Posted on 01/02/2013 8:24:42 AM PST by BO Stinkss
Fans argue all the time that a referee missed a call, but those arguments are usually subjective. The holding call that killed the drive might have been ticky-tack, but it wasn't black and white that it was a missed call. The pass interference that set up the game-winning touchdown wasn't just a phantom call - it might have been a tough call but it was debatable. You very rarely see a football official flat out miss a call. A fourth-quarter call in the Outback Bowl was black and white. There really can be no debate. It was a blown call like we've never seen a blown call. All the officials had to do was measure for a first down, and they got that wrong. Michigan ran a fake punt with a little more than eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, and the Wolverines made it close to the first down. Close enough for a measurement. The sticks were extended and the ball was inches short of the first down. And the referee confidently pointed a first down for ... Michigan? The South Carolina sideline erupted in protest. Coach Steve Spurrier jumped on the field right next to the ball and started pointing out the error. The call stood, even though ESPN's camera angles made it very clear that the call was wrong and the ball was short of the first-down marker. A second angle from ESPN, which it showed after a commercial break, showed that the ball was clearly a couple inches short. The refs flat out made the wrong call. It wasn't like this was a judgment call. They gave a first down to a team that didn't pass the sticks.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
Paid off.
Nothing like making a game more exciting, maybe the refs get paid for that type of thing.
Tell me, who won and did this decision change that?
one of the worst calls ever...
Right up there with:
Colorado 5 downs - 1990
Field goal call in sun bowl for USC - called it ‘good’ when clearly outside the post (corrected by reply booth). The ref was also right in position to see the ball pass 3 feet wide, but raised his hands for the score.
Jadeveon Clowney righted that wrong on the very next play! South Carolina went on to win.
That had to be one of the best defensive plays I’ve ever seen. Especially given the circumstances.
It makes you think that refs are just no better than politicians.
No accountability.
The ref pointing to first down should have been fired today, and the other two refs watching him do it also due to incompetence.
I have always thought the refs should just make the call on the field without a measurement. After all the placement could easily be a foot or so off.
They place the ball based on their best guess then measure when what they are measuring is based on rough estimate to start with.
Also if the chains are not exactly 90 degree, the chains will always be a little shorter than 10 yards.
I am glad that SC won anyway.
The next play (Clowney’s huge hit) no-call was even worse. That’s a by-rule call, not a judgment.
The next play (Clowney’s huge hit) no-call was even worse. That’s a by-rule call, not a judgment.
If you knew how the measurement is taken, you would know the measurement was correct. The stick is not part of the 10 yards, and neither is the eye bolt.
The chain is 10 yards. Everything else attached to the chain is just to make the measurement easier.
You see that even Spurrier was looking at where the chain was connected to the eye bolt.
I’ve seen some hits this year but nothing like that. One end of the bar at my VFW was Michigan State, the other SC. We did get a little rowdy when the poor fellows helmet went flying.
Thought it was one of the worst calls I’ve ever seen and I hate the Gamecocks. But Coach Superior is lucky he didn’t get a flag for him and the team crowding the refs. FSU’s Jimbo got a 15 yarder for a heck of a lot less.
Reminds me of the old saying about Strategic Air Command... Measure with a micrometer, mark with grease pencil & cut with fire axe.
That is correct. If Homer on the chain gang is going to cheat, he will do it when he attaches the clip to the chain at the nearest yard marker.
That’s simply not true. 10 yards goes from outside of stick to outside of stick. If any of the ball is past the stick it’s a 1st down, if none of it is it isn’t. BOTH eye bolt AND BOTH sticks are part of the 10 yards.
Damn, you’d think that Tom Brady was still QB at Michigan.
Btw, the next play rectified the call.
The game WAS NOT affected, the Gamecocks were in a certain way lucky to win, they were clearly outplayed by the Michigan team who had a decimated secondary.
SC was a great team, but they were generally outplayed and outfoxed. This call never affected the outcome.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.