crooked refs

[No_Skill]

My questions have more to do with the spot after declaring it complete.
In other words, if that was a 4th down play.....did they get at least get the spot right?

If I remember right, he was well past the first down marker.

[semobison]

I thought the Instant replay ref's messed up a couple of tines in the Nova-App st. game also. In a couple of cases there, they wouldn,t reverse the call on the field?...Our biggest gift was when EWU's reciever dropped a sure TD that would of put us down 21-3....I agree, never should have went into overtime though...Damn the prevent defense!

[IndyBison]

I'm still trying to see a clear replay. Everything I've seen so far is from the webcasts and too small to see on my computer screen. When I saw the one replay during the espn3 live broadcast I thought he was down but wasn't sure if the ball was coming loose as he was throwing his arms forward. They didn't show another one after I saw that. I'm guessing the replay official saw the same thing and that doubt may have caused him to uphold the ruling on the field.

If the Referee announces "the ruling on the field stands" that means the replay official didn't see enough evidence to overturn the call on the field. If he would have said "the ruling on the field is confirmed" that means the replay official felt the officials on the field definitely got it right.

Still pictures are worthless on a play like this because you can't tell what kind of control the runner has on the ball. Same with the catch near the sideline. I wasn't watching yet when that play happened so I haven't seen it yet.

The Bison may have been on the wrong end of a couple very close judgment calls (we were probably on the right end of a couple as well but as fans we don't notice or remember those...for example I thought I saw a hold on Siger's KO return), but these were not horrible officiating errors. They were very tough close calls. I bet I could show good video of this to a group of officials (who have no vested interest in the outcome or knowledge of what was ruled) and there would probably not be a 100% consensus.

As fans, feel free to criticise a call like this. It's a close judgment call that could have gone either way and both teams would have felt cheated based on the decision. That's what makes us fans. I'm glad to see most of us still praising the Bison for their incredible season and realize this isn't the only reason we lost the game. The future is very bright!!

[Gully]

I'm an MSU fan so really didn't care who won the game yesterday and, unfortunately (had to Christmas shop with my wife) only saw the fourth quarter but just getting that small taste showed me what kind of game it really must have been. It was one of those games that you don't want to see end if you're a neutral observer. I was hoping you guys would score in OT and keep it going. Personally, I think you guys got screwed on the final call. It was clear to me that the runner was down before losing the ball. That said, it's always easy to look at one play (i.e. the Boise State loss) and focus on that but how about the personal foul one of your guys got when you would have had a third and short around their ten yard line with five minutes left and a 7 point lead? You end up getting the FG blocked and nothing out of the drive. Since I only saw the fourth quarter I'm sure you guys can point out several other things that if just one of them go your way you win the game.
As a high school coach myself, I always tell my players that you have to be so much better than your opponent, outscore them by so much, that you take the refs out of the game...you make them irrelevant. That's easier said that done but it's a philosophy that takes the focus away from one play that most people think lost the game (i.e. your fumble at the end). If you take care of business throughout the game then you don't have to depend on the refs making the right call.
You guys had a great season and a great team and your program is on the way up . Wish you would have joined the Big Sky with UND. Would have been fun to have two huge rivals in the same conference. What are your thoughts on that? It must be frustrating not to play UND every year. The Cat-Griz game is the biggest sporting event in Montana each year. Wouldn't it be nice to get the Bison-Sioux rivalry going again?

The personal foul call I thought was crap as well.

I agree if we blew everyone out we would diminish our chances of getting screwed by the refs. Sadly, no team can always blow everyone out.

[bisonmike2]

I'm still trying to see a clear replay. Everything I've seen so far is from the webcasts and too small to see on my computer screen. When I saw the one replay during the espn3 live broadcast I thought he was down but wasn't sure if the ball was coming loose as he was throwing his arms forward. They didn't show another one after I saw that. I'm guessing the replay official saw the same thing and that doubt may have caused him to uphold the ruling on the field.

If the Referee announces "the ruling on the field stands" that means the replay official didn't see enough evidence to overturn the call on the field. If he would have said "the ruling on the field is confirmed" that means the replay official felt the officials on the field definitely got it right.

Still pictures are worthless on a play like this because you can't tell what kind of control the runner has on the ball. Same with the catch near the sideline. I wasn't watching yet when that play happened so I haven't seen it yet.

The Bison may have been on the wrong end of a couple very close judgment calls (we were probably on the right end of a couple as well but as fans we don't notice or remember those...for example I thought I saw a hold on Siger's KO return), but these were not horrible officiating errors. They were very tough close calls. I bet I could show good video of this to a group of officials (who have no vested interest in the outcome or knowledge of what was ruled) and there would probably not be a 100% consensus.

As fans, feel free to criticise a call like this. It's a close judgment call that could have gone either way and both teams would have felt cheated based on the decision. That's what makes us fans. I'm glad to see most of us still praising the Bison for their incredible season and realize this isn't the only reason we lost the game. The future is very bright!!

Rationale insight is not allowed in this thread!

[02Bison]

The personal foul call I thought was crap as well.

I agree if we blew everyone out we would diminish our chances of getting screwed by the refs. Sadly, no team can always blow everyone out.

Or continually spotting opponents 14 points before sacking up and playing.

[IndyBison]

Rationale insight is not allowed in this thread!

I'm sorry. I won't do it again. I know message boards are for irrational thoughts only.

[Gully]

Or continually spotting opponents 14 points before sacking up and playing.

And even despite that we were still there right at the end, going with the ball near the goal line and then.............

[No_Skill]

I'm sorry. I won't do it again. I know message boards are for irrational thoughts only.

I was actually waiting for your insight on the call.

[99Bison]

Not over turning those replay's were not judgement calls, they were plain as day.
- On the catch replay you could even see the ball even bounce unevenly off the turf.
- On the fumble elbow (at least) down.