It’s almost 24 hours later, and it’s still hard to believe how badly Washington got screwed at the end of their game against BYU. I know I shouldn’t be shocked by a blown call by a Pac-10 officiating crew (the Tweedledums of the college football world) in the Pacific Northwest (there is precedent after all), but I still am. Even more shocking: the blown call went against the Pac-10 team.
Here’s what happened - Washington’s Jake Locker scored on an amazing scramble with two seconds left to bring the Huskies to within one point of the Cougars. As Ty Willingham appeared to be signaling an all-or-nothing two-point conversion attempt, the officials threw am extremely dubious flag on Locker for excessive celebratio. Which led to a blocked 35-yard PAT attempt and a heartbreaking 28-27 loss for Washington.
Video after the jump.
Larry Farina, the referee who made the call is claiming that he had no choice but to throw the flag:
“After scoring the touchdown, the player threw the ball into the air and we are required, by rule, to assess a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty,” Farina said in a statement given to Washington officials. “It is a celebration rule that we are required to call. It was not a judgment call.”
My first instinct is to say that common sense should trump anything else, and if it doesn’t feel right to throw a flag that might change the outcome of the game, don’t throw it. But if that is how the rule is written to be enforced, it needs to be changed now. It’s out of order. Larry Farina, you’re out of order. This whole damned system is out of order!
As the SEATTLE TIMES noted, Locker seemed more confused than sorry in a post-game interview, and rightfully so:
“I guess I’m sorry for celebrating the game of football,” Locker said in a postgame radio interview.
Penalties for taunting, or celebrations designed to “show up” the other team? Fine. But telling a kid who scores a huge touchdown in front of 80,000 people not to get excited? Baloney. Maybe the NCAA can start growing some Pod People in their offices/labs, but until then, they need to understand that the game is played by real kids who are 18-22 (except at BYU, where they are 40 and over) who sometimes get excited.
6:19 pm on September 7th, 2008
tell those douches on the UW o-line to block….if you hit the PAT you go to overtime and the officials do not matter.
7:48 pm on September 7th, 2008
I hate when idiots like Ross say, “Well if such and such would of caught that ball he dropped in the third quarter they wouldn’t have needed to make the field goal.” The point is they shouldn’t have to do more than what they did do to win the game. It was a horrible call and they should issue an apology. On the bright side for husky fans, at least they get a new coach.
11:23 pm on September 7th, 2008
hey andrew - if you bend over and touch your toes and perhaps suck some more d, ricky n. might leave brentwood and come back and make your program more relevant than wazzu.
i am sure that you enjoy the bottom of the pile….
2:08 am on September 8th, 2008
I don’t believe that the officals cost the huskies the game. Stopping BYU’s concurrent drives in the fourth quarter would have. That being said and as a football official I gotta say that was a BS call. They said it was not a judgement call but just about every call in football is a judgement call. The rule says something about not throwing the ball high in the air - whose judgement is it to how high is high. I think that officiating crew should be held down on the 50 during halftime at the rose bowl and tickled until they pee themselves
8:56 pm on September 8th, 2008
“if you hit the PAT you go to overtime and the officials do not matter.”
Fairly obvious UW was planning to go for 2 were it not for the penalty.
11:05 pm on September 8th, 2008
Fairly obvious UW was planning to go for 2 were it not for the penalty.
Go for 2 as the home team? You are not Boise State pulling an upset in the fiesta bowl. I know that UW / Willingham are desperate for a win, but come on…