"In a huge game on national TV, it seems the pompous Rose Bowl (so whining and unhappy to have that redneck Texas polluting their pristine bowl last year) was rather sloppy and second-rate, and this time it bit their Pac 10 team in the butt." Actually, it was apparently Big 10 refs that failed to review the Phantom TD, but who's counting. Anyway, my beef was with Carroll for failing to call for the review -- not the refs.
"USC is an amazing team, but they aren't better than Texas. I'll settle for calling them equal." I agree. Texas is an outstanding team -- I'm just saying USC handed this one to them on a silver platter.
Well I could turn around and say that Texas tried to hand it to USC on a silver platter. Forget how on the first drive Texas stopped USC cold, only to give it back to them on a sloppy fumble and then 15 more yards on a stupid (on the UT player's part) late hit? Several other sloppiness penalties, fumbles, poor coaching choices, a missed extra point, and a missed field goal.
1. The refs can't call for review --ONLY the review booth can call for a review. And the EQUIPMENT was not working in the review booth, that is why they could not call for the review.
2. Coaches CAN NOT CALL FOR A REVIEW, that is pro ball, in College ONLY THE REVIEW booth can call for a review.
Now, the mistake Pete Carroll did make was in NOT CALLING A TIME OUT. The TO would have given the review booth time to look at the call if the Equipment could have been made to work.
BUT, that is all a moot point as my earlier post points out, the play would not have been overturned.
If you think one team handed it to the other, try threading a needle while standing on an interstate highway with people dropping bowling balls off an overpass at you. Texas earned their victory, and USC played a great game.