I missed one that set up off!!


Bad officiating will destroy any sport and always needs to be improved but maybe the rules were followed and you were not aware of why they called a particular violation.  They will be reprimanded by the NCAA if they made bad calls.  All of the film is reviewed for that very reason.




Take Care,

Thom Brooks
www.BrooksInsuranceSchool.com
Savannah Adult Baseball League

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CD Baby Play It By Ear by Listen 2 Three -

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The Official Web Site of the NCAA - NCAA.org - NCAA.org


http://www.ncaapublications.com/Uploads/PDF/Football_Rulesadc982b5-03fb-4e27-828...

ncaa.org/library/rules/2006/2006_football_rules.pdf




REFEREE, the Magazine for Sports Officials


National Association of Sports Officials