NCAA Football Rumors: When Will Texas Longhorns Fire Mack Brown?

[Just the facts]

If it is video only then it should have been ruled a fumble - because if all you have to look at is video the ISU player had the ball.

[mugofbeer]

As much of an embarassment to the Big12 as the OU-Oregon game was a few years ago to PAC12 officiating

[Just the facts]

No one can touch the PAC 12 on poor officiating. They are literally in a league of their own on that subject.

[SoonerDave]

As much of an embarassment to the Big12 as the OU-Oregon game was a few years ago to PAC12 officiating

And that doesn't even address the cheap-shot leg block that Texas' WR Mike Davis pulled...which Mack actually defended in his post-game presser. The guy was actually so giddy you'd think he'd just won the SuperBowl rather than having just had a win gift-wrapped to him by the refs against one of the worst teams in the conference.

This conference is an absolute debacle. And the whole CFB world got to see it in full color last night. What a joke...Big 12 is a laughingstock.

[dankrutka]

I'm not going to delve into conspiracy theories regarding Texas' last drive. I will say all 3 pass interference calls were legit and while the other 2 calls were more questionable, they were still tough calls. They have gone either way, but the fact that they both went Texas' way looks pretty bad.

Re-watching the strip play it seems the whistle blew maybe a split second after ISU's player had the ball, but it was pretty darn close. I'm not seeing/hearing it as being as obvious of a terrible call as some are saying. Just my opinion.

[dankrutka]

And that doesn't even address the cheap-shot leg block that Texas' WR Mike Davis pulled...which Mack actually defended in his post-game presser. The guy was actually so giddy you'd think he'd just won the SuperBowl rather than having just had a win gift-wrapped to him by the refs against one of the worst teams in the conference.

This conference is an absolute debacle. And the whole CFB world got to see it in full color last night. What a joke...Big 12 is a laughingstock.

Mike Davis should be suspended for a game. He could have caused a serious injury.

Everyone seems to be overreacting a bit. When has there not been bad officiating? Take a look through history and you'll see consistent controversies. Being a ref is a very difficult job. I'll bet if anyone on this board tried it you would be called out as being part of a conspiracy at some point. Bad calls happen. Most of the calls on ISU's final drive were very close. While the Big 12 is down this year (these things have always been cyclical), they're not a laughingstock. Every conference has examples of bad officiating.

[Just the facts]

In the case of the Texas/ISU game - no doubt it was a tough call to make, but that is why we have instant review. the ref blew the whistle which stopped the play - but ISU already had the ball. It is plain as day on the review. Whomever the review official is should have made the correct call. It isn't a bang-bang play for him. He has all the time in the world and 20 angles to see it from. ISU ball at the 3 yard line.

As for Oregon/USC game I linked to - that official should have been fired on the spot and the game delayed until a replacement official could be found.

[dankrutka]

I don't think it's as clear as you make it seem, but maybe you'd be a better ref than me.

[Just the facts]

Sadly - the video posted above doesn't include the replays ESPN showed on the live broadcast - but on the live broadcast the whistle blows and you can easily hear it - but the ISU player already had the ball at that time. Anyhow, it doesn't matter now but if we are going to have instant replay let's at least trust it. The whole "there might have been another whistle the audio didn't pick-up" argument postulated last night is hog-wash. There is a lot of stuff the video doesn't pick up either but we don't just assume it happened because we didn't see it NOT happen.

[SoonerDave]

I don't think it's as clear as you make it seem, but maybe you'd be a better ref than me.

dan,

JTF hit the nail on the head. The replay with audio clearly indicates that no whistle blew until well after the strip occurred. I think that's the whole point - the kid was not "down by contact," he was still driving, no refs are running in from the sidelines as if to call forward progress, and the ISU guy simply walks up and rips the ball from him...And after that, the whistle is blown, and the ref says "down by contact."

Huh?? His knee never even went down.

Even if, arguendo, you think the DPI calls weren't so bad, would you be willing to offer that two of the three were "50/50 balls?" That is, in most other games, do you think they'd have called the same penalty? That was the point I was trying to make about UT getting all three DPI calls. One, sure. Two, ooookay... But all three?? Wow.

And I have no problem standing behind my assertion that the conference is a laughingstock, not just for its officiating, but just in general.

[BoulderSooner]

the problem is even though it was most likely a fumble ... you never actually see the ball come out ..

[SoonerDave]

the problem is even though it was most likely a fumble ... you never actually see the ball come out ..

True, but physically removing the ball from the ballcarrier is still a perfectly legitimate play.

[BoulderSooner]

True, but physically removing the ball from the ballcarrier is still a perfectly legitimate play.

the problem is the rule says "indisputable" ... that means 99% is not good enough ... the call on the field is thought to be a fact ... if is had been ruled a fumble it would have stood ..

[Just the facts]

It is just this simple - when the whistle blew the ball was in the hands of an Iowa St player who had already left the scrum and was running the other way with it. Just because a ref on the field doesn't see it doesn't mean it didn't happen. That is why we have instant replay officials. They are supposed to see what no one else saw - in slow motion, from 20 angles, in HD.

I have been watching some of the PAC10/12 bad calls on YouTube today and holy cow - I don't know how any of them are still employed.

[BoulderSooner]

It is just this simple - when the whistle blew the ball was in the hands of an Iowa St player who had already left the scrum and was running the other way with it. Just because a ref on the field doesn't see it doesn't mean it didn't happen. That is why we have instant replay officials. They are supposed to see what no one else saw - in slow motion, from 20 angles, in HD.

I have been watching some of the PAC10/12 bad calls on YouTube today and holy cow - I don't know how any of them are still employed.

when the sound of the whistle is heard on tv is not relevant .. the ref called the runner down ..

[OKVision4U]

Texas will win that call 100% of the time. The game was on the line and no-one at that stadium wearing Black & White Stripes had enough guts to go against Texas ( in that situation ). The announcers did not want to "labor" to hard on that call, because they did not want to sway it (away) from Mack Brown & Texas Univ. ...big money won that decision.

[Just the facts]

when the sound of the whistle is heard on tv is not relevant .. the ref called the runner down ..

I know - that is what makes it a bad call. The ruled him down by contact - but he never hit the ground until AFTER the whistle. I am not sure the ref knew who the ball carrier was.

[Just the facts]

Texas will win that call 100% of the time. The game was on the line and no-one at that stadium wearing Black & White Stripes had enough guts to go against Texas ( in that situation ). The announcers did not want to "labor" to hard on that call, because they did not want to sway it (away) from Mack Brown & Texas Univ. ...big money won that decision.

I think was just a bad call. If the refs were wanting Texas to win they sure waited until the last minute to do it.

[Bill Robertson]

I know - that is what makes it a bad call. The ruled him down by contact - but he never hit the ground until AFTER the whistle. I am not sure the ref knew who the ball carrier was.

I seldom agree with JTF but in this case he is 100% correct. The call on the field was horrible. I watched every angle the TV coverage had and the ball had to be out of the T.U. players hands before the whistle. The review had to find undisputable evidence to overrule but sometimes indisputable evidence can't be found to overrule what is obviously a bad call if you don't apply time related physics. (I.E. You don't see the ball come loose but you do see the I.S. player with the ball before the whistle was blown. Thus, the ball had to be loose before the T.U. player was down.)

[MonkeesFan]

Mack lives on for another week!

[Stan Silliman]

Check out this picture.

Saban-denies-Texas-rumors-oddly

[Stan Silliman]

This is a better article, better climax, better punch.
Plus, there's a funny cartoon.

Saban_on_Texas

Silliman on Sports
By Stan Silliman

SABAN REJECTS TEXAS RUMORS… ODDLY


It has been rumored Nick Saban might be a candidate for a possible Texas University opening. Bolstered by the fact a Texas regent member sent an agent to meet with Saban.

Pictured above Saban is at a press conference denying these Texas rumors. Let’s listen in:
“I’m old, folks. I’m too damn old to be making any more job changes. I’ll take more questions but first I need a donut for my coffee.”

“Kevin Scarbinsky, Birmingham News, Mr. Saban. Did you just ask for a donut? Chocolate or…?”
“Just a glazed donut. Do you not see my pinky finger poised for a donut? A glazed donut, dammit!”

“Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times, Mr. Saban. Do you want jelly in that glazed donut, Mr. Saban?”
“A plain glazed donut, Mark! Can’t you see my pinky getting tired? I’m pointing at you, Cecil.”

“Me?” says Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News. “I’ll get you your donut, Nick, but you seem to be sending some other signals.”

“What kind of signals, Cecil? Can’t a guy crave a donut and then stick his pinky out without you reading something else into it. And yes, I’m pointing at you again… with my index finger. I’m not going to Texas even if they offered me $ 8,… er… I mean $ 10 million a year. Do I make myself clear? Where’s that donut?”

“Mr. Saban, Tommy Deas here, Tuscaloosa News. I want to ask about D.J. Fluker and possible…”

“Tommy, look at my hand. How many fingers am I holding up? I asked for a donut not once, but TWICE!! See this? Two fingers!!”
SABAN REJECTS TEXAS RUMORS… ODDLY by Stan Silliman humor sports comedy cartoons articles
“Nick. Tommy Nicks, Mobile Register, could the Fluker investigation put Alabama on probation?”

“I don’t want to hear no more Fluker questions. I want my donut, Tommy, and get this, Tommy, if I hear another Fluker question I’m going to take these two fingers, these two, and poke your eyes… your very wide set eyes!!”

“Mr. Saban, it’s Jimmy Smothers, Gasden Times. If the Fluker deal goes South will that drive you to Texas?”

“Jimmy, I said no more Fluker questions. It is everything I can do NOT to flip you the bird. See this? I’m having to hold both my two center fingers down so as to not flip out. I wanted a donut. I asked twice. See this, twice!! Do I have to ask ten million times? I know that’s a good round number, but I shouldn’t have to ask. At Alabama I’ve won TWO national championships!! See this? TWO! I should be able to get a donut and if I wished to poke your eyes with these TWO fingers, I should be permitted. I’d like a donut, a yellow rose flavored glazed donut if you have one. Thanks.”

[BlackmoreRulz]

Man, what a cheap shot...luckily the Ia St guy saw it coming

[mugofbeer]

What makes the situation even more embarrassing for the Big 12 is that the league came out in support of the officials call.

[Laramie]

Mack Brown bought himself some time with this lifesaver.


He will at least finish the year.