Quick Whistles Sink Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes helped the Fighting Illinis by playing bad football on Saturday, but they didn’t get much help from the refereeing crew either. The crew refereeing the game made two mistakes, one that cost the Buckeyes 7 points, and one that may have cost them a takeaway. The 4th play from from scrimmage, afteR OSU took a 7-0 lead on a 2-play, 76 yard drive, was a 80 yard run by Illinois halfback Daniel Dufrene that ened with him being chased own a shoved out of bounds at the Ohio State 2 yard line. As he went out of bounds, the ball came loose, squirted into the end-zone and was scooped by an Ohio Sate defender. But the whistle had sounded and the play was blown dead, Illinois ball at the two yard-line. Replayes clearly showed that that the ball was fumbled in bounds, and would have been a touchback. And while the Ohio State coach’s booth was asleep and should have called a timeout and asked for a review, the referee blew the whistle too quickly, and Illinois quickly snapped the ball and scored before anyone figued out that thay play should have been reviewed. Later, in the second period, a hit on a Illinois receiver knocked the ball loose and OSU linebacker James Laurinitis grabbed it and was on his way deep into Illinois territory, but that play also had been whistled dead an incomplete pass. Replayed showed what appeared to be a catch and fumble, but again, there was no review. Instant replay is a tool to be used by referees to help in making difficult calls, but it only works if officials don’t blow play dead on quick whistles and let the play play out, so that it can be reversed if need be. By blowing these two plays dead prematurely on quick whistles, the referees cheated fans, players and schools of the their right to a video review and the correct call, and it cost the Buckeyes least 7 points, the game, and a shot at the national championship.