Due to ABC’s regional coverage here of Louisville beating Miami, I didn’t get to see the Sooners/Ducks game until about 5 minutes left on the clock. I wished I hadn’t.
The Sooner Nation is up in arms –rightfully so– over calls made late in the Oregon game, and with good reason. The Ducks won 34-33, but trailed by 14 points with just 1:12 to play. Oregon scored their final two touchdowns with a little help from several questionable calls that baffled even the ABC crew calling the game.
After closing to within six, Oregon attempted an onside kick. The ball was touched by Oregon’s Brian Paysinger before it traveled the required ten yards, but recovered by an OU player after a scrum. Officials called it Ducks ball. On review, the ball was touched by Oregon, but the play stood. Sooner fans were furious – rightly so — becuase if you take a look at the screen caps or even the video of the play, you can see that an OU player recovered the ball – penalty or not.
Minutes later, Oklahoma was called for pass interference on a ball that was tipped near the line of scrimmage. OU coach Bob Stoops was dismayed by the call and explained to the officials that the ball was tipped. The ABC crew pointed out that the trajectory of the ball was changed by the tip, but replay officials allowed the call to stand, leading to a go-ahead touchdown by Oregon.
Without question, the onside kick and pass interference calls combined for one of the lowest points by officials and replay crews this season. Those two blown calls completely changed the outcome of the game. Even the Oregon home radio crew conceded that the Sooners were robbed.
OU fans are sounding off:
Got to love that PAC 10 homecookin’ by the officials. Hey Ducks if you can get those officials to call every game for you this season you will for sure win the PAC 10. Those officials were worst than the ones for Lubbock. Actual final score 33-27 OU. Even the Oregon radio guys admitted it. Best of luck cheaters! You are going to need it.
From Andy via email:
The Oregon versus Oklahoma game was a blatant case of cheating by the officiating crew in order to give the game to Oregon. It was apparent that the two fraud calls given to Oregon at the end of the game decided this game for Oregon instead of letting the players on the field decide the outcome.
From Trinh via email:
The officials upstairs might need to get some work done on their eyes. Either that or they were getting paid by Oregon. They reviewed and miscalled two plays in the Oklahoma, Oregon game. Both calls had conclusive video showing that an Oregon player had touched the ball first on the kick off in the late 4th quarter, and that the ball had been tipped by an OU player on the past interference call in the late 4th quarter. Two calls which would could have, and mostly likely would have, had Oklahoma winning. It’s just ridiculous. Why have them reviewing plays if they aren’t going to go off of the video evidence?
Some classy Duck have posted apologies on the SoonerFans Message Boards:
I’m sorry for the bad officiating – especially that onside kick call. It feels pretty crappy to win like this. It would have been much better for the Ducks, had we had a close game and LOST, then to win in this way. There’s no validity in this win. It’s a shallow victory and I’m not rejoicing over it at all. I can practically see the headlines in the paper tomorrow: “Lucky Ducks”.
Even football writers are blasting the officials:
Matt Zemek – Scout.com
Memo to the people of the fine state of Oklahoma: don’t riot or do anything destructive tonight… even though you’d be justified to feel like doing something violent. After all, this game was violently taken away from a deserving bunch of Sooners by inept officiating and even more inept replay evaluators.
OU got screwed by the refs – no question. The sad part of the situation is… OU can also point the finger at themselves. After getting the ball to the Oregon 2-yard line earlier in the game, the Sooners proceeded to go backwards play after play. The Sooners walked away with just three points, but had they scored the touchdown – even the refs couldn’t have prevented the OU win. – Fanblogs
Oklahoma’s Malcolm Kelly (4) and Oregon’s Brian Paysinger (19) battle for an on-sides kick by Oregon late in the fourth quarter during college football action in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, Sept. 16, 2006. Oregon recovered the kick, setting up the go-ahead touchdown as they beat Oklahoma, 34-33.(AP Photo/Don Ryan)
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