OK, I have to remind myself that it is bad karma to complain about a Beavers win. Only 10 years ago, ANY win was a good win, no matter how we got the win - even with the help of the officials. I understand that. I am glad we got the win, and I think the Beavers played a pretty solid game yesterday. Of course, if they play against UCLA the way they played against ASU, Beaver Nation can kiss their Rose Bowl hopes good bye.
But there is one thing that makes me mad that is recurring more and more in PAC-10 games - the horrendous officiating. I mean, the officiating is bordering on the absurd. The most recent example was the phantom call against JaQuizz Rodgers on third-and-four late in the game, where Quizz was still motoring, moving forward, broke free from the pile (no whistle had blown) and eventually Quizz was tackled at the one-yard line.
Inexplicably, the Referees decided that Quizz's forward momentum had been stopped, when it was clear to everyone - and I mean everyone - that Quizz was still moving forward and the play was still alive. Everyone, except of course the Referees. Take a look at the replay, it is pretty clear.
What is especially tough to swallow is that the phantom whistle made the down Fourth and one. Riley decided to kick the field goal, which Kahut missed. The Sun Devils then took the ball down the field and scored a touchdown, but missed on the two-point conversion. Had the refs made the right call, none of that would have happened. The refs craptacular call nearly lost the game for the Beavers.
Of course, Tom Hansen (PAC-10 Commissioner) isn't going to do anything about the blown calls. He never does, which makes me even angrier, because Hansen is sending the message to PAC-10 fans that amateur officiating is the standard in the PAC-10. Officials that make calls like the calls made against Quizz should (at the very least) be publicly reprimanded, so PAC-10 fans know that the PAC-10 (and Hansen) expect professionalism on the field.
I agree with this assesment of the officals. I was at this game and this was merely one of several poor and indecisive calls made.
Posted by: TAS | November 03, 2008 at 09:59 AM