Tuxi’s Blog

I’ll say upfront that I’m an alumnus of the University of Oklahoma. I also get overly absorbed in their football games (whenever I watch them). That said, I was very upset with the replay officiating in the game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Oregon Ducks yesterday, 16 September.

After coming within six points of the Sooners, the Ducks attempted an on-side kick. The officials on the field ruled that the Ducks had successfully covered the ball and awarded them possession. In the replay shown on TV it was so obvious that the announcers said that the ball had been touched by a Duck before it travelled 10 yards. (One of the announcers, Dan Fouts, is an Oregon alumnus, so any bias should be pro-Duck.) After the replay official reviewed the play the referee announced that there was conclusive video evidence that Oklahoma had touched the ball first. I don’t know what video he saw, but no Oklahoma player touched the ball until after the Oregon player did. One went for the ball but was boxed out by the Duck who did touch the ball.

To add insult to injury, on a play during the drive that followed the on-side kick, the replay official was quoted as indicating that there was no conclusive evidence that a ball was tipped on a pass play where Oklahoma was called for pass interference. While I couldn’t clearly see the player tip the ball, it was obvious that the trajectory of the ball was altered. It doesn’t matter who tips the ball to negate pass interference, only that the ball was tipped. I guess the replay official flunked physics; otherwise, he couldn’t have made the call he did.

In spite of these calls, the Sooners had an opportunity to win with a 42-yard field goal as time expired. Oregon blocked the kick for the win.

Yes, I’m upset at the officiating. But I’m also disappointed that the Sooner defense couldn’t seem to stop Oregon on their last two drives. I’m also disappointed that the Sooner offense couldn’t turn more turnovers into touchdowns.

(20 September 2006) I see now where the officials have been reprimanded by the Pac 10 conference and Stoops (head coach of Oklahoma) has taken ownership of the OU failures to score more or stop Oregon on their drive(s).