Toledo vs. Syracuse: Blatantly Botched Calls Should Yield Referee Suspensions

Even after reviewing the missed PAT, the replay official still got it wrong in a botched call that ended up deciding the Toledo vs. Syracuse game. The blown call wrongfully awarded victory to Syracuse and warrants harsh punishment for those involved.

The game went into overtime and should have been won by Toledo, but a boneheaded error robbed Toledo of what was rightfully theirs and handed Syracuse a victory.

When coaches lose, they get fired. Here we have a replay official who wrongfully altered the course of the game. The Big East admits that he blew the call and yet he's unlikely to see the well-deserved repercussions.

Being a referee is not an easy gig. Too often people are too quick to criticize officials. It's not as easy as it looks and even the best in the business are subject to boneheaded calls.

Instant replay is supposed to take away the human error element of the game. It's supposed to make it to where the right call is made every time. As we hear time and time again, it has to be indisputable to be overturned, but when indisputable video evidence is present and the official fails to correct the call, suspensions need to be levied.

Is that too harsh? Suspension is an ugly word. It's probably one that many of you are familiar with, as if you made a terrible and uncorrectable error at your work, there is a chance you may face suspension. Why do referees get a free pass?

This should have been an easy call. The announcers got it right. Everyone at home could see the obvious call, but the official's inability to look at the appropriate angle and determine that the call was wrong is unforgivable.

Toledo loses out on a chance to gain a huge victory on the road and all the Big East can do is admit their mistakes.

There is no time limit on getting a replay right. Replay officials who blatantly botch calls need to have the hammer brought down upon them. Some may argue that, "that's someone's livelihood", but what about the livelihood of the Toledo staff?

Years from now, nobody is going to look back on Toledo's record and remember that one more win should have been accredited to this season. The officials come out of this unscathed while the coaching staff and entire team has to bear an undeserved loss.

No apology or statement can reverse the error. He should have done his job and made the easy call when he had all the means in the world to do so.