Replay official in Oregon Screw Job admits he knew Oklahoma recovered onside kick

[Vegas Vic]

From ESPN.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The replay official for the Oklahoma-Oregon football game says he knew that Oklahoma recovered a pivotal onside kickoff late in the game.

But Gordon Riese told The Oklahoman that replay rules prevented him from correcting on-field officials who made the wrong call and awarded possession to Oregon, even though it was clear to Riese that Oklahoma's Allen Patrick had recovered the ball.

Riese also said that if he had seen the correct angle of the replay, it would have been easy to reverse the result of the call and give possession to Oklahoma, which could have run out the clock. But that didn't happen, he said, and Oregon took advantage of the officiating blunder, scoring a last-minute touchdown to win 34-33.

At the center of the dispute in the Sept. 16 game was a botched call on an onside kickoff by Oregon before the Ducks' winning touchdown. Replays showed the kick was touched by an Oregon player before it traveled the required 10 yards, and, therefore, possession should have been awarded to Oklahoma.

The video also showed that Oklahoma's Patrick actually recovered the ball, although that aspect of the play was not reviewable.

"This was the easiest call to make, if I'd gotten the [correct] replay," Riese said. "It would have been the right call. It would have been the correct call. The Oregon kid touched the ball at the 44-yard line."

Riese said the only replay angle he saw on the play came from Oklahoma's end zone, which he said prevented him from making the correct call. But he did see something else.

"I saw the ball laying on the ground, the Oklahoma kid picks up the ball with his knee on the ground," he said. "I knew it was Oklahoma ball."

But, Riese said, he chose to follow the rules of the replay system, which meant he couldn't tell the on-field Pacific-10 Conference officials of their error -- even though the referee asked him which team had recovered.

"I can't let it go," he said. "It's something we officials have just been schooled with -- to get the call right -- and I didn't do it that day."

Oklahoma is 9-2, but would be 10-1 and possibly a part of the national-championship discussion if not for the officiating errors at Oregon. Riese said he's aware of the Sooners' success this season.

"Oh, they're a good football team," he said. "My goodness sakes, they're a good football team."

The Pac-10 suspended Riese for one game, and he later requested and was granted a leave of absence for the remainder of the season. He said he does not plan to return to the replay booth and that the mistake continues to bother him.

"I worry about the screwup we did in the Oklahoma game," he said. "It's inexcusable."

[IMetTrentGreen]

now post the article where dennis franchione admits his mistake in not giving the ball to lane twice at the end of the ou/a&m game, which would have certainly won it.

or, grow up and quit crying. your team isn't bcs material.

[TRO]

I don't take this as whining from an Oklahoma fan. Shurg.

[Airhog]

I don't take this as whining from an Oklahoma fan. Shurg.

IMTG is just a troll. You can count on your hand the number of threads that he has been a part of in which he did not bash OU

[MikeVick7]

now post the article where dennis franchione admits his mistake in not giving the ball to lane twice at the end of the ou/a&m game, which would have certainly won it.

or, grow up and quit crying. your team isn't bcs material.
Course if UT loses today and then OU beats Okla St and then Nebraska in the Big XII championship game next week, then they are BCS material...

[Buccaneer]

I read that article a couple of times yesterday and I am still unclear. It sounds like it wasn't totally his fault because his hands were tied due to the replay rules. Can someone explain what in the rules prevented him making the right call?

[MizzouRah]

How fucking hard is it to instill rules that make it possible to make the CORRECT calls? Isn't that what it's all about?

How many fucking teams are going to get SCREWED by this bullshit mentality?

GET THE CALLS RIGHT, it's really THAT easy.

[MikeVick7]

The bigger issue is that he said that the networks only gave him one angle to look at. Riiight...

[sabotai]

I read that article a couple of times yesterday and I am still unclear. It sounds like it wasn't totally his fault because his hands were tied due to the replay rules. Can someone explain what in the rules prevented him making the right call?

The way I read is this.

1) He didn't get the right replay, so he couldn't see where the player first touched the ball.
2) According to the replay rules, he could only review the illegal touch and not the recovery of the ball.

But that's just a guess.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Can someone explain what in the rules prevented him making the right call?

Explain them? No, I don't think I can, at least not very well.

But I can hook you up with a list of the situations that are reviewable under the rules (scroll down past the Q&A stuff & there's a list that appears to be taken from the NCAA rulebook)
http://www.pac-10.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/080805aac.html

And from reading through the list a couple of times, I don't see anything that would allow replay to determine possession of the ball in this circumstance.

[Buccaneer]

So why did the Rules Committee set up the rules that way?

[Chief Rum]

So why did the Rules Committee set up the rules that way?

Because the Pac-10 conference is run by idjits. I knew this forever; it's just now been confirmed. These are the some dolts who signed our basketball contracts up with regional Fox instead of national ESPN (which would give us a lot more exposure), and who have us tied out of any January 1 bowls except the BCS games. I mean, what major BCS conference, sends five of six bowl bids to pre-January games (and many well-pre, like Xmas and before)?

This is the worst run conference.

[miami_fan]

Because the Pac-10 conference is run by idjits. I knew this forever; it's just now been confirmed. These are the some dolts who signed our basketball contracts up with regional Fox instead of national ESPN (which would give us a lot more exposure), and who have us tied out of any January 1 bowls except the BCS games. I mean, what major BCS conference, sends five of six bowl bids to pre-January games (and many well-pre, like Xmas and before)?

This is the worst run conference.

Does this mean no Thursday doubleheaders for basketball?

[DaddyTorgo]

that is totally inexcusable. there shouldn't be any "rules" like that to prevent them from getting the call correct. it ought to be "get the call correct, no matter the cost." nothing like "You can only review X number of camera angles for Y seconds and you can't go outside the purview of what the officials ask for clarification on."

bureaucracy rears its ugly head

[MizzouRah]

that is totally inexcusable. there shouldn't be any "rules" like that to prevent them from getting the call correct. it ought to be "get the call correct, no matter the cost." nothing like "You can only review X number of camera angles for Y seconds and you can't go outside the purview of what the officials ask for clarification on."

bureaucracy rears its ugly head

Unfortunetly that's what we have today in sports and quite frankly, it sucks.

[Chief Rum]

Does this mean no Thursday doubleheaders for basketball?

If you mean straight doubleheaders all on the same channel, the Pac-10 hasn't ever had that around here while on Fox, at least not as a regular thing. We usually just get the local guys (USC and UCLA), and they are shown on different regional Fox channels (so not a doubleheader per say).

Every now and then, Fox shows another Pac-10 game on Thursday, so that could be a double header. But it rarely works out that way--those channels also show Lakers, Clippers, Kings and Ducks games, so getting an open Thursday to just show Pac-10 basketball is difficult.

[miami_fan]

If you mean straight doubleheaders all on the same channel, the Pac-10 hasn't ever had that around here while on Fox, at least not as a regular thing. We usually just get the local guys (USC and UCLA), and they are shown on different regional Fox channels (so not a doubleheader per say).

Every now and then, Fox shows another Pac-10 game on Thursday, so that could be a double header. But it rarely works out that way--those channels also show Lakers, Clippers, Kings and Ducks games, so getting an open Thursday to just show Pac-10 basketball is difficult.

That is probably what they did hear. Took two local broadcasts and showed them on FSN Florida.

[Chief Rum]

That is probably what they did hear. Took two local broadcasts and showed them on FSN Florida.

Interesting. I didn't know they would show Fox regional telecasts on the other Fox regionals, at least not so far flung (from the West Coast) as Florida.

As far as I know, it's still the same contract, so you should still get those doubleheaders. That's good--there are some pretty good teams out here if you gett he chance to watch them.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Because the Pac-10 conference is run by idjits. I knew this forever; it's just now been confirmed.

Umm, I don't believe those are Pac-10 replay rules, I believe those guidelines are the same for every conference, as handed down by the NCAA rules committee.

edit to add: As I understand it, the procedure may vary from conference to conference, but the guidelines that determine what is reviewable are nationwide.

[Cuckoo]

now post the article where dennis franchione admits his mistake in not giving the ball to lane twice at the end of the ou/a&m game, which would have certainly won it.

or, grow up and quit crying. your team isn't bcs material.

Wow. You never cease to amaze me.

[Chief Rum]

Umm, I don't believe those are Pac-10 replay rules, I believe those guidelines are the same for every conference, as handed down by the NCAA rules committee.

edit to add: As I understand it, the procedure may vary from conference to conference, but the guidelines that determine what is reviewable are nationwide.

Well, it certainly is possible, nay probable, that both the Pac-10 and NCAA are run by idjits. :)

[Vegas Vic]

your team isn't bcs material.

That remains to be seen, but we can now say with certainty that Texas isn't BCS material. Enjoy your trip to the Cotton Bowl. Dress warmly.

[MizzouRah]

That remains to be seen, but we can now say with certainty that Texas isn't BCS material. Enjoy your trip to the Cotton Bowl. Dress warmly.

Isn't karma a bitch? :D

[MikeVick7]

Course if UT loses today and then OU beats Okla St and then Nebraska in the Big XII championship game next week, then they are BCS material...
Getting closer...

[EagleFan]

Did he also admit to being on the field for Oklahoma's last defensive stand and being the one to allow the touchdown to score?

[Vegas Vic]

Did he also admit to being on the field for Oklahoma's last defensive stand and being the one to allow the touchdown to score?

No, because he knows that if he makes the obvious correct call, then OU takes a knee and the game is over with.

I was wondering how long it would take before that lame argument was brought up again. Why don't we tie a heavyweight boxer's arms behind his back in the 15th round, and after he loses we can tell him, "Quit complaining. If you had knocked him out earlier, you would have won."

[EagleFan]

I was wondering how long it would take before that lame argument was brought up again. Why don't we tie a heavyweight boxer's arms behind his back in the 15th round, and after he loses we can tell him, "Quit complaining. If you had knocked him out earlier, you would have won."

Way off on that comparison. A closer one would be telling a boxer that he lost a round that he actually won and then watching him get pummeled in the final round because "he was so upset about the missed call".

[sooner333]

Did OU's defense stop them? No. Should they have? Probably. Should they have had to have to prove it? Absolutely not.

Anyway, that game is over, it would have been unlikely to play for the National Championship and now the BCS argument is not applicable. OU wins two more, they are in, if not, they don't deserve it.

Also, I just find it funny that he only had one camera angle and felt rushed and then a few months later they spent 15 minutes to fix a call on a replay/challenge of the replay in Oregon/USC game.

[sabotai]

Also, I just find it funny that he only had one camera angle and felt rushed and then a few months later they spent 15 minutes to fix a call on a replay/challenge of the replay in Oregon/USC game.

I get the feeling that instant replay in college football is very unorganized and that most people who should know the system inside and out don't. I think it's going to be at least 2 more years until they get a consistant, SMART set of rules dealing with instant replay in college football.

I'm putting the Over/Under at 5 years.

[k0ruptr]

the game is over. has been for weeks. the refs fucked up. get over it.

[Cuckoo]

the game is over. has been for weeks. the refs fucked up. get over it.

*sigh* Yeah, that's what it's all about. Just a bunch of people not "over it."

[MikeVick7]

the game is over. has been for weeks. the refs fucked up. get over it.
I guess no one can respond to the article that was posted. Well that sucks.

[Senator]

That remains to be seen, but we can now say with certainty that Texas isn't BCS material. Enjoy your trip to the Cotton Bowl. Dress warmly.


LMAO.

His foot in mouth disease will never heal.

[sooner333]

Yeah, Texas could still go to the BCS, OU has to take care of business today.

[MikeVick7]

Longhorns, no longer BCS material, so grow up and quit crying. :)

[Cuckoo]

...OU has to take care of business today.

Phew...

[Logan]

Chose this thread out of all of them to post this in...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/ncaa/02/06/oregon.oklahoma.replay.ap/index.html

Oregon-Okla. call costs official his job

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The Pacific-10 Conference official who missed a call during the Oklahoma-Oregon game last season has been told he will not return to the job in that capacity.

Gordon Riese said he received death threats after a call on an onside kick near the end of the Sept. 16 game that the Ducks won 34-33. Televised replays showed the Sooners recovered that kick, but Riese did not see that angle in the replay booth.

Conference officials informed Riese last week that he was relieved of his replay duties. He will remain a Pac-10 technical assistant, making about $350 a game.

Riese, who took a leave of absence for the season after the game at Autzen Stadium, told The Oregonian newspaper that his doctors had advised him not to return to the job, anyway

[Wolfpack]

Gordon Riese said he received death threats after a call on an onside kick near the end of the Sept. 16 game that the Ducks won 34-33.... Riese, who took a leave of absence for the season after the game at Autzen Stadium, told The Oregonian newspaper that his doctors had advised him not to return to the job, anyway.

Apparently, being a replay official can be hazardous to your health.

[beargrowlz]

Why was he suspended?

For following the rules in making his call, thus getting call wrong?

Or for telling the truth?

[sachmo71]

I still view blown calls as part of the game. it sucks, but they happen.

[rkmsuf]

death threats. what a bunch of asswhites.

[sooner333]

Why was he suspended?

For following the rules in making his call, thus getting call wrong?

Or for telling the truth?

No, he was suspended for getting the call wrong on the aspect that he should have got right...the Oregon player touched the ball before it travelled ten yards. That was within the rules, indisputable, and he was wrong.

[BrianD]

Why was he suspended?

For following the rules in making his call, thus getting call wrong?

Or for telling the truth?

Sounds like he was suspended for telling the truth. If he was only given one replay and couldn't see if anyone touched the ball early, he can't really be expected to make a different call. Just because the TV replay viewed later shows something different doesn't mean much. The fact that the rules don't let him point out an unrelated mistake isn't his fault either. Sounds like another case of someone needing to be the scapegoat.

The bigger issue, I think, is the fact that all real power has been taken away from the officials. It seems like all non-US sports include a rule giving the officials license to do just about anything to ensure a fair and smoothly-flowing game. US sports have gotten rid of that so officials have to follow the letter of the rules even when they make no sense, like this case, or the tuck rule. Allow officials to use common sense, assuming you get honest officials, and the problems go away.