Skip Johnson reacts to controversial call against Oklahoma during crucial College World Series moment

On3 imageby:Griffin McVeigh06/26/22

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Controversy struck during Sunday’s College World Series game between Oklahoma and Ole Miss. In a play on first base, the Sooners were called for interference, causing a run to be taken off the board. Their lead over the Rebels would have been extended but instead, it remained a one-run game.

Oklahoma wound up losing, seeing Ole Miss win their first baseball national championship. Head coach Skip Johnson reacted to the call after the game, talking about how human error will always be part of baseball. He said taking them out of the game would kill the excitement of the game, even if the call went against his ball club.

“Yeah, I mean, running the runners’ lane, that’s maybe what the call was, and they had to go back to the other bases because it kills it right there,” Johnson said. “I think the biggest thing that I want to explain to that deal is the umpires are going to — if we take out the human element of the umpires, this game is not ever going to be any good. If we continue to do those things and put a computer or whatever they want to do, it’s going to continue to be good.”

“The rule says that you have to do it within 30 seconds and not be able to look at the video board. That’s what the rule says. Maybe there’s some discrepancies of it. But that’s what I also love about the game is the human element. I have tons of respect for the umpires, going back to the regional tournament, never understood why they couldn’t be out there with the National Anthem when everybody else is because it’s very important to our country. I explained that to them, too.”

Johnson then talked about the actual call, not necessarily disagreeing. He then doubled down on keeping human umpires on the game. If not, he’ll just spend his time on the water.

“That’s the interpretation of the rule, they have a runner’s lane there, and if we mess with the fabric of the game by getting computer umpires, I think I’ll just go fishing,” Johnson said.

Even with the College World Series loss, Oklahoma had a season the program will never forget. The postseason began by winning the Big 12 Tournament, before rolling through the Gainesville Regional and Blacksburg Super Regional. On their path to the CWS finals, they took down both Texas A&M and Notre Dame.

Omaha is a special place for every college baseball team, especially making it as far as Oklahoma did. Johnson will remember the positive moments instead of reflecting on a controversial call from the umpires.