Big XII on Officiating in the Texas-Oklahoma State Game

[TXMike]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/headlines/20150928-big-12-supervisor-a-few-mistakes-but-pleased-with-work-of-crew-from-texas-oklahoma-state-game.ece

[Clear Lake ref]

You mean there wasn't a vast conspiracy in place?

[mishatx]

I've looked at all the fan made videos and I thought the crew did a fair job, but called holding a little tighter than most Big XII crews (to an extent that I wondered if someone had asked them to concentrate on a particular technique that Texas was prone to using), and made a few mistakes that I thought were reasonable from the angles the covering officials had on the play.  There's one holding call the fans are livid about but I think looking at the video that the umpire made a great call of a falling blocker hooking the defender around the legs.

It's an example though of how a couple of weird things, even if called perfectly, will destroy the tenuous trust the unwashed masses have in the stripes.  In a short span in the fourth quarter, while the visiting team was mounting its come back, there was a play where a fumble is awarded to the team least likely to have recovered it, a defensive lineman is called for DH about 7 yards ahead of the play, and the head coach is called for USC. 

As I said after a similar stretch in a game once, "sometimes you work the game, and sometimes the game works you."

[copedaddy]

I am an OSU fan, and I think the officials overall did a good job. I did not like the 2nd RTP call on UT and the defensive holding call in the 4th. But the UT coach lost this game for them. The UNS put them in field goal range and the timeout call at the end sealed it for OSU. Should have let the clock run out and went to OT. Always easy to blame the stripes. Was glad the Pokes won, but UT would have beat them in OT.

[mishatx]

I am an OSU fan, and I think the officials overall did a good job. I did not like the 2nd RTP call on UT and the defensive holding call in the 4th. But the UT coach lost this game for them. The UNS put them in field goal range and the timeout call at the end sealed it for OSU. Should have let the clock run out and went to OT. Always easy to blame the stripes. Was glad the Pokes won, but UT would have beat them in OT.

The RTP call on the UT interception was probably the most game-affecting "mistake".  Strong's USC, untimely time out, and the punter dropping the snap and kicking it 11 yards out bounds all had a much larger effect on the game.

[Hondo]

Punter kicks the ball away, UT wins in OT and the "officiating" becomes a mute point. Amazing what fans forget when they win and lament over when the lose.

[blindref757]

This crew worked the OU vs WV game this weekend and I don't recall much controversy at all.  Their biggest miss was a non-call that should have been a target on an OU receiver.

If the officials miss a big targeting call on the field, can the league office further reprimand the player after the game?  Just wondering...I know the NFL office issues fines retroactively, but wasn't sure about NCAA.

[copedaddy]

I saw the no call targeting play, wish I could see multiple replays, looked like a call that should be made and let replay decide the fate. Overall a better called game IMHO.

[mishatx]

I've seen some buzz about a crew in the OSU-KSU game this weekend misplacing the chains after a penalty enforcement, and allowing OSU to convert a long third down that should have resulted in a 4th down, which led to a touchdown, yadda yadda conspiracy to keep a team ranked.

Anyone have less-biased details?

[ncwingman]

I've seen some buzz about a crew in the OSU-KSU game this weekend misplacing the chains after a penalty enforcement, and allowing OSU to convert a long third down that should have resulted in a 4th down, which led to a touchdown, yadda yadda conspiracy to keep a team ranked.

Anyone have less-biased details?

There might be something to this. Here's a Youtube link to the series in question. (EDIT -- I initially watched the video on mute. I suggest doing so and not listening to the "commentary").

First down is at the KSU 45. Pass play downfield that's called back by a holding call, enforced from the KSU 45 to the OSU 45. However, at 1:17 in the video, you can see the chains at the top of the screen are lined up from the 50 to the KSU 40 -- 5 yards upfield from where they should be.

On 3rd down, they cross the KSU 40 for a "first down", but the LTG should have been the 35.

[Jackhammer]

There might be something to this. Here's a Youtube link to the series in question. (EDIT -- I initially watched the video on mute. I suggest doing so and not listening to the "commentary").

First down is at the KSU 45. Pass play downfield that's called back by a holding call, enforced from the KSU 45 to the OSU 45. However, at 1:17 in the video, you can see the chains at the top of the screen are lined up from the 50 to the KSU 40 -- 5 yards upfield from where they should be.

On 3rd down, they cross the KSU 40 for a "first down", but the LTG should have been the 35.

I'm biased as a Wildcat follower, but something felt goofy on that series, thought there was a stop short of LTG, but saw the stakes...so the above kind of explains what I thought at the time.  Would like to see the confirmation/denial of that.

Also, a no-call targeting on a sliding QB with a shoulder is getting buzz.  At the time thought it was a target

It was a good and entetaining game, officials calls weren't the difference

[copedaddy]

OSU v KSU--It would be interesting to know on what down in the series did the chains move out of position. Hard to tell from the youtube video.

[NVFOA_Ump]

OSU v KSU--It would be interesting to know on what down in the series did the chains move out of position. Hard to tell from the youtube video.

- Original 1st down play:  1st&10 from the B-45 / LTG 35 snap @ 2:55
- Completed pass downfield to the B-3 / clock stops @ 2:47
- Penalty enforced, 10 yds previous spot - 1st@20 @ A-45
- Replay 1st down:  1st&20 from the A-45 but chains now visible @ 50 with LTG B-40

Chains were moved between the end of the 1st down play and the 1st down replay after penalty enforcement.  Probably moved quickly to hustle down to "new" 1st down spot on the B-3 and then had to move back due to the penalty enforcement and reset incorrectly.

[medi-ogre]

I think you're probably right NVFOA.  Sounds like official with the penalty needs to get on his whistle harder to inform crew there was a penalty on the play, and/or H needs to be on his gang to not move until he instructs them to...this would be after R has signaled first down.

Couple possibilities here:  If H moved gang before he got the signal from R or gang moved on their own, it's on him, and he needs to make sure they get back to the right location (Another reason for clip line indicator to be moved every time).  If R gave first down signal before realizing there was a penalty on the play, then It's on him and the official with the penalty for not giving the hard tweet tweet tweet to indicate he has a penalty.

That being said, situations like this are on the entire crew to mitigate.  Down and distance errors are some of the most egregious errors officials can make since there is nothing subjective about them and they can grossly impact the outcome of the game (Colorado anyone?).  Slow it down.  Make sure you have it right.  We know teams want to go fast, but we cannot allow them to go fast at the expense of getting these situations wrong.

[NVFOA_Ump]

A few keys to remember here that should become "automatic":

- Set clip w/correct yardline on every new series
- Be extra vigilant when in "hurryup" end of half and end of game
- When you have a penalty, make sure the whole crew knows / extra whistle(s) if needed
- Doesn't hurt to check the scoreboard down & distance after a play like this (1st&20 vs 1st&15)
- Take your time, clock is stopped, no need to hurry

[mishatx]

Here's another one that's got the unwashed masses with their dander up:

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/10/10/9495861/big-12-refs-kansas-state-tcu-forward-pass

(KSU throws pass 3-4 yards past NZ; appears forward, ruled backward on field, not reviewed?)

[cwag]

I was sporadically watching the OU vs Texas game.  On the 81 yd run at the end of the third quarter, I thought I saw a big time hold that sprung the runner.  The EZ view from behind the offense looked like a Texas lineman was behind an OU player and had his right arm wrapped around his neck.  Hoping to see a video of the play.

[TxSkyBolt]

I saw that too.

[mishatx]

I think you can see it here: http://espn.go.com/college-football/playbyplay?gameId=400763434 

Choose Play by Play and then the Texas touchdown drive in the second half.  The highlight is available.

[DallasLJ]

I think you can see it here: http://espn.go.com/college-football/playbyplay?gameId=400763434 

Choose Play by Play and then the Texas touchdown drive in the second half.  The highlight is available.
[/quote
  Talking about RT?  Not sure it was enough and he had already sealed off the Defender so he had not chance to make play.  I would pass on any hold there.

[mishatx]

I think they're talking about the H-Back, #42.

[TxSkyBolt]

Yes 42 not the RT


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