MichiganMAN47

November 29th, 2016 at 8:41 PM ^

Can we file a class action lawsuit? Not as Michigan fans, but as ticket holders for The Game. The Big Ten did not meet its own standard of integrity and objectivity by allowing an OSU fan to officiate the game. Any reasonable fan expects the game's officials to be objective and not rooting for one side to win and in a position to influence the outcome. There is a lot of evidence and potential motive on the part of the conference. You could also potentially subpoena conference documents surrounding the decision to include Schwarzel as a ref.

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MichiganMAN47

November 30th, 2016 at 6:23 AM ^

The Big Ten served a defective product on Saturday. Why do they get a pass? As someone who went to the game, if you told me in advance that a ref was an OSU fan I would not have paid the money I did and I think a lot of other fans may feel the same way. Not saying a win is likely, but there's a chance a judge doesn't throw it out.

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turd_ferguson84

November 29th, 2016 at 8:51 PM ^

The ref that placed the ball was an apparent closet M fan so what about that? I'm tired of the whining. 

Joined: 09/20/2015

MGoPoints: -7

NittanyFan

November 29th, 2016 at 9:03 PM ^

doubtful that happens, but I've been beating that drum for 10+ years now.

Daniel Capron was fired by the B1G in September 2002 --- but, he was re-hired and back as a head referee by the next September (2003)!!!  And he's been a head referee for the B1G for the 13 years since.  

Some "punishment" that is.  Not even a case of --- hey, go referee games in the MAC for a few years and if we see that you've gotten better, we'll re-hire you.  He was back immediately, and at the same level of responsibility (head referee).

The B1G has been consistently content with the "same old, same old" officiating crews (John O'Neill is another example of a below-average referee yet he's got a virtually guaranteed job with the B1G), and doesn't actively look to get better.

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Red is Blue

November 29th, 2016 at 9:03 PM ^

This issue is fairly easily addressed going forward with transparency. After a game teams do more than submit tape, they actually get to rate individual ref performance. Specifics of each team's rating and the league's "independent" rating are all made public. For upcoming games, use a jury selction process with the league submitting a pool of refs to work each position. Teams can make arguments against any refs "for cause" (like bad previous ratings or being from the other school's home state...) and can exclude a limited number of refs preemptively. The league decides whether any "for cause" arguments are valid if there aren't any objective criteria (like any average rating below x). Selection for most important games is done first.

Joined: 05/13/2010

MGoPoints: 23920

Kewl

November 29th, 2016 at 9:46 PM ^

So I have been an observer on this blog for a long time. The blame shifting is amazing and sad. We had three turnovers. It's not Delany's fault it's not the refs fault. It's our teams fault. 3 turn overs. And you know what that is okay. I always felt that at the very least being a Michigan man was about being a stand up dude. Not a whiny bitch. I guess I'm wrong. Shameful. Win or be a punk, let it be close then take the consequences

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MGoPoints: 430

bacon

November 29th, 2016 at 9:59 PM ^

That's one opinion. Here's another. When your defense stops the other team in double overtime on fourth down, the game is over. You've done enough to win. But a bad spot by the referees extended the game. So the refs should be held accountable.

Joined: 01/04/2009

MGoPoints: 18645

bacon

November 29th, 2016 at 9:53 PM ^

Why do we stay in this shit conference anyways? I say the Michigan AD floats the prospect of leaving the conference in the media and let's see how the big ten reacts. Better yet, can we at mgoblog start a petition to secede from the Big Ten? Then we wouldn't have to pretend to root for the other big ten teams and we could play a much better schedule.

Joined: 01/04/2009

MGoPoints: 18645

1VaBlue1

November 29th, 2016 at 9:55 PM ^

Just for my own peice of mind, I'll say that I really don't care if the guy (Capron) was fired in 2002 for incompetence.  That was 14 years ago, he may well have become more seasoned thorugh experience, and therefore more competent.  Because someone couldn't perform a job 14 years ago doesn't mean that still cannot do that job.  Maybe he just wasn't ready for the job, but has since grown into it?

Someone earlier said he was (near) immediately rehired in 2003.  That doesn't seem like sufficient time to 'grow into' the job.  But 14 years certainly is...  Not saying he did - he clearly let a lot of bad decisions slide Saturday.  But you can't discount him because he couldn't do something 14 years ago.

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GoBlueInIowa

November 29th, 2016 at 10:43 PM ^

It is all about perception. You just cannot allow admitted fans of a team ref that teams games, especially the Game.

It went from incompetence to corrupt in people's mind once the bios of those refs from Ohio started flying around social media after the game. Every little smile was examined, every little thing.

I know I would be unable to be unbiased if I was refereeing a Michigan game, especially when it would come to things such as pass interference calls.



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OMG Shirtless

November 30th, 2016 at 8:13 AM ^

1.  The person who deleted your thread hasn't seen this one yet or has given up.

2.  It was personal.  You've been one of the most outspoken members opposed to Brian's decision and they've taken notice.  If you remember the last user purge, many of the posters who challenged Brian and the blog were banned.  (ChitownBlue, MWolverine, etc).  

Joined: 08/16/2009

MGoPoints: 1435

Clarence Beeks

November 30th, 2016 at 9:08 AM ^

If it is #2, I'm fine with that, but I do think it's appropriate that if that's how it's going to be that it should be explained (i.e. say something, don't just delete and ban people), because while I have certainly voiced my displeasure with that decision I haven't been disrespectful about it (or at least have tried very hard not be) and didn't break any rules here (my post wasn't about officiating, it was more structural about the game itself). I just didn't realize we really going to participate in an environment where we all just have to fall in line completely and disagreement isn't ok. It's a darn shame that we've lost those posters, because those were some of our very best. I just think an explanation is fair, that's all. If a mod, or anyone else, has an issue with me, just tell me.



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natesezgoblue

November 30th, 2016 at 12:48 PM ^

Let me summarize the above material. The Big Ten does not allow referees to work a game that involves a team from the state where they live. This was the case with Schwarzel in 2006. Not only are Schwarzel and Sagers from the state of Ohio, Schwarzel was allowed to work the 2016 game even though he was barred from working Michigan/Ohio State games in the past. Even worse, the head official of the 2016 game was previously disciplined for incompetence not just by the league, but by Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney himself.

 

How the F does this even happen?

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MinWhisky

November 30th, 2016 at 1:31 PM ^

Ablauf is the Associate AD and responsible for Football External Communications & PR.  I would expect to hear something substantive from him on this whole episode, including UofM's position and the Big 10's response. 

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CoverZero

November 30th, 2016 at 5:05 PM ^

Bo never liked Delaney.  From day 1 when Delaney was hired in 1989!!!! Bo fcking hated him.

Its amazing that guy has been in power for almost 30 years.  He is the Castro of college athetics.

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