Hating on the $EC - Mostly Alabama (and a little Georgia too)

[Mike]

He said he's outgrown Alabama.

[AlabamAlum]

unique way to get your walking papers

send a dikpik to your coaches daughter asking if she wants your horse

bye bye koht

crash,

Many say that story is apocryphal made up by some guy on Twitter looking for clicks and that he actually got kicked for have a decked out Glock with a switch. Maybe both. I don’t know.

That said, I would greatly appreciate it, crash, if you would keep your rancid fecal spew from this one thread. I don’t think that’s a big ask. In return I will stay away from whatever board you call your home: K-State, pedophillia thread, general dumbassery, whatever.

[Mike]

[crashcourse]

no you can continue posting on the general dumbassery thread

I will honor your ask since it means that much to ya

[AlabamAlum]

Wiz,

Talking with some friends at the bar last night about college officiating. I told them I knew a very old one-time college official who is now crippled and retired who I could pick his brain on this. So here goes:

1. Did you ever see, or have you ever been a part of in any way, make-up calls? In other words, you ever see a call that you think was wrong, but one of the officials called it, and so you (or another ref) makes a technically correct, but ticky-tack make-up call that normally you/they would have left the flag in your/their pocket?

2. You hear all the time when a conference's cash cow/highest ranked team heading for a championship gets a favorable call(s) that the refs were “protecting” that team. You ever get pressured -directly or implied- from a conference commissioner or conference director of officiating- to protect that team? If so, what did you do?

3. You ever work with an official who was making so many one-sided questionable calls in key situations against a team that you thought they were biased to the point of trying to artificially influence the game? If so, how did you handle that? Did you ever suspect they had money on the game?

Thanks in advance.

[lineygoblue]

I have experience with all those questions, but I'll let WIz take charge here.

[AlabamAlum]

Liney,

I thought about including you, but you were HSAA, correct? Weigh in from that perspective, please?

[lineygoblue]

I never worked any college ball.

The highest level I worked was semi-pro ball. And that's not really a big deal.

Brand new first year guys can work semi-pro. If you're willing to be screamed at and breaking up fights for 3 hours.

Question 1: In HS ball, I'll admit to doing a handful of make-up calls. I could tell lots of stories, but short version is, I've done it, and so did guys I worked with. It happens.

Question 2: In HS ball, I don't ever recall receiving instructions from any of our state leaders to protect or give favorable calls to a top team. But I do recall MANY times where only "select" officials were allowed to work "big" games. Over and over again. Same crew, same matchup, every year. Was there influence there? I don't know, but it never looked good to me.

Question 3: Yes. In my last game with my original crew, we used a substitute Umpire in a game where the home team had the longest HS winning streak in the country. (I won't mention the name but some of you may remember me talking about them) We didn't really have time to vett this guy, because we needed a substitute, and he was available, and had experience. He was recommended by a well-respected assigner. Anyway, ON THE WAY TO THE GAME, he admitted that he hated the HC of the home team. "Can't stand the guy". During the game he flagged that team several times for what I considered to be ticky-tack calls. It was one of the most miserable games I was ever a part of. Afterward, I told that assignor that I never wanted to work with that guy again. I don't think this guy had money on the game, but he had a hard-on for the HC of the undefeated team. It was awful.

--

I'm sure Wiz has some far better war stories than I do ...

[AlabamAlum]

Nice stories. Tell me about the make-up calls. Did you talk to the other ref after the game about his questionable flags?

[lineygoblue]

Nice stories. Tell me about the make-up calls. Did you talk to the other ref after the game about his questionable flags?

Make up calls:

These are tough to get away with if you do it too soon. If you toss a make up call flag on the next play, its too obvious. And a make-up call doesn't actually have to involve a penalty. Maybe its a situation where you are spotting forward progress. Maybe you give those few extra inches to signal a first down, instead of marking it a foot short. There's ways to do it, but you can't be real obvious about it. I don't want to bore you with war stories, but I have done it.

As for the substitute umpire who worked with us at the defending state champion, yes, I did speak to him after the game. It got real quiet in our locker room afterward when I spoke up. I told him that I spent the entire freaking night defending his flags, and getting screamed at by the coach that he hated. I told him that I'd never work a game with him again, if he was going to bring that attitude with him. Got real quiet. He said something about my appearance, (being overweight), and that's when the R stood up and got between us. He told me to finish getting dressed and head on out to the car. He stayed and spoke to the loudmouth after I left, and when the R came out to the car, he said, "He's going to find another way home". I never saw either of them again. Its the closest I ever got to having a fight with a fellow official. The R and I never worked another game together either. Last I heard, he joined another crew as a back judge.

This is why crews have to have a good chemistry together. You don't leave your partners hanging out there, and you don't throw them under the bus either. You have to strike a happy medium where you can be constructively critical, but not beating up on him. When you have a group of guys who are there to work hard together, but also have some fun at the same time, it can be a great time. Those are usually the best crews to work with. Guys who take pride in how they work, how they look, and how they approach the game. I had an opportunity to work with a R who is already in the Michigan Sports HOF as a Referee. He asked me to fill in one night on my crew. I had a fantastic time. He was a real pro. I wish I could have recorded his pregame talk with us. He didn't sweat the small stuff, but he insisted that you work your area. He didn't fish in anyone else's pond.

I've gone too far. Sorry 'bout that... I rattle on and on sometimes ...

[Cody_Russell]

It’s funny how many times you see a ticky-tac holding call after a team benefits from an egregious bad call. Seems like a make up call whenever that happens.

Ole Miss and Indiana still might be both projected in the CFP field after their losses today. If I’m wrong about that and it becomes an either or between those two teams… ha! Get ready for a 3 loss SEC team vs 1 loss B1G team debate. That would be entertaining… Indiana’s résumé is terrible, but at what point do losses matter? It should and 3 losses is a ton.

Good for Billy Napier and Florida.
Most likely a 7-5 season record is a miracle given their schedule. As some labeled it the toughest schedule ever entering the season. It didn’t turn out to be that tough, but still difficult.

[AlabamAlum]

Indiana’s resume is beyond horrible. The best two teams they have beaten both have 5 losses. Everyone else they have beaten has a losing record. Zero wins against the current top 25. They play a legit team in Ohio State and get bounced outta the stadium by 23 points (and it coulda/shoulda been much worse). Their last game is Purdue. Jfc. I’m not saying Ole Miss has earned a spot, but the Hoosiers are a sham.

I am pretty good at evaluating cfb teams. Google me (rolls eyes).

[iam416]

Fuck off.

[AlabamAlum]

Anyway, the BigTen is Oregon and Ohio State and the Buckeyes are easily the best team.

[iam416]

They’re probably gonna play 3 times. Or, there’s a very credible chance it will happen.