gator
10-21-2009, 01:51 PM
This post is related to the last post by amazinblue in the FL vs Ark thread, but I wanted a new thread that might draw more attention and get more input. I would like to discuss the refs in the FL/Ark game and, more importantly, the reaction by ESPN talkheads.
What happened:
In FL's fourth qtr comeback this weekend, there were two "questionable" calls by the refs on the drive in which FL tied the score 20-20.
The first call, which was close in my opinion, was a pass interference call in the endzone. My initial reaction, as I watched the play live, was that it was pass interference, and I was glad that Deonte started motioning his hand for a flag. Even in slow motion, it looks like the defender initially held Deonte's right arm down as he was starting to jockey for position as they crossed the goalline. If you watch college football with any regularity, you know pass interference is the toughest call.
The second call was on the very next play, and it was for unnecessary roughness. From what I saw on tape, the call was complete horseshit. In fact, it appears that the FL player initiated the contact. IMO, this call was a result of what I call "emasculating the game." We've all seen it recently, and it's gotten really bad in the past years with the rash of injuries to high-profile QB's in the NFL. The refs have to protect QB's and defenseless players at all costs, right? I've always thought that if you had the ball in your hands, the other team's job was to get you down by any means necessary, even diving low at the legs. (However, I do agree that there is no need for a player to launch at another player's head.) I also feel that if you are on the field, you need to have your head on a swivel. I don't even understand the concept of "an illegal block on a player out of the play." Was the guy on the field? Then he was in the play....at least that's how I see it. At any rate, even under these overcautious assumptions, I'm not sure how that penalty was called on the Arkansas player unless the official that call the penalty had a poor view angle and couldn't see the FL player lean into the Arkansas player.
Commentator reaction on ESPN:
I thought the "spin" started on Saturday evening when they cut the highlight reel from the game. Ironically, they didn't show second questionable call (which was clearly more outrageous), but they showed the pass interference call. I didn't think anything of them showing the play initially, except that I started to notice every narration with the play cast serious doubt on the legitimacy of the call. I just thought, "It was a close call, and pass interference is the toughest close call to make. If you wanted a really controversial call, you should have shown the unnecessary roughness call." I didn't realize ESPN was waiting to drop the bombshell.
On Monday, the SEC released a statement saying they found no video evidence to support the unnecessary roughness call. No shit! I could have told you that Saturday. What was so surprising was the ESPN reaction I have seen since then. I have seen multiple analysts (three on Around the Horn and Colin on "The Herd" this morning) go as far as suggesting the refs are in FL's back pocket, and the league is fixing games to protect the Alabama/FL matchup. Really? Now, who here hasn't seen a badly officiated game? I personally have seen much worse. Go watch the 2003 FSU/FL game in Gainesville, and then come talk to me about getting jobbed by the officials. There were no less than 6 atrocious calls that F'ed the Gators in that game, 3 of which would have changed possession near or in the redzone. I still hate Jack Childress out of the ACC. Even then, there was no talk of "fixing" the game, although the officials were from the ACC and a victory by the Gators that day would have thrown the BCS into chaos that season. Since that game, the home team (not the away) gets their conference officials in that game (that's how bad it was). Who remembers Mangino (Kansas HC) screaming about "fixing" by the refs in Texas' favor, but nobody on ESPN said that and the league made him apologize. Even the Miami/OSU NC game call was just chalked up to a bad call, not fixing the game. I submit that these games resulted in much more drastic effects than the FL/ARK calls.
First, both of the FL/ARK calls came with over 7:30 minutes left in the game. These calls didn't single handedly decide the outcome. In fact, Arkansas still had a chance to kick a go-ahead 38-yrd FG with under 4 min to play. Second, the pass interference call wasn't that outrageous. If it had happened in any other game (not one where the #1 team is trailing in the 4th Qtr), it would have barely gotten a second look. Third, the really bad roughness call didn't even garner a full 15 yard penalty, because UF was already inside the 30 - I think FL netted 11 yards on that penalty. Fourth, both of these calls occured on back-to-back 1st downs; it's not like they happened on 3rd and long and absolutely resulted in points that FL would have otherwise not received. In fact, FL moved the ball well on that drive (40 yards before either call, and finished with an 11 yrd run to the zone after the calls). Fifth, this was the same group of officials that refereed the LSU/UGA game a couple weeks ago. I mean, is it possible that these guys are just incompetent instead of dirty, corrupt, and in-bed with Florida as the ESPN jury has already decided?
Nevertheless, one bad call and one questionable call in favor of the Gators in a 4th qtr drive that simply TIED the game brings the haters and the "fixing the game" comments out of the woodworks. WOW! Really, I have never seen bad refereeing turned into "fixing the game" by the national media. Yes, FL may have received a slight edge from the refs in that game, but overall I would say that ARK got the majority of the breaks in that game (4 FL turnovers, 2 of them unforced in the redzone; and how about that 75 yard ARK TD that was fumbled into the endzone. If that ball had rolled 1 foot further, it would have been FL ball at the 20 and not a ARK TD. Both teams missed a FG.) Every game has breaks; sometimes they go your way, sometimes they don't. Sometimes the breaks are a simple bounce of the ball and sometimes they are the result of refs. I am not defending the terrible roughness call made by the refs in that game (don't forget that this was the same group of refs that made the terrible calls in the LSU/UGA game), but the reaction from the ESPN talkheads, as though the refs changed the scoreboard in that game as certain as the sun shines during the day, is complete BS. This week has done nothing more than confirm my opinion that 1) UF is one of the most resented schools in the country and 2) the BCS is only truly about controversy (if there isn't any, they create it so people talk about it.)
Amazin, I agree that Alabama looks to be the most complete team at this point in the season, but they were also #1 last season when we played them. FL has been plagued with some injuries (at WR), and they really seem to be suffering from lack of focus. Nevertheless, I agree with your analysis that they need improvement in some areas if they are going to beat Bama. I must say, however, that I don't agree with your analysis of Arkansas' defense. Their front seven are tough. I think they got 6 sacks on Tebow, that's more than UF had given up all year at that point. IMO, Arkansas is evolving into a pretty good team. Glad we don't have to play them next year, although we do have to play Bama in the regular season. It's really become pick your poison from the SEC West.
What happened:
In FL's fourth qtr comeback this weekend, there were two "questionable" calls by the refs on the drive in which FL tied the score 20-20.
The first call, which was close in my opinion, was a pass interference call in the endzone. My initial reaction, as I watched the play live, was that it was pass interference, and I was glad that Deonte started motioning his hand for a flag. Even in slow motion, it looks like the defender initially held Deonte's right arm down as he was starting to jockey for position as they crossed the goalline. If you watch college football with any regularity, you know pass interference is the toughest call.
The second call was on the very next play, and it was for unnecessary roughness. From what I saw on tape, the call was complete horseshit. In fact, it appears that the FL player initiated the contact. IMO, this call was a result of what I call "emasculating the game." We've all seen it recently, and it's gotten really bad in the past years with the rash of injuries to high-profile QB's in the NFL. The refs have to protect QB's and defenseless players at all costs, right? I've always thought that if you had the ball in your hands, the other team's job was to get you down by any means necessary, even diving low at the legs. (However, I do agree that there is no need for a player to launch at another player's head.) I also feel that if you are on the field, you need to have your head on a swivel. I don't even understand the concept of "an illegal block on a player out of the play." Was the guy on the field? Then he was in the play....at least that's how I see it. At any rate, even under these overcautious assumptions, I'm not sure how that penalty was called on the Arkansas player unless the official that call the penalty had a poor view angle and couldn't see the FL player lean into the Arkansas player.
Commentator reaction on ESPN:
I thought the "spin" started on Saturday evening when they cut the highlight reel from the game. Ironically, they didn't show second questionable call (which was clearly more outrageous), but they showed the pass interference call. I didn't think anything of them showing the play initially, except that I started to notice every narration with the play cast serious doubt on the legitimacy of the call. I just thought, "It was a close call, and pass interference is the toughest close call to make. If you wanted a really controversial call, you should have shown the unnecessary roughness call." I didn't realize ESPN was waiting to drop the bombshell.
On Monday, the SEC released a statement saying they found no video evidence to support the unnecessary roughness call. No shit! I could have told you that Saturday. What was so surprising was the ESPN reaction I have seen since then. I have seen multiple analysts (three on Around the Horn and Colin on "The Herd" this morning) go as far as suggesting the refs are in FL's back pocket, and the league is fixing games to protect the Alabama/FL matchup. Really? Now, who here hasn't seen a badly officiated game? I personally have seen much worse. Go watch the 2003 FSU/FL game in Gainesville, and then come talk to me about getting jobbed by the officials. There were no less than 6 atrocious calls that F'ed the Gators in that game, 3 of which would have changed possession near or in the redzone. I still hate Jack Childress out of the ACC. Even then, there was no talk of "fixing" the game, although the officials were from the ACC and a victory by the Gators that day would have thrown the BCS into chaos that season. Since that game, the home team (not the away) gets their conference officials in that game (that's how bad it was). Who remembers Mangino (Kansas HC) screaming about "fixing" by the refs in Texas' favor, but nobody on ESPN said that and the league made him apologize. Even the Miami/OSU NC game call was just chalked up to a bad call, not fixing the game. I submit that these games resulted in much more drastic effects than the FL/ARK calls.
First, both of the FL/ARK calls came with over 7:30 minutes left in the game. These calls didn't single handedly decide the outcome. In fact, Arkansas still had a chance to kick a go-ahead 38-yrd FG with under 4 min to play. Second, the pass interference call wasn't that outrageous. If it had happened in any other game (not one where the #1 team is trailing in the 4th Qtr), it would have barely gotten a second look. Third, the really bad roughness call didn't even garner a full 15 yard penalty, because UF was already inside the 30 - I think FL netted 11 yards on that penalty. Fourth, both of these calls occured on back-to-back 1st downs; it's not like they happened on 3rd and long and absolutely resulted in points that FL would have otherwise not received. In fact, FL moved the ball well on that drive (40 yards before either call, and finished with an 11 yrd run to the zone after the calls). Fifth, this was the same group of officials that refereed the LSU/UGA game a couple weeks ago. I mean, is it possible that these guys are just incompetent instead of dirty, corrupt, and in-bed with Florida as the ESPN jury has already decided?
Nevertheless, one bad call and one questionable call in favor of the Gators in a 4th qtr drive that simply TIED the game brings the haters and the "fixing the game" comments out of the woodworks. WOW! Really, I have never seen bad refereeing turned into "fixing the game" by the national media. Yes, FL may have received a slight edge from the refs in that game, but overall I would say that ARK got the majority of the breaks in that game (4 FL turnovers, 2 of them unforced in the redzone; and how about that 75 yard ARK TD that was fumbled into the endzone. If that ball had rolled 1 foot further, it would have been FL ball at the 20 and not a ARK TD. Both teams missed a FG.) Every game has breaks; sometimes they go your way, sometimes they don't. Sometimes the breaks are a simple bounce of the ball and sometimes they are the result of refs. I am not defending the terrible roughness call made by the refs in that game (don't forget that this was the same group of refs that made the terrible calls in the LSU/UGA game), but the reaction from the ESPN talkheads, as though the refs changed the scoreboard in that game as certain as the sun shines during the day, is complete BS. This week has done nothing more than confirm my opinion that 1) UF is one of the most resented schools in the country and 2) the BCS is only truly about controversy (if there isn't any, they create it so people talk about it.)
Amazin, I agree that Alabama looks to be the most complete team at this point in the season, but they were also #1 last season when we played them. FL has been plagued with some injuries (at WR), and they really seem to be suffering from lack of focus. Nevertheless, I agree with your analysis that they need improvement in some areas if they are going to beat Bama. I must say, however, that I don't agree with your analysis of Arkansas' defense. Their front seven are tough. I think they got 6 sacks on Tebow, that's more than UF had given up all year at that point. IMO, Arkansas is evolving into a pretty good team. Glad we don't have to play them next year, although we do have to play Bama in the regular season. It's really become pick your poison from the SEC West.