Problem with replay officials system is

[o_HubDawg]

that they are "officials" and don't want to upstage their buddies. I've officiated and the one thing you're always told is "Those guys in stripes are your ONLY friends. DO NOT make your partner look bad." This mindset means that they are going to make DAMN sure that it's totally one sided before they go against their buddies on the field. ADD that to the SEC protecting their cash cows and you get this situation. I said in 1998 when we lost to UT in the SEC Championship game that they will take care of their sacred cows.

And I don't think it's specific programs as much as it is teams with opportunities to win a national championship because of the $$$. If we were 11-0 and ranked #1 in the BCS, we'd probably get the benefit of these BS calls too. Especially if we had a shot at a national championship.

 

[Todd4State]

because the whole point is to get the call right. It's not about showing up anyone as much as it is making sure that the quality of the officiating is the highest it can be.

If the replay official is trying to not hurt the officials on the field's feelings, then A.- he's not doing his job, and B- I have to further question the integrity of the system.

 

[BCash]

...that wasn't a play where the official "made a bad call" and would look like a moron. That's pretty standard procedure, you call it a touchdown because he got into the endzone and it was so close..THEN you review it and over-rule or confirm that call. That's just the way things go. The ref wouldn't have looked stupid if it had been overturned because it was such a close call. What makes the refs look dumber: reviewing it correctly and making the right call, or reviewing it and STILL missing the call?

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

The officials can clan up on their own time.</p>

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

The replay official should be trained how to do the job of reviewing replays, not a field official working his second job. The ESPN video dude was able to put two images side by side to show the play should have been overturned. If the guys in the booth are not capable of doing it, then they are not capable of doing their job. The current system allows for way too much plausible deniability.

 

[Rabid]

The officials only responsibility should be getting the call right. Calling the game fairly. That's it.

This is not the time to protect "buddies" and "cash cows".

 

[HumpDawg]

...that wasn't a play where the official "made a bad call" and would look like a moron. That's pretty standard procedure, you call it a touchdown because he got into the endzone and it was so close..THEN you review it and over-rule or confirm that call. That's just the way things go. The ref wouldn't have looked stupid if it had been overturned because it was such a close call. What makes the refs look dumber: reviewing it correctly and making the right call, or reviewing it and STILL missing the call?

This is what I was thinking. No one would have faulted the first official for calling it a touchdown. It was very close and I initially thought he was in.

 

[o_HubDawg]

I only said this is what I feel is happening. IN NO WAY did I say it was the right thing to do. Simply offering an explanation that might explain the asshat-ery that is going on.</p>