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Tudor's Take: Upon further review
Submitted by caultontudor on 10/13/2008 - 12:43
Was anyone really surprised that ACC director of football officials Doug Rhoads endorsed the two controversial late-game TV replay overturns in Saturday’s North Carolina vs. Notre Dame game?
What was the poor guy going to say, “After another day’s review, we’ve determined that the Big East officials on the field were right, and our guy in the booth missed one or both?” Of course not.
And although it’d take longer than a day or two for someone to convince me otherwise, maybe the reversals were correct. I don’t think so. But if you split enough hairs, almost anything can be justified.
The bigger problem, in all of football, is the replay process itself. I understand why it’s there, and it’s certainly not entirely about getting pass receptions and out-of-bounds calls, etc., correct. It’s just as much about keeping officials as honest as possible.
No one — in college or the NFL — will admit as much, but replays came about as another line of protection against gambling. You want to "fix" a game these days, then "fix" an official. Go ask the NBA about that.
In the NFL, officials don’t make millions of dollars each season to do their jobs. Many of the players do. Any NFL player who throws a game or shaves the point spread is dumber than a fifth-grader. There’s no real financial incentive, if you look at it logically. And I say that knowing full well that there are lot of really dumb guys playing pro football.
The colleges essentially just followed the NFL lead, and with good-enough reason. There’s almost as much money bet each week on college football games as the pros.
But at some point, prevention needs to at least rival review at both levels. The NFL and the colleges both make enough money off football to thoroughly investigate those in charge of supervising the games. If every official on a field in the NFL and in the NCAA has to be put through a morality litmus test by the FBI, so be it. But replays only serve to frustrate the paying masses.
There were about 60,000 honest citizens in Kenan Stadium on Saturday night who had the simple reaction of "Huh? Huh again." That’s no way to run an army. There might would have been a riot in the arena had both reviews gone in Notre Dame’s favor.
After years of reviews, the only sport that can reliably say that reversals are totally correct is professional tennis. Everything else is problematic. What’s happened is that the focus has merely been shifted. If the on-field officials are being checked by the replay officials, then what’s next?
Does the replay official have to checked by the double-secret replay detective?
The best option is to trust the officials on the field to have the final word, and then to make sure those officials on the field are on the up and up. Sure, there would be controversial rulings. But after long review, there are still controversial rulings in the booth.
About the blogger
Caulton Tudor has worked for The News & Observer or The Raleigh Times for more than 30 years.Want to post a comment?
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Comments
Here are the official rules
Tue, 10/14/2008 - 12:29 — try harder next time (not verified)The pass was completed. Here are the official rules [http://www.ncaapublications.com]
Completed Pass
ARTICLE 6. Any forward pass is completed when caught by a player of the passing team who is inbounds, and the ball continues in play unless completed in the opponent’s end zone or the pass has been caught simultaneously by opposing players. If a forward pass is caught simultaneously by opposing players inbounds, the ball becomes dead and belongs to the passing team (Rule 2-2-7) (A.R. 2-2-7-III and A.R. 7-3-6-I-IX).
Incompleted Pass
ARTICLE 7. a. Any forward pass is incomplete if the ball is out of bounds by rule or if it touches the ground when not firmly controlled by a player. It also is incomplete when a player leaves his feet and receives the pass but first lands on or outside a boundary line, unless his progress has been stopped in the field of play or end zone (Rule 4-1-3-p) (A.R. 2-2-7-III and A.R. 7-3-7-I).
b. When a legal forward pass is incomplete, the ball belongs to the passing team at the previous spot.
c. When an illegal forward pass is incomplete, the ball belongs to the passing team at the spot of the pass (Exception: If the offended team declines the penalty for an illegal pass thrown from the end zone, the ball shall next be put in play at the previous spot.) (A.R. 7-3-7-II-IV).
Official's integrety isn't the only reason for replay
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 21:55 — Anonymous (not verified)To me, replay's greatest value is due to the sheer ineptitude of some referees in college football (and the acc has especially poor refs). Sometimes they make calls that just completely astound me, like that field goal that was called no good last year. While the replay officials may not always get it right, they have a big advantage over the officials on the field.
Replay
Wed, 10/15/2008 - 21:52 — melvinfurdOf course, in this case, the replay officials were ACC officials and the poster states, "and the acc has especially poor refs". If that is the case, then it would seem to follow that the ACC replay officials are also especially poor refs. Thus it was completely logical for the ACC replay officials to incorrectly overrule the Big East officials who made the correct call or calls on the field.
Woody
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 20:16 — FloydTurboOver the course of Woody's incessant rants, he "directly hinted at it" so I stand by my earlier description. As he got increasingly torqued his "insinuations" soon turned to direct accusations. I'm not a Woody-hater. He is paid to be "a homer" as are all in-house broadcasters. As to the "don't listen" option, if there were an option for play-by-play while at the game I would do so. Legendary (aka "old") radio sports voices like UGa's Larry Munson laced their over-the-top partisanship w/ humor .... Woody Durham simply rants.
Review
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 17:31 — rbl (not verified)I would recommend a remedial English course for Floyd Turbo. There's no such thing as a direct insinuation. One either says something directly or hints at it by insinuation.
F.T.
Wed, 10/15/2008 - 21:53 — melvinfurdAlso courses in logic and objectivity might be in order.
my take from sec 130 row xx seats 19&20 Kenan Staduim
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 16:45 — hemlock_71 (not verified)I was at the heels v irish game and saw first hand what was going on. Deems May got it right and 60,000 others saw it as well. Both Carolina and Notre Dame were both victims of very bad officiating. Unfortuantely for Carolina the calls seem to effect that football team more often than most! I would expect officiating like this from Ron Cherry and his crew but Smith's Big 10 crew was suppose to be the class of that conference. Give me a bloody break, might as well BE Cherry's crew. To the people who are nay saying ,were you even present or did you just watch on tv?? I witnessed live the constant lack of holding and illegal contact penalties throughout. More of these very penalties go against Carolina for some reason. Irish fans were around my section agreeing with Carolina fans of what was going on. Its not just Carolina fans whining but it is viewed by the Irish and neutral fans in attendance of the farce by that Big 10 crew. On Sean Draughns TD run that was called back for holding against Hakeem Nicks, Nicks and the corner he was blocking locked up and as Draughn was passing that corner pulled Nicks to the ground with 2 hand fulls of home Tarheel jersey. The jumbo tron replayed that 2x and was obvious it should have been defensive holding and TD should have counted! Woody Durham was exactly correct in his assessment of the officiating and to suggest of you few who call for him to be silenced is ridiculous! If you do not like what he said turn your radios off! Woody is as fair and consistent as they come! Bottom line: Calls were either blown or not called. Inconsistent at best! Had not been for the Cherry and his ACC worst crew Carolina would be 6-0. Any ACC fan will agree that Cherry and Co. are terrible! Add Smith's Big 10 and review booth crew.
hemlock's take
Wed, 10/15/2008 - 21:56 — melvinfurdThe officials were Big East officials, not Big Ten as you state at least three times in your post.
isn't it odd that unc
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 21:23 — Anonymous (not verified)isn't it odd that unc fan all of a sudden hates ron cherry and acc refs this year? where was this cowling over the past several years? or how about after the "TA TD that wasn't" game in chapel hill? unc fans like you need to get off their high horses. you're hypocrites, and none of us want to hear you whine all the time.
I hate Carolina
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 16:38 — Anonymous (not verified)The first call was wrong and the player truely caught the ball and the ground caused the fumble. The call at the goal line was correct and the final call correct. Not every call will be 100% right but the first one did not have enough evidence to reverse the call. However, the rules in all the leagues need to be changed so that if the wrong call is made it is CORRECTED. By rule in the Chargers-Broncos game the referee made the right ruling but the ball should have returned to the Chargers. The rules should be that a team should not be given an unfair advantage.
don't listen
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 16:04 — Anonymous (not verified)if you despise the UNC broadcasts with Woody Durham so much, don't listen
The Lunatic Fringe
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 15:13 — FloydTurboNo question that Woody Durham throws red meat to "the lunatic fringe" with his direct insinuations that "they're cheating us". He's done it before. Learfield needs to unplug his mic.
Enough already
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 14:37 — Anonymous (not verified)i dont know why everyone is still whining about this whole "replay thing"
UNC got the win regardless of the calls!
there is no such thing as a good offical
stop crying about it!
GO HEELS! ; B. Tate will be missed =[
UNC versus Notre Dame and The Team in Stripes
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 14:27 — Jon (not verified)I was at the game - and even the Notre Dame fans in the stands were questioning the calls. I could argue the late 4th quarter UNC reception as 'inconclusive.' The fumble at the "7" was a fumble. The non-call for offensive pass interference on the ND touchdown at the end of the first quarter - please.
Tennis is quick and easy - in or out. Football is about possession and placement. Instant replay is not going to go away. The question that needs to be answered is "When a call is missed can the replay officials fix a missed call?" The 'let'em play ball' in the final minutes/play-offs mentality is wrong. Enforce the rules all the time.
Absolutely right. Replay in
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 14:23 — Anonymous (not verified)Absolutely right. Replay in tennis is a stunning technology. I think it also works in hockey, due to the speed of the game and the limited use of replay. Otherwise, replay should be done away with in all other sports at all levels. Imperfection of officials is as much a part of the game as a pitcher who totes an 8.65 ERA through the season ...
Sportsmanship
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 14:05 — Voice of reason (not verified)Listening to the UNC radio broadcast Sat about the review of the first down call on the field, Mr. Durham said several things that were nonsense about this. First, he pointed out that the officials were from the Big Ten (apparently wrongly according to your report). He correctly identified the replay official as an ACC official. He further noted that he had been warned to "watch out" if Big Ten officials were involved in a close game with a team outside the Big Ten. Note that the on the field non-ACC officials had made the call favorable to UNC! This seems "bush league" and I thought ACC was really pushing the schools to try to encourage sportsmanship over the last couple of years. I wonder if the UNC AD or the ACC Commish will do anything to encourage UNC to promote sportsmanship on their radio broadcasts.
Oh, give us a break. All the
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 18:38 — Anonymous (not verified)Oh, give us a break. All the radio broadcasters are "homers." Try listening to a Duke basketball game with Bob Harris and telling us about "sportsmanship."
how could you...
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 14:23 — izzykareemlisten to woody durham. I remember when he and Mick Mixon used to do the broadcast and it was galling. The best part though is to tune in when UNC-CH is losing a bball game and here woody try to stiffen that upper lip; that makes it palatable.
Amen...
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 13:00 — ewarnockI'll take Tudor' eyes (and opinion) over anything that happened Saturday in the replay booth.
of course you will
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 14:21 — izzykareemthe replays i saw, both officials got it right. Foster never caught the ball, he trapped it with his forearm against his body.
You must be a Big East or
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 21:08 — True Blue Tarheel (not verified)You must be a Big East or Notre Dame fan.I blind man could see that was a legitimate catch.The reversal doesn't surprise me though.Notre Dame has been getting that type of preferential treatment for years.I truly expected them to give the ball back to the Irish after the obvious fumble/lateral at the end.
I totally agree with you. I
Thu, 10/16/2008 - 13:03 — dsb311I totally agree with you. I live near Washington, D.C. and I appalled at the officiating.And I do question the officiating who says they are not above cheating.
Paragon
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 17:16 — YoureAJoke (not verified)IzzyKareem, paragon of willful ignorance.
hmm
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 21:49 — izzykareemexactly what is "willful ignorance"? I just don't like UNC-CH and spend what freetime i have when i'm not fighting crime and world hunger to try and make most tarholes' lives unbearable. Doesn't mean that I am ignorant or that I have chosen to be ignorant if that's what you are implying or insinuating or alluding to by using the word "willful".
I think you read it somewhere the other day and you are just dying to use the phrase on someone.
sic em izzy
Tue, 10/14/2008 - 10:26 — Anonymous (not verified)sic em izzy
replay
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 16:29 — Anonymous (not verified)trapping the ball with his forearm IS a catch. didn't you see the helmet catch in the super bowl?
not if...
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 21:53 — izzykareemyou then hit the ground and it comes free. If only tarhole fans even understood the thing they claim to be seeing with their eyes: college football. This isn't the NFL. Why don't you be a grown-up and get an account and a fake name so at least we have some idea of who you aren't - anonymous Hole.