Palo Alto, CA
"After review, the call on the field is reversed."
Welcome to Stanford Stadium on a beautiful Saturday in Palo Alto, CA—where the Pac-10 officiating crew can't make a decision.
Hell, why have referees when the guys upstairs can make every judgment? We'll get rid of flags altogether and have the video monitors flash yellow to let us all know that a penalty has been called.
Fine by me—as long as it's quick, and as long as they get it right.
And the guys in the video booth should get it right, because they get to indulge in back-and-forth replays until their viewing pleasure is fully satisfied.
So someone tell me: What on earth happened with the reversal on Jimmy Clausen's third-quarter touchdown pass to David Grimes?
The play, which was ruled a touchdown on the field, was replayed at least five times on the dueling big screens at the Farm's new stadium. It was clear from the video that Grimes kept a hand underneath the football at all times—and pulled in one of the best catches of the year.
This isn't tough stuff. The correct call was clear as day to the competent football fan.
What a shame that such a great play by could be overturned by a joke of an officiating crew.
And it wasn't only the incessant booth reviews of every close call in the first 40 minutes of the game. These referees also called and missed holding penalties at random on both sides of the ball all day long.
Notre Dame's star defensive lineman Trevor Laws—playing in his last game for the Irish—was consistently tackled by offensive lineman without consequence.
Until someone proves me wrong (by reviewable video evidence), I'll continue to insist that these types of officiating mistakes are inexcusable.
All I want for Christmas is better officials—on the field and in the booth.
Who are these guys, and what are their qualifications? What degree of nepotism is at work here?
I'm all for making the correct calls, but if you're going to waste the fans' time by reviewing every call under the sun (the going trend these days)—at least make sure that you get it right.
So forget writing to your local representative about issues that impact your pocket book. Instead, write to the NCAA and demand better officiating.
As paying customers, we shouldn't put up with this crap.
comments (26) write a comment »
write a new comment
10 months ago
The exact same thing happened in the Alabama-LSU game, and as a result, Alabama had the game stolen from them. As for the NCAA, they don't give a damn about anyone but themselves, and any time there are allegations of infractions, they make a complete and total mockery of due process. They're little more than tin pot dictators drunk on their own power, and they currently have a monopoly on college athletics. F*** the NCAA!
10 months ago
I was at the game and could not believe the TD call was reversed. Then I came home and watched the replay over and over and could not imagine what the blue-haired PAC 10 replay official was looking at. The play was called a TD on the field and there was no video that showed that the ball hit the ground or was even bobbled by the receiver............so the play stands as called on the field............nope it's reversed. That guy should be fired, period. Of course nobody cared about this game so nothing will ever be done about it.
10 months ago
the pac 10 has (unfortunately) had to fine and suspend it's officials lately. here's another instance where they should again.
the root problem with saturday's overturn is that they didn't adhere to the essence of video review... "indisputable visual evidence."
is there a chance that ball hit the ground? i don't think so, given all the replays we saw. but sure, i'll concede there's a small chance it could have.
BUT THE RULING ON THE FIELD WAS A CATCH!!
there is absolutely no way that the officials saw indisputable visual evidence to overturn. ESPN showed us every angle they had.
if that play had been ruled incomplete on the field, i think there was enough evidence to overrule and make it a catch. therefore, i was dumbfounded (as were the commentators) when quite the opposite ruling was made.
10 months ago
Absolutely,
I watched it from home and the announcers in the booth for ESPN called it a touchdown, one saying he will go home believing it was a TD.
Stanford hates ND and the officiating proved it.
Young clearly blocked his man though was called for a hold on a big gainer.
It seems every big play the officials see developing they have to negate with a penalty.
Clearly biased officiating.
10 months ago
I think calls were missed on both sides all game long. There were clearly multiple helmet to helmet collisions that weren't called (by the way on both sides). Also, the holding non calls and calls were ridiculous. The Grimes TD reversal was still by far the worst call of the day. The kid made an awesome catch that was ruled a TD on the field and nothing in the ESPN replys showed anythign but a catch. (these are the same feeds the video officials had at their disposal.) I am sure fines or other discipline is coming down) but to rob the kid and Notre Dame of their best passing play of the season (from what I have seen of it) seems criminal and petty.
10 months ago
Did anybody see the replay official shielding his eyes from the sun?
If you can't see it, don't overturn it.
10 months ago
That overturn of Grimes' touchdown catch was, bar none, the WORST overturn in the history of instant replay. An unbelievable effort and execution by Grimes, one of the best catches in the endzone I've ever seen... overturned for what... an inference? an assumption? The refs in that game were AWFUL, PITIFUL. In all sincerity, they should not be allowed to ref another game. How about the head gets taken off of the Stanford qb, helmet to helmet contact... and no flag? Then the offsetting penalties in the 4th quarter when a Stanford linebacker headbutts the ND qb. Despicable officiating.
10 months ago
There were some terrible calls in the USC-ASU game on Thursday as well.
A 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty on Sedrick Ellis for flexing his muscles after a huge sack of Rudy Carpenter on third and long? Terrible especially since it led to a Sun Devil touchdown. Good thing USC kicked ass and it didn't factor into the outcome.
But still, the game should be decided by the players on the field not the guys wearing stripes. Is it just me, or is the state of officiating in all major sports getting worse and worse?
10 months ago
The on field officials in the Stanford-ND game were brought by ND from the Big East, and clearly had to be the worst officials in the conference to draw a game between 2 terrible teams, neither of which were in the Big East. So, the on field calls are almost assuredly due to incompetence alone. The replay officials though were from the Pac-10, and just ask Oklahoma about how fair a shake visiting teams get from a Pac-10 replay booth.
10 months ago
Dave, I was at the game as well. Where were you sitting?
ND had two touchdowns taken away by the officials yesterday, both of which were Play of the Year material. Absolute disgrace. Unfortunately for ND, this is a common refrain and the price of being independent.
But with the importance of out-of-conference games in deciding title ambitions these days, there needs to be a national officiating force with a central mechanism for reviewing officials' performance. The logistics are obviously troubling, but with so much at stake it needs to happen and soon.
from 10 months ago
Amen, Mike. A national crew is definitely a much needed commodity.
I had front row seats in 231 (great view of Grimes' catch). Where were you?
10 months ago
Two images to ponder:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/teamphotos?photoId=1741933&teamId=24
http://sbimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=SB&Date=20071125&Category=SPORTS13&ArtNo=711250421&Ref=AR&Profile=1021&MaxW=580
You deserved better, Grimey.
10 months ago
you actually WATCHED this game? all I'm saying is that NBC should be getting pretty damn close to buying out the rest of the Notre Dame contract so that they can cover games that actually MATTER.
from 10 months ago
matter is one thing, make money is another.
from 10 months ago
Also, this game was not on NBC, brainchild. I guess it shows the draw of ND (even at 2-9 at the time) that they would show a game between a 2-9 ND and a 3-7 Stanford.
Thanks for your inept input. Maybe next time, you should just read more and post less.
10 months ago
Not only will NBC pay more to extend their contract with ND since it is so profitable, if for some reason they did not, Fox has let it be known that if ND is ever not bound by a contract, they will snap them up, for more money, in any instant.
10 months ago
Notre Dame is the most popular team in college football- like it or not. They've won the most championships, have had the most heisman winners (tied with Southern Cal), and have had the most All-Americans. So to you Notre Dame haters, don't waste your time hating Notre Dame- you're ruining your health. Cheer for your team, and don't watch Notre Dame. As for me and the rest of the fans, go irish.
10 months ago
Observation: any article that mentions Notre Dame inevitable winds up in the same core do you, or do you not like Notre Dame?
Tedious...but somehow always amusing at the same time.
from 10 months ago
Notre Dame is "irrelevant" these days. Remember?
10 months ago
David Grimes, you made one of the best catches I have ever seen. Sorry the idiot in the booth robbed you of it. Just do it again next year...
10 months ago
First, people who root for teams watch their games. I personally am not one to bandy about the channels when my team is playing. Any other type of behavior is fair-weather nonsense.
Second, the real solution to poor refereeing is to get rid of conference-affiliated refs. Make them all similarly accountable to the NCAA as a nationwide governing body. No more homerism. No more blatently bad calls against the visitors. No more differences in enforcement between the regions. This is too serious a business to be left to good ol' boys. Consistent thorough vetting through one governing institution is the solution.
I've yet to hear a persuasive argument as to why refs are owned and apportioned by conferences.
10 months ago
How long before Weis/ND start bringing their own officials... IA Independent refs just like the Irish. They'll do all of ND and Navy's games.
10 months ago
That game was on ESPN not NBC.
10 months ago
Referee calls are always questionable. I was shocked at this happening though. But horrible officiating screwed my team, Texas State, in 2006 when our receiver jumped from the 5 yard line and scored a TD but the back judge WHO WAS 2 YARDS AWAY AND LOOKING RIGHT DOWN THE SIDELINE said he stepped out at the 3 yard line. How can a guy who jumped at the 5 be out at the 3? They showed the replay on our videoboard 4 times and the fans were going nuts! Talk about horrible officiating.
In the defense of the refs though, I know what it is like to ref a lot of games over the course of a season. By the end of the year if you are burned out, you miss a lot of things. Not saying this is an excuse or anything but some refs begin not to care.
10 months ago
The Grimes catch was a great one. Really sad to see that overturned. The kid, ND was robbed.
Thank God it did'nt cost us the game. Every angle I saw on TV was a catch, no question in my objective mind.
So I am really perplexed on the 'irrefutable evidence' call needed to change a call on the field.
How anyone could see a situation - no doubt wrong call - calling for reversal is beyond me.
Re: 'games that matter'. An 0-11 Irish team is still a game I will watch, beginning to end.
Even the dumbest CEO's at NBC realize it. Don't anybody hold their breath waiting for NBC to drop the
Irish home game coverage. America's only team, with a truly national-passionate fan base is the IRISH. I think our revival will be as sudden at the fall.
Re: Zibby run back. It was unfortunate that didn't stand. One of the most exciting plays I've ever seen
because of many elements (98 yards, ended going all the way, last second of a game or half, the
Stanford-Cal 25 yr ago play, number of laterals, Zibby carrying twice, etc)
It seemed like it took forever for them to finally show it, but at least it appeared Laws pushed the
helmet from behind into the ground. So I won't say a word about officiating there, just unfortunate to
call back such a great, great play.
Go IRISH.
Tipperary Tommy
10 months ago
If Kevin White, the athletic director at Notre Dame, doesn't do something about the officiating in this game, he is not doing his job.
write a new comment