Coaches & ADs Speaking Out

Any time coaches and ADs in big division 1 conferences start openly questioning the integrity of college football officiating, it’s time to take note. That is because coaches know they’re going to get fined whether they are right or not about the officiating, but they speak out anyway. That’s because they’re right: college football officiating, particularly this past weekend, stinks. In particular, it seems that officials, for whatever reason,  aren’t making propoer use of the instant replay tool made available to them (Ohio State vs Illinois and Oregon State vs. Washington). Suspect timing of offensive holding calls raise even more troubling questions (Texas Tech vs. Texas) because of potential point shaving and gambling implications. Perhaps it is too early to use the NBA approach in calling for background checks on all officials, but somehow there needs to be a way for the right call to be made and made in time so that the game’s pace and outcome isn’t altered. Kids train too hard for too long to have their dreams shattered by a ref who doesn’t like using instant replay. Coaches, fans and players demand a lot of themselves to get prepared to play a great game at such a high level. Why then, is it too much to ask of the same from the officials? The fault and burden of responsibility resides at the conference level, and so far the Pac 10 seems to be bringing up the rear with complaints after just about every game. Let’s hope they get it right soon, because one day something terrible and heartbreaking is going to happen, much like it did in the NBA, but by then it will be too late for a lot of fans.