Bowl Game Officiating

[ukblue22]

I have been watching a lot of Bowl Game football the last couple weeks and have found a recurring theme in each game. The officiating seems to be making a point of slowing down the games. They have called penalties that I never heard of, like the out of the play hit on Stevie Johnson, or the High Stepping penalty on the Kansas interception runback Thursday night. BTW - I've noticed it most often when and SEC team is blowing the whistle.

Is it just me or are the officials trying to show off their control of the game? This is the NCAA, not the NFL (No Fun League) and the participants are just kids. I know they are expected to behave in a "professional" manner. (I don't mean like a NFL player) However, at some point don’t the officials need to back off and let the kids have some fun?

[gerntz]

If the offiicals don't call what their conference wants they'd be out. Blame them, not the refs. And they must control the games. Whether those rules are right is the question.

[lighthouse]

Several things need to be considered. First, the crews for bowl games are put together with the highest rated officials from their conference so, they only work together once a year and are not used to each other. This can cause more discussion after a flag. Second and naturally so, they want to put their best foot forward because it's an honor to be chosen to work a bowl game. Therefore they will probably be prepared better. Thirdly, officials need to be sharp but unlike the players, they haven't been able to "practice" since the regular season ended. This can make them "rusty." I'm not taking up for them, I just wanted everyone to know how it's done.

We had a Big East crew work our game, and I heard but not confirmed, that one of the officials is from Louisville.

[yitbos]

Also...a point of emphasis all year has been unsportsmanlike conduct. The high stepping penalty was just like the guy from FSU who dove into the end zone, its unsportsmanlike, there is no need for it and I for one am glad they are cracking down on it.

As for why they don't let them have "fun", you can have fun without taunting the opponent or acting like an idiot. The refs let them celebrate for the most part with no flags because after pretty much every play you see someone celebrating something. When it needs to be stopped is when you deliberately do something to taunt the other team. If you let things like that go on too far, you are only asking for trouble.

[VirginiaBlue]

Also...a point of emphasis all year has been unsportsmanlike conduct. The high stepping penalty was just like the guy from FSU who dove into the end zone, its unsportsmanlike, there is no need for it and I for one am glad they are cracking down on it.

As for why they don't let them have "fun", you can have fun without taunting the opponent or acting like an idiot. The refs let them celebrate for the most part with no flags because after pretty much every play you see someone celebrating something. When it needs to be stopped is when you deliberately do something to taunt the other team. If you let things like that go on too far, you are only asking for trouble.

Wife and I had a discussion about it when the KU guy did his high-stepping thing. She definitely agrees with you. I do, too, but I don't think it's consistent. On just about every sack or hard tackle, the defensive guy stands over his victim and thumps his chest. I think that's a much worse form of taunting than celebrating a TD. Especially when the guy he just hit is laid out on the field, as is often the case.

[ukcatfan]

What crew is going to call Mondays game??

THE WORLD DOES NOT NEED A BIG EAST CREW, EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lighthouse]

What crew is going to call Mondays game??

THE WORLD DOES NOT NEED A BIG EAST CREW, EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They could be from anywhere except the SEC or Big 10. My guess, a Big 12 or West coast crew.