Why would you make the call if it isn't against the rules or if nothing happened? There's a reason that the ref with the best view didn't throw his flag but the ref across the field did. Outside of it being a terrible call it was day 1 ref mechanics that they showed they don't have. You don't throw a flag across the field. Ever.
My problem is these guys are reffing at the second highest level. Mistakes are going to happen, but they don't even have the basic fundamentals down, how can they be qualified and trusted to call penalties that are actually penalties? I won't accept the rationalization.
This may support your point, it may not, but look at Spruce's TD against CSU in the first game. Then look at Crawley's interception. Both were in almost the exact same spot when the ball was caught. They look remarkably similar. Yet, by the definition you're claiming the refs used in the OSU game, Spruce should have been flagged for offensive PI in that first game.
If both players have equal rights to the ball, then there's no way you can call pass interference on that play. Call this a rehash or tell me to get over it if you'd like. That call was atrocious. It's the kind of call that needs to get somebody fired. It's that egregious.
We are all mad because a series of clearly wrong calls very much influenced our ability to win a game.
Two issues here.
One is that as tini points out this is the second highest level of officiating in the sport. These guys are paid very well for what they do and supposively a lot of resources are put into officiating these games.
Despite that the calls make were clearly wrong, the officials mechanics were wrong with distant officials making calls that a closer and in better position official didn't. Based on the actions of the official it is very hard to determine what the actual rule being called is because it is different on different plays.
I can understand an argument that officials are human, the game is fast, and mistakes will be made. If this game and these calls were the only ones then it would suck for us and we would be mad but we would have to suck it up and deal with it. That isn't the case.
We have seen now in two plus years in the PAC that officiating is a constant problem, not just for us but across the entire league. Other teams have lost or won games they shouldn't have based on officials errors. When you are charging tens of thousands of fans big ticket prices and when you are relying on millions of dollars in media revenues based on fair games determined by the players on the field this is unacceptable.
Officials have to be held accountable. If they can't consistently get it right they need to be replaced with officials who can. If the problem is systematic, and our time in the league leads me to believe this may be the case, then whoever is in charge needs to be held accountable as well.
I will take Sacky's statement about firing an official one step further. Not only should some
one get fired but maybe we need to see a large enough turnover to effect change in how officiating is done in general in the league.
