Sunbelt officials admit they blew calls in the Alamo Bowl

[1gobluedem]

Small consolation now, however. From today's Free Press:

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Sun Belt remembers Alamo, admits possible blown calls

The Sun Belt Conference admitted its officials might have made four incorrect calls when Nebraska beat Michigan, 32-28, last month in the Alamo Bowl.

A review of the Dec. 28 game in San Antonio was posted this week on the conference Web site, sunbeltsports.org. The review was conducted by the Sun Belt coordinator of officials, a coordinator of officials from a conference not involved in the game and an NFL referee.

"There is much in this report to be proud of, and there is also much in this report that gives us room for improvement," commissioner Wright Waters said in a statement. "We will now use this as a learning experience and continue to try to improve the quality of our officiating program. We remain very confident in the abilities of our officials."

The calls deemed incorrect by at least one of the three reviewers:


A first-quarter run by Nebraska's Cory Ross that should have been ruled a fumble.


A second-quarter Michigan pass that was ruled incomplete but should have been called pass interference.


A fourth-quarter punt to Michigan's Steve Breaston, who was interfered with, but there was no call.

On Michigan's fourth-and-8, fourth-quarter pass to Mario Manningham, where replays showed interference but none was called. That play occurred with 2:39 left.

As for the game's final, lateral-filled play by Michigan, the officials concluded that the calls were correct and "the actions by the players and coaches who came off the sidelines were unsportsmanlike conduct fouls, not illegal participation fouls. Since there was no time left in the game, there was no succeeding spot, thus the game was over. The ruling by the crew was a correct one, but from a public relations standpoint, the referee should have made a postgame announcement that explained the ruling."

By Mark Snyder

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/2006012...

A difference in the outcome? I think so, especially the blown interference call on 4th and 8. "We will use this as a learning experience." Yep, that should make everyone happy.

[Lefty48197]

1. Rest easy Wolverine fans:

Your record of never having lost one single football game, unless there was a blown call by the officials, or unless the refs were cheating for the other team, is intact.

[1gobluedem]

3. When a conference issues a statement saying they blew calls

I'm inclined to believe it affected the game. Michigan has lost many an even-called game. This was not one of them.

[SharonRB]

4. I take that as a poorly veiled insult

that all Wolverine fans think we never lose fairly. We've lost many games that we deserved to lose. This definitely was not one of them, and this statement proves it.

[LisaM]

5. You have got to be kidding me. The officials admit blown calls

and you still think the fans are merely whining?

What, are you from the Florida GOP? We can't say we lost on bad calls when we lost on bad calls? What is up with THAT? Should I get over Florida 2000? Because I warn you, I don't ever intend to.

[1gobluedem]

6. Florida 2000...the epitome of blown calls

And we are all still suffering the effects.

[SharonRB]

2. Lot of good this does us now, huh?

At least we know we were right, but it's kind of late. What made them get refs from the Sunbelt Conference in the first place is beyond me.