Sun Belt refs represent well

[Coach]

SBC refs are doing the Alamo Bowl, and have sucked pretty bad. Herbstreit just said that it may be because the speed of these two teams (Nebraska and Michigan) is so much faster than what they are used to in the Sun Belt. Tirico then wondered aloud how Sun Belt refs could even be considered for a game this big.

Sun Belt fever...catch it!

[Coach]

More ripping on the Sun Belt, this time mentioning Arkansas State and North Texas, and how their speed doesn't compare to this.

The Sun Belt...it's faaaaantastic!

(I'm seeing which sarcastic slogan I like best)

[bigrobdsp]

to be fair they really are missing alot of calls.

[SouthernMustang]

That last kicking-team interference call was bogus... he caught the ball and got leveled. That's just good coverage...

I don't know if it has anything to do with what conference they're from-- but these refs are pretty bad.

What other bowl games did SBC refs do?

[kj86]

Well, the refs may be sucking, but the negative-SBC talk is still pi$$ing me off.

"No offense to Ark. St or North Texas, but..."

"Happy Holidays to our SunBelt friends..."

[TIgreen01]

seems like we've seen this crappy crew at Fouts a few times over the years. Either way, the comments by the communist ESPN commentators just come across as arrogant...esp. the ones about the speed of the game. I seem to remember most officiating crews around the country having trouble with the new replay system this year...and this would be the first game for a Sun Belt crew with replay to contend with....

[Arkstfan]

SBC refs are doing the Alamo Bowl, and have sucked pretty bad.  Herbstreit just said that it may be because the speed of these two teams (Nebraska and Michigan) is so much faster than what they are used to in the Sun Belt.  Tirico then wondered aloud how Sun Belt refs could even be considered for a game this big.

Sun Belt fever...catch it!

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They were right the speed of the game was too much for them because they couldn't keep up with Sun Belt teams.

[bigrobdsp]

that was the worst officaited game I have ever seen. I hope all of those refs are fired

[GMoney]

That is as bad as I seen a game called. Not one big blown call, but big blown calls all game long and then a missed call to end the game. Just horrible! Way to represent. At least the rest of the country had a chance to see what we deal with on a weekly basis. Maybe they'll show pity on us and let us have a couple of the refs from the Big 10, SEC, Pac 10 and MAC .

Edited December 29, 2005 by GMoney

[TIgreen01]

That is as bad as I seen a game called.  Not one big blown call, but big blown calls all game long and then a missed call to end the game.  Just horrible!  Way to represent.  At least the rest of the country had a chance to see what we deal with on a weekly basis.  Maybe they'll show pity on us and let us have a couple of the refs from the Big 10, SEC, Pac 10 and MAC .

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No lie....when I posted earlier all I had seen were screwups with the replay system (mostly just flat out not replaying a close call).....but those guys were awful...esp. in the last 2 minutes of the game. Saddest part is that this is nothing we haven't seen MANY times over the years from Sun Belt refs....

[Coffee and TV]

That last kicking-team interference call was bogus... he caught the ball and got leveled. That's just good coverage...

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Either way, it looked like a personal foul for helmet-to-helmet contact though.

This game was horribly officiated but to play devil's advocate, these Sun Belt guys have never dealt with instant replay before.

[Tramp96]

Letter from a Michigan fan site to the Sun Belt...pretty humorous:

Michigan Zone Letter to Sun Belt Officiating Coordinator

Mr. Lucas,

If the officiating in the Alamo Bowl last night is the standard for the Sun Belt, you and the entire conference should be embarrassed. Those referees were so bad, even the ESPN announcers working the game were pointing out how atrocious they were.

In the future, here are some helpful tips for your crews. First, the easy ones:

* When a runner drops the ball before his knee hits the ground, the rest of the conferences in America call that a fumble.

* When the ball goes through a receiver's hands and hits the turf where he traps it, that is NOT a touchdown, even if the receiver is in the endzone.

* When a DB wraps his arm around one of the receiver's arms preventing him from catching the ball, that is called pass interference. The DB does NOT need to grab both of his arms, draw blood or rip off the WR's helmet first for this to be called, contrary to how they may call it in the Middle Tennessee State/Louisiana-Monroe game.

Now for the tougher ones:

* With the game winding down to a thrilling finish, one team desperately trying to get the ball back for one final drive, once the ball is set, the play clock normally starts within, oh, a day or two of being spotted. Most refs in other leagues don't check their dinner reservations or email first.

* Finally, when one side has their entire team, coaching staff, trainers and the kid who carries the coach's headset on the field DURING A LIVE PLAY, you might want to consider calling a "Too Many Men/Women/Children on the Field Penalty." Just a thought.

Well, hope this helps so in the future the Sun Belt refs don't conduct themselves on a national stage in a way that would be an embarrassment even at the Pop Warner level.

Sincerely,

The M Zone Staff

[BlueRaiderPride]

That last kicking-team interference call was bogus... he caught the ball and got leveled. That's just good coverage...

I don't know if it has anything to do with what conference they're from-- but these refs are pretty bad.

What other bowl games did SBC refs do?

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Sun Belt officials also called the Champ Sports Bowl between Clemson and Colorado, a game in which our officials were greatly complimented by ESPN.

And I believe the Capital One Bowl between Auburn and Wisconsin will also be called by Sun Belt officials.

Edited December 29, 2005 by BlueRaiderPride