Not entirely OT: football games with suspect officiating...
Since it's a bye week and the responses to my other thread about bad experiences at other stadiums had some very interesting posts, I thought I'd offer up another one for us to shoot the breeze over.
I was talking to a work buddy of mine, also an avid football fan, and the topic came up as to whether or not he thought football games were ever fixed. He answered that, while he didn't believe they were "fixed," he did believe at least some games were "nudged."
He then listed off some examples that, upon my investigation, found pretty interesting, such as The Cleveland Brown's "Night of a Thousand Bottles" and the "Phantom Down" in another game (which team it was escapes me at the moment). So I thought about the collective amount of football watched in this fanbase, and I thought it would be an interesting question to boot.
We all know about 2016 down in Columbus, and how royally of a shaft job that was, but what else have you seen? When have you seen a football game, live or on TV, where the refs were so off on their officiating that you really had to wonder whether or not there was a "nudge" going on.
Doesn't have to be a Michigan game, or even a college football game, but let's hear what you've seen.
I'll start off with the 2010 Michigan game vs. MSU. Yes, we can attribute that loss to Rich Rod forgetting that there's a defensive side of the ball as well, but I also remember some pretty egregious stuff that Sparty was getting away with. It seemed as if there were serious holding calls missed on almost every drive that MSU had the ball, and I could not believe it. A few happened well within line of sight of the official, and I was dumbfounded that Dantonio's inmates were apparently immune to the yellow flags. Again, glad we ended up losing Rich Rod overall, but that game had some seriously inept officiating at times as well.
Alright, what do you got for us?
October 13th, 2021 at 4:52 PM ^
Dude, why you want to put a damper on such a wonderful day?
October 13th, 2021 at 4:57 PM ^
Is it Scott Frost Day again?
October 13th, 2021 at 5:07 PM ^
Like I said, it doesn't have to be a Michigan game necessarily. Just any football game that you can say you've seen it happen.
Football is a sport where I will stop and watch two teams I have no personal investment in just because I love the game. And even in a few of these I've seen lopsided calling to the point of being oddly suspicious.
October 13th, 2021 at 8:38 PM ^
College games are sheer incompetence.
Pro games are definitely influenced. That Buffalo KC game the other night was suspiciously officiated at best.
October 14th, 2021 at 3:42 PM ^
2016 UofM vs OSU was either bias or corruption. No way you could be that incompetent. Probably just bias.
I would love to see a forensic audit of the officials of our 2013 National Championship game with Louisville.
October 13th, 2021 at 4:57 PM ^
As a lifelong Lions fan, I'm numb to officiating incompetence.
October 13th, 2021 at 5:00 PM ^
The playoff game in Dallas was a screwjob of legendary proportions.
October 13th, 2021 at 5:10 PM ^
That game was the last straw for this lifetime Lions fan. I haven't watched a Lions game since. Actually, it kind of ended my NFL fandom as well.
October 13th, 2021 at 9:06 PM ^
Glad I'm not the only one. I haven't watched a single NFL game since then and I couldn't be more pleased about it.
October 13th, 2021 at 5:10 PM ^
Just highlighted the most egregious (and poorly timed for a Lions fan) down below...
October 14th, 2021 at 2:16 AM ^
This! I’m not a Lions fan but I’ve never seen a team so screwed by officials. While the Dallas game was atrocious, it was the Monday night game against the Packers 3 (?) years ago that officially ended my NFL viewership. I watch the super bowl for the ads. The nfl is no different from “pro wrestling” and not worth my time.
I was in row 2 for Dez being tripped in the end zone and actually was calm because it was clear to me that it was DPI. When the zebras left the field I was in shock.
There’s too much money riding on this now. Officials can’t be allowed to be this incompetent (which is on the ncaa and the conferences) and anyone considered competent that screws up this much should be considered to be on the take.
October 14th, 2021 at 10:25 AM ^
As was losing to the Bears because Calvin failed to “complete the process”.
October 13th, 2021 at 4:58 PM ^
You're bringing me down, but okay.. I'll bite
Here's just one play. Why after the 3rd down play by Nebraska did the clock stop and go back to one minute. He looked down clearly inbounds!! Seems like a huge fuck up if that 4th down went differently.
October 13th, 2021 at 5:01 PM ^
I didn't understand that at all! Why didn't the announcers even mention it?
October 14th, 2021 at 11:41 AM ^
Because it turned out to be totally unimportant since Nebraska failed on 4th down. Had Nebraska gotten the first down there, we would have been subject to one of the more excruciatingly stomach-knotting reviews of the last few years as they tried to figure out the correct time (obviously not as stomach-knotting as THAT review).
October 13th, 2021 at 6:10 PM ^
I wondered that too. To keep myself from going crazy, I decided that the clock we were seeing on TV wasn’t synced with the official time in the stadium, and a producer reset it to resync with the official time.
October 13th, 2021 at 6:37 PM ^
I thought it might have been an injury but nothing was said in the stadium.
October 13th, 2021 at 4:58 PM ^
2016 was easily the worst I've seen. I live in Columbus, was tailgating on OSU's campus with a co-mingled group of OSU fans and UM fans.
I didn't go to the game, but about half of the group went, the rest of us stayed and watched on TV. During the game, the OSU fans with us were fairly quiet, for obvious reasons.
When the group started trickling back in after watching from the stands, the Michigan fans were largely benign about the game, thinking it was close, etc. The OSU fans trickling in were loud and happy, but after seeing their fellow OSU fans with their tails between their legs did they start to get curious.
The TV-watching crew told them how deep Michigan got it, and the Michigan fans went through this weird incredulous-to-outrage emotional swing right before our eyes. For them, much of it in-person wasn't shown on the OSU video boards (again, for obvious reasons). They missed the Mike Weber stuff, the blatant missed PI's, and they thought the famous spot was completely fine because the chains were never brought out to measure.
That game, man.
October 13th, 2021 at 5:25 PM ^
I refuse to see that game as a loss, period! Michigan straight up won that game in every way possible! I’d still dox that crew today, I’d still go after the big ten if I were Michigan! I’m so burnt I’d be fine if if the School started it’s own network and left the conference..
Just the culmination of somehow every single close game all the key calls or missed calls somehow went against Michigan in the last five minutes of the games or complete games against Michigan. Every call 2002 on.. not even possible.
Then the spreadsheet an mgoblog user put together that showed the holding call discrepancy of the entire conference showing every holding call for a defense and against the teams offense and it was blatant. So, the big ten can fk off
Look up Top Billin YouTube review of the 2018 game and see the bs being pulled that was never called. That dude isn’t a Michigan fan at all, he like breaking film down. Every crossing route they were blocking the defender, clear out routes blocking the safety in coverage, straight up not a single call in 2018 or 2019 not to mention again you could see on film or DE’s being tackled and horse collar held from behind and not a damn holding call!
So, I’m done with this conference
October 13th, 2021 at 6:54 PM ^
The reffing has made me very apathetic to the sport in general.
It is CLEARLY corrupt.
October 13th, 2021 at 6:51 PM ^
2016 wasnt even "questionable"
0 penalties from scrimmage.
There were like 20 pictures posted of refs literally staring at BLATANT penalties that they didnt call.
The one guy was literally banned from reffing the game until he just magically wasnt anymore, for one game.
On top of all the other shit you and the other guy posted.
October 14th, 2021 at 11:25 AM ^
Just the bs from the Big Ten Officials!
2002 Three PI calls, all affected the score. Only one was a PI, that was Braylon's pushoff which he didn't need. The other two, gave first downs that led to TD's instead of FGs.. Braylon's turned a TD into a FG.. in a 14-9 game!
2005, Holmes goes out of bounds unforced comes back on the field and catch, should have been incomplete penalty.. Not to mention this team couldn't buy a holding penalty or pi vs that team for 20yrs now.
2006 the hit on smith.. bs!
I'd keep going all the way to 2019 but I'll get to ticked off. Harbaugh years, 2016-2019 you can watch them tackle our DE's and not one holding call! Not 1. You can watch them tackle our rec with the ball in the air and no PI. You can watch their DB hit our rec before the ball gets there, nothing. Our db's contest a pass and flag flies. Their players hit ours seconds after the play is over and nothing, nothing not one mfing flag......................................I hate this efffing conference
October 13th, 2021 at 8:46 PM ^
That game, man.
I was there.
October 14th, 2021 at 9:42 AM ^
Came to work here in Switzerland the Monday after and my osu grad colleague just looked at me with sympathy and said, “I’d be really mad if I were in your shoes.”
History will remember “the spot.” But it never should have come to that.
October 13th, 2021 at 5:02 PM ^
A whole bunch of NBA games/series in the aughts. The Kings/Lakers WCF was outright rigged.
October 13th, 2021 at 5:13 PM ^
Exactly, particularly any playoff series that was remotely close with the Bulls. The Pistons started the slogan called the "Jordan rules" as a way they would defend him.
The NBA took that slogan and applied a much different meaning to it and it was not beneficial to anyone that faced / or had to guard Jordan.....
October 13th, 2021 at 6:04 PM ^
I was thinking of the treatment Wade/James got in '06 and '07 against the Pistons myself.
October 13th, 2021 at 6:19 PM ^
Same BS different eras.... Preach young man....preach...
October 13th, 2021 at 6:32 PM ^
Then the Pacers series against the heat/LeBron. Those series are were LeFlop earned his title as biggest flopper in the game.
October 13th, 2021 at 6:26 PM ^
Game 6 of that series did it for me. There's no way the officiating could be that bad without trying. I haven't watched the NBA since.
October 13th, 2021 at 5:02 PM ^
The Louisville championship game...
edit: oh this is supposed to be football...still!
October 13th, 2021 at 5:03 PM ^
Darn - is this Snazzy Mcdazzy's burner account?
October 13th, 2021 at 6:44 PM ^
The original title was "Hot Take #3"
October 13th, 2021 at 5:04 PM ^
Two from the MSU series:
1) Spartan Bob. 'nuff said.
2) Tackling Des Howard on the 2 point conversion attempt while the pass was still coming. Even the Sparty defender said he deliberately did it because he was beat and was shocked there was no call.
October 13th, 2021 at 5:12 PM ^
amen to both
October 13th, 2021 at 5:42 PM ^
Amazing. No idea how this double post occurred. Courage
October 13th, 2021 at 5:45 PM ^
2) All day long. I thought he possessed the ball long enough to call it a completion as did the color analyst. Desmond caught the ball, he was tackled, the ground cannot cause a fumble (by the standards of the day as I know that is not enough by today's rules.)
October 13th, 2021 at 7:08 PM ^
Yes indeed. Rolled over to his back when it popped out. That's the loudest I ever heard Keith Jackson call a play. He saw Desmond easily had the guy beat, wide open...it was "HOWARD HE.....DROPPED IT! HE DROPPED IT!"
Whatever the case, this is pretty damn obvious in real time....
We did get an official apology from the officiating crew the next day but what does that really get you in the end? You can't go back in time and correct it. But it was more than we got for the Spartan Savings time game and the most obvious holding call not being flagged.
October 13th, 2021 at 10:27 PM ^
Sadly, kicking the extra point for the tie would have gotten then the outright Big 10 championship instead of a 4 way tie.
October 13th, 2021 at 10:40 PM ^
Did you know that particular official, the guy in the end zone staring at the play and didn't throw a flag, was the high school head coach of the MSU CB who tackled Desmond?
Hmmmmmm.....
October 14th, 2021 at 7:18 PM ^
Crap. Good memory. I forgot about that item.
October 13th, 2021 at 7:06 PM ^
As Michigan fan's we have seen plenty and so many trips to South Bend over the years were ridiculous - including the Phantom Fumble 2 game...but to me, Spartan Bob is the most egregious for one simple reason: if they call that correctly the game is over. Thus, unlike so many other screw jobs, there are no possible futures following the play. Because of that it should have, and could have, been corrected by the league office.
October 13th, 2021 at 5:07 PM ^
This thread will sound like a lot of sour grapes, but here are 3 that come to mind (all Lions of course, but it is what it is....)
1) MNF, I believe it was a couple of years ago. Rogers throws a 55 yard Hail Mary with no time left on the clock. WOW PACKERS WIN, isn't Rogers just the best!!!!!! (heavy sarcasm here). What gets glossed over is the play before the Hail Mary, Rogers is flushed from the pocket and as a Lions DE (can't remember who) reaches out to tackle him, Rogers ducks and the DE hand barely grazes the top of his helmet. Flag.....15 yard face mask penalty. Just enough yardage for Rogers to attempt the Hail Mary on the next play........
2) Lions again, 2014 playoff game against Dallas, in Dallas. The game is back and forth. Dallas takes the lead midway through the 4th quarter 24-20. Stafford has the ball and is starting a comeback drive. Its 3rd and long, Stafford throws it to the TE on a seam route, but the OLB for Dallas runs into the TE without ever turning around. FYI, the ball hits the OLB square in the middle of the back (thus it would have hit the TE right between the numbers...... No call..... 4th down, Lions can't convert....Dallas survives 24-20
3) Annnnnnd the Lions again. I could go to the Calvin Johnson rule, but that one is too easy.....I am going to go with the Ravens getting 47 seconds to get a play off that lead to the record breaking FG (which BTW hit the crossbar, so the 5 yards made a HUGE difference).
Bottom line, while I am sure it is not some weird conspiracy out there it sure seems like the Lions get some of the most head scratching calls against them....
October 13th, 2021 at 5:09 PM ^
I'm not a Lions fan, but in truth I cannot disagree with your sentiment at times.
October 13th, 2021 at 5:18 PM ^
Even worse about the Dallas call was it was 3rd &1 actually and they called a great play action and the LB ran over the TE.
The refs did throw the flag bu after review picked it up. And the Lions got stuffed on 4th down.
October 13th, 2021 at 6:21 PM ^
Pride of Detroit highlighted a bunch of things- but Dallas got away with a few holds on their GWTD drive as well. I know the NFL officially mentioned that they missed one of them.
The most egregious mess up in Lions history, in my mind, is this "shoulda been a safety" that was just, horribly miscalled. It's back when the Lions were floundering enough that it didn't matter, but it's unbelievable. Play starts at like :58
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUW8nVZIFi8&ab_channel=LonnieDecker
October 13th, 2021 at 6:24 PM ^
Your right! Thank you for the clarification..... And yes the BS that they initially threw the flag....cause you know it was obvious interference and then PICKED THE FLAG UP??? WTH!!!! Did the league call the replay official to get them to change the call?
Now I am really miffed again......
October 13th, 2021 at 10:05 PM ^
Yes, missing the call would be one thing. He made it and said, "oops, we can't have that"
October 13th, 2021 at 7:08 PM ^
The review was the worst part of that whole episode.
October 14th, 2021 at 12:58 AM ^
Lions get it so bad and so comically (like they change NFL rules because we got screwed by them) that it's a game to me to see what they'll get nailed with next. Some of those not yet mentioned:
- Nagging Ruins Thanksgiving. Everyone knew Justin Forsett was down, but he got up and ran 81 yards, and Jim Schwartz threw the challenge flag. But wait, at that time in the game only the refs can issue a challenge. So they negated the challenge and the play stood. That one....I mean the most pedantic dumbass rule ever.
- Two phantom hands to the face. You mentioned one Green Bay facemasking, yes. What about the made up hands to the face on Trey Flowers? Also the OTHER made up hands to the face on Trey Flowers the next drive?
- Times not up. Just a few weeks ago the Ravens took 42 seconds to get the play before the 66-yard FG off. All of Detroit sat in stunned disbelief for those two seconds
- MNF vs the Seahawks. Stafford hits Johnson for the GW TD, but Megatron fumbles at the 1. Their LB bats the ball OOB, which should be a penalty and Lions ball. But the refs (and the LB) didn't know that rule. So they awarded Seattle the ball.
- The Runoff. Remember the MNF game between the Spiderman Pointing now WE'RE the cursed franchise? Well no more questions. Stafford hits Golden Tate for a TD with 9 seconds left. They review...it's pretty close, probably just short. Then they have to enforce a 10-second runoff when if they got the call right the Lions certainly get a shot at a QB sneak or something. Nope, game over. And the Lions missed the wild card that year...to the Falcons...by one game.