Big Sky Refs among best in FCS... (Don't shoot the messenger)

[Griz in Texas]

Just off top of my head

- Costal Carolina - Griz get a much needed first down with time running out, run an entire play afterwards, and then the refs blow it dead for a replay on the play prior and reverse it. WTF was that

- Camera-gate - the 17 camera angles lacking at sac st when replay was blatantly obvious anyways

Yes, someone posted that on here because Trey Bender was on that call. The play they went back to review was judged to stand on the catch, but the play ran after that which set up a first and goal was ruled not to have been run even though the replay showed none of the crew stopped it.

That was not a Big Sky crew though, it was a playoff game.

We got a big apology from the NCAA on that one and Coastal lost in Fargo the next week.

 

[EverettGriz]

If big sky refs statistically rank high then I feel very sorry for the other conferences.

Yeah I sincerely question this "rating" system. If they're only graded on calls they make -- which it would appear from the way the article is written -- I'd believe they'd grade out well. Because so often in the bsc, the misses are the obvious non-calls and the inconsistency in calls.

For example, if there is a blatant hold which materially affects a play which is not whistled, does that count against the official? My hunch is no, and if those were were included, the "correct" percentages would be drastically lowered

 

[footballdood]

Yeah I've never understood why some calls still aren't reviewable, even with the advent of replay. When everyone has already seen the replay and knows that a call was wrong, it should be reviewed and be able to be overturned. Back in the old days it was a different story, no one had cameras and we had to just depend on the officials eyesight and judgment. Things are different now, but I also think they don't want to let "less consequential" calls be reviewable because then it tends to lengthen the game and we all know that the goal is to shorten the game as much as possible.

At the same time, as much as we do like to complain about the officiating, it does tend to even out over the course of a game. Usually bad calls go both ways.

Not saying I disagree entirely, but at some point you have to draw a line, otherwise we get to a point where every play is reviewed. Like how they say there's holding on every play, do we want a world where every play is reviewed for holding?

But I agree expansion at some level is needed. Like, when EWU "missed" the field goal at the Kibbie Dome despite video replay showing it was actually good. Funny thing about that one, I was talking about it to a co-worker after. He used to create stadiums for the NCAA video game football series, and he distinctly remembered the Kibbie Dome's layout even causing all sorts of problems for the development team.

 

[AZGrizFan]

Officials at all levels work hard. And they usually do get calls right. Especiallly with replay. Officials are instructed by their governing body (NFHS , NCAA and NFL) what are going to be the "points of emphasis" for the season. Many of these are safety related. The coaches are updated on these points far in advance of the season. Officials on the whole try to be consistent in enforcing these. They don't make the rules but they get the heat for what are often vague or poorly written rule changes. All football officials at all three levels are not full time (even NFL which I think is crazy) and they spend a lot time (non paid) learning, studying and trying to correct things. If you watch a game and don't talk about officials then they did a great job. If you watch a game and complain about one or two plays out of 180 the they probably still did a great job.

But sometimes they need 17 cameras to get it right.

 

[uofmman1122]

Just off top of my head

- Costal Carolina - Griz get a much needed first down with time running out, run an entire play afterwards, and then the refs blow it dead for a replay on the play prior and reverse it. WTF was that

- Camera-gate - the 17 camera angles lacking at sac st when replay was blatantly obvious anyways

Don't forget calling Peter Nguyen catching a kickoff in the endzone as he was stepping out the back without ever stepping in the field of play a safety in 2010.

 

[EverettGriz]

Don't forget calling Peter Nguyen catching a kickoff in the endzone as he was stepping out the back without ever stepping in the field of play a safety in 2010.

Yeah that call has to be a top ten all time worst call in college football. And what's remarkable is the officials got together and talked about it. And not one of them said, "uhhh, yeah, uhh, I don't think that's a safety"??

 

[uofmman1122]

Yeah that call has to be a top ten all time worst call in college football. And what's remarkable is the officials got together and talked about it. And not one of them said, "uhhh, yeah, uhh, I don't think that's a safety"??

It's certainly the worst call I've ever seen in person, but thankfully we won that game, and it lead to one of the most thrilling endings I've seen in a Griz game.

 

[oldrunner]

Yeah I sincerely question this "rating" system. If they're only graded on calls they make -- which it would appear from the way the article is written -- I'd believe they'd grade out well. Because so often in the bsc, the misses are the obvious non-calls and the inconsistency in calls.

For example, if there is a blatant hold which materially affects a play which is not whistled, does that count against the official? My hunch is no, and if those were were included, the "correct" percentages would be drastically lowered

I think the missed calls are included in the evaluations. I know that coaches will send in video of what they feel were missed calls and the replay guys and official evaluators review every play. Even with 7 officials on the field, not everything will be seen. Players know it and coaches know it. Fans have a hard time with it.

 

[fanofzoo]

I think the missed calls are included in the evaluations. I know that coaches will send in video of what they feel were missed calls and the replay guys and official evaluators review every play. Even with 7 officials on the field, not everything will be seen. Players know it and coaches know it. Fans have a hard time with it.

I think the fact that "not everything is seen" misses the mark, it's what is seen and not handled correctly.

 

[mtgriz]

You win some. You lose some. Yohance fumbled in overtime against EWU and the game should have been over. They called him down by contact even though the telecast replay showed that they kicked the call. (No replay review back then.) We also pulled one out of the fire against Cal Poly when Ryan Bagley got a first down spot on a fourth down pass when he was at least a half yard short.