This just in Pac-10 replay officials still suck. Like a vacuum in a black hole. It’s hard to call play-by-play for a game that is so poorly officiated that my color commentator is nearly falling over the balcony in front of me.
He could have died. Really.For those of you who don’t follow what I am talking about — get this. The Oregon State Beaver football game on Saturday was quite possible the most worthlessly officiated game in the history of officiating. The first referee to use the penalty flag back on September 17, 1948 is probably rolling in his grave.
The OSU vs. UW game went down to the wire, 29-23, no thanks to the teams on the field. The officiating was bad, but acceptable, until Yvenson Bernard had a touchdown run taken from him like gust of wind on a bad toupee. The Beavers drove down the field and Bernard did score on a short rush with about 2:38 left. He cut through the middle of he UW defense and was caught at the two-yard line. Falling forward, Bernard held the ball out, reaching for the goal line. He reached the ball across, hit the ground, and the ball popped loose. That’s when the hysteria ensued. Not from Yvenson Bernard, though. He stood, motionless, in protest at the one yard line. He lay on the ground after the ball crossed the plane of the goal line. He was still while the ball rolled on the ground. Stationary while it was picked up by Washington’s Roy Lewis. He stood, but remained motionless while the ball was returned 40 yards up the field. Not moving an inch until the Oregon State defense took the field.
That’s when the call was really blown. In college football, referees are informed to let the play ride. If the ball comes out, let the play continue and let the booth overturn a play. If a team has a timeout, they can call timeout, and politely ask the booth to take another look. It’s supposed to be a “checks and balance” system. No one told that to the booth upstairs. After the fumble return, the UW offense ran onto the field like the sidelines were on fire. Their only safe haven was in a huddle on the 33 yard line. They got a play off. UW called a play, walked to the line, ran a cadence, and got the snap off before the booth got done picking their noses and flicking their bugars. I’d bet they never even turned to the replay screen.
Disgusting? I know! To think that Washington could get a play called after such a monumental error on the field is flooring.
Something needs to be done. Something, anything. Save the Pac-10. The officials right now couldn’t correctly make a call to Bert if they were on a Sesame Street phone. Bernard was down. The ground caused the fumble. And to be honest, he looked like he was in the endzone.I’m floored, absolutely floored.
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