tOSU-Michigan Game Thread

P'tucket rhymes with...

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2006
12,059
The Coney Island of my mind
Since you seem to be very interested in how officiating works, here's a too-long answer that's (probably generously) assuming that you aren't attempt to troll. Note I have no affiliation with the B1G, have never been to the Midwest, and could not possibly care less about either of these two teams. I have talked to several B1G officials.

First, the officials for a conference are drawn from the same footprint as the schools. The reason should be logistically obvious. Everyone on this lives in the Midwest. The crews at the beginning of the year are integrated geographically SPECIFICALLY to avoid this kind of dumb complaint. There will likely be an official from Ohio on EVERY crew in the B1G. Same, by the way, for Michigan. And yes, Michigan was represented on this crew as well.

Someone with even a passing knowledge of college football should know that the head referee (who, despite your post, has no affiliation with Ohio) has no input in the review process. You may be getting college football confused with the NFL.

The rest of this post is just misattributing who called fouls and who is supposed to call fouls. Most fans are under the impression that the official nearest a player should call fouls on that player, when instead keys are assigned to officials at the snap based on formation. This is why occasionally a flag will come from far away when actually that official had primary coverage.

The worst call in the game (in my opinion) was actually one that benefited Michigan. The officials incorrectly assessed a timeout on Ohio state for failure to wear proper equipment. This rule was changed two years ago, the current penalty is to send the player out of the game for one play (1-4-8 in the rule book).
Why, we have someone familiar with B1G officiating procedures right here...
 

Rick Burlesons Yam Bag

Internet Cowboy, Turbo Accelerator, tOSU Denier
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Since you seem to be very interested in how officiating works, here's a too-long answer that's (probably generously) assuming that you aren't attempt to troll. Note I have no affiliation with the B1G, have never been to the Midwest, and could not possibly care less about either of these two teams. I have talked to several B1G officials.

First, the officials for a conference are drawn from the same footprint as the schools. The reason should be logistically obvious. Everyone on this lives in the Midwest. The crews at the beginning of the year are integrated geographically SPECIFICALLY to avoid this kind of dumb complaint. There will likely be an official from Ohio on EVERY crew in the B1G. Same, by the way, for Michigan. And yes, Michigan was represented on this crew as well.

Someone with even a passing knowledge of college football should know that the head referee (who, despite your post, has no affiliation with Ohio) has no input in the review process. You may be getting college football confused with the NFL.

The rest of this post is just misattributing who called fouls and who is supposed to call fouls. Most fans are under the impression that the official nearest a player should call fouls on that player, when instead keys are assigned to officials at the snap based on formation. This is why occasionally a flag will come from far away when actually that official had primary coverage.

The worst call in the game (in my opinion) was actually one that benefited Michigan. The officials incorrectly assessed a timeout on Ohio state for failure to wear proper equipment. This rule was changed two years ago, the current penalty is to send the player out of the game for one play (1-4-8 in the rule book).
I don't know if you are a lurker, or a member who is posting under a separate account but you drink for free at the Bar of Rick Burlesons Yam Bag, and 50 percent off at our Global franchise.
 

Rick Burlesons Yam Bag

Internet Cowboy, Turbo Accelerator, tOSU Denier
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Pardon me if I only address your substantive points.
c) Looking at the video again, Barrett's hand actually never touches the ground on or after the 15-yard line. Looking at this photo though, the ball was even further behind his outstretched left hand... and the 15-yard line.

http://michiganradio.org/post/bacon-referees-steal-spotlight-one-best-michigan-ohio-state-games-all-time

d) I understand the subjectivity of PI rules. I haven't said anything about holding calls. In fact, the only two calls I really care about are the missed DPI and spot in overtime.
e) I don't keep saying Michigan was the better team. I've said that the two teams are roughly equal, OSU maybe a little better.
f) "... it is absolutely reasonable for people from in state to referee a game." I simply disagree with your opinion.

Okay, one unsubstantive point:
a) "People said that UM fans were whiny prior to the game." "People say" a lot of things. People say Ohio fans are assholes, for example.

Let it go. Quit whining about the whiners and egging them (me) on. Ohio won a big game because the refs handed them an undeserved victory. Be grateful and gracious. Don't gloat. The only thing worse than a sore loser is a sore winner. Don't be that guy.
Pure silliness. You have assumed that the picture was taken at the apex of his forward progress. It wasn't. Watch the game tape.
 

luckiestman

Son of the Harpy
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
34,689
I don't know if you are a lurker, or a member who is posting under a separate account but you drink for free at the Bar of Rick Burlesons Yam Bag, and 50 percent off at our Global franchise.

Well, I object because this fact bomb of a post you quoted has a chance to seriously slow down the "quality" of this thread
 

Soxfan in Fla

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 30, 2001
7,187
I still can't believe I went into this game hoping Michigan would win (mostly because of Tom Brady as I have no allegiances to either team otherwise.) Luckily for me, a good portion of the Michigan fans in this thread gave me a good reason to start rooting for Ohio State as the game went on, so I ended up happy. As a neutral observer, this was a very enjoyable game to watch, looked to be officiated fairly throughout, and this game thread was fantastic until the game ended and the whiny Michigan fans appeared en masse. Get over it, guys, and get them back next year.
This is a fan base as a whole that's still whining because MSU and 4 other schools voted OSU to the Rose Bowl in 1973. They are the biggest bunch of whiny, entitled douchebags on the planet. They make it easy for everyone to hate their fan base and University.
 

dhappy42

Straw Man
Oct 27, 2013
16,132
Michigan
Since you seem to be very interested in how officiating works, here's a too-long answer that's (probably generously) assuming that you aren't attempt to troll. Note I have no affiliation with the B1G, have never been to the Midwest, and could not possibly care less about either of these two teams. I have talked to several B1G officials.

First, the officials for a conference are drawn from the same footprint as the schools...
Thanks for the NCAA football officiating explainer.

I understand the logistical reasons for using crews from the region and admit being too strident about stating that "hometown" refs shouldn't officiate games. Like nearly everyone here, I've overstated my argument. In practice, it's probably impossible to have "neutral" crews. And I stand corrected about Dan Capron being an Ohio native. Seems he's from Illinois. My argument isn't that the refs were consciously biased; it's that bad calls cost Michigan the game and that every bad call (except the misinterpretation of the mouthguard rule) went against Michigan. They call it "home-field advantage" for a reason and it's not just because of crowd noise.


The worst call in the game (in my opinion) was actually one that benefited Michigan. The officials incorrectly assessed a timeout on Ohio state for failure to wear proper equipment. This rule was changed two years ago, the current penalty is to send the player out of the game for one play (1-4-8 in the rule book).
Good catch on the rule change, but I don't think that was even close to being the worst call in the game. The loss of a timeout hardly affected the game at all. Opinions about that, obviously, vary, but I don't think a lost timeout in the third quarter and a non-DPI call in OT or a generous, game-changing spot are even close.
 

johnmd20

mad dog
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 30, 2003
63,359
New York City
I'm done. Unless some Buckhead flames me.

Congrats Ohio. Good luck against Clemson.
Oh man, you are most certainly not done. There is no chance of that. If you were done, you would go away without a comment. The person who says, "I'm done," is just getting started.

Nevertheless, this is a HOF thread and college sports has never had anything like it. Both Duke and UNC fans on this board should be ashamed of themselves that they could never muster anything close to this. In the end, we're all winners. But, in reality, there was one winner. And one whiney loser.
 

trotsplits

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
669
My contributions to this thread went on too long after I made initial points and I'm sorry for that. It was fun, but it's gotta end.

Saturday was a tough loss in a monster game that still feels stolen and I can't take some things back upthread. OSU fans would have felt - if not reacted - similarly. I lived it in the mid-80's through the 90's and sat next to them in both stadiums during UM wins and losses. Neither program accepts moral victories (unlike another B1G team UM plays).

As for whiney? This is an internet board populated by the whiniest fanbases fanbases in MLB/NFL. Shit. If I can't muck about here, then where?
 
Last edited:

CFB_Rules

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 29, 2016
1,726
Good catch on the rule change, but I don't think that was even close to being the worst call in the game.
Officiating grades should be made regardless of time/score. Missing a spot by three yards in the first quarter is worse than missing a spot by 3 inches in the 4th. And misapplying a rule will always grade out worse than a judgment call, since officials should be prepared to apply the rules but only get one look at a potential foul.

There is a chance that the officials applied the equipment rule correctly, and Meyer chose to take a timeout in order to keep his player in the game. However, in that case, I'd prefer the Referee to just announce a charged team timeout with no additional reasoning. Keeps the coach from looking foolish and little things like that keeps sidelines happy.
 

Bergs

don't Judge me
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2005
22,515
I've never been much of a college football fan. If you asked me my favorite D1 team for most of my life, I would have said Michigan (because "wolverines" was a bad-ass name to 10-year old me). I lived in Ohio for 7 years and grew to hate Ohio State. People in trailer parks who didn't graduate high school, let alone attend college, flying Ohio State flags on their porches struck me as batshit crazy when I first moved there, and it annoyed me that there was more Ohio State gear worn at Ohio University than there was OU gear.

I have a personal rooting interest in the career of Joe Burrow (tOSU backup QB), and really wish he had stayed committed to OU rather than bolt for tOSU, not only so I wouldn't have to root for tOSU, but so I could watch him light up the Mid-Atlantic Conference on his way to getting drafted. The kid is a fucking stud, and he'd be putting up video game numbers in the MAC. So I was begrudgingly leaning toward tOSU in this game.

As for the back judge, I know his family (his brother is one of the funniest people I've ever met), and I can tell you he takes that job as seriously as you can imagine. The idea of him intentionally calling a biased game is absurd.

I give all of that detail to say that I now consider Michigan my least favorite D1 team*, largely because of the whining by Jim Harbaugh. I can give the fanbase whining a little latitude, as everyone is guilty of that sometimes, but Harbaugh's tantrum was a pathetic display.


*Non child-rapist enabling division
 

snowmanny

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 8, 2005
16,526
Bergs: Gee I'm really sorry to see you go. Even though some might say it's pretty milquetoast to not really have a favorite D1 team, or to switch teams like, ever, let alone switch because the coach, who is a well-known lunatic, acts like a fucking lunatic, it's tough to see so many of you jump on the OSU bandwagon but in the end I'm sure it's where you all belong.
 

twibnotes

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
21,038
(Hope my post doesn't offend - I don't mean to be insensitive re the tragedy at osu - just playing along with the dark windshield post)
 

Bergs

don't Judge me
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2005
22,515
Bergs: Gee I'm really sorry to see you go. Even though some might say it's pretty milquetoast to not really have a favorite D1 team, or to switch teams like, ever, let alone switch because the coach, who is a well-known lunatic, acts like a fucking lunatic, it's tough to see so many of you jump on the OSU bandwagon but in the end I'm sure it's where you all belong.
Was there something confusing about "I've never been much of a college football fan"? Just wondering; I thought I was being fairly transparent about how "milquetoast" any D1 fandom I have might be. I mean, I kinda liked Michigan because they have the same moniker as my favorite member of the X-Men. That's probably not going to be very indicative of a strong identification with a team past the age of 13 or so.

As for "jumping on the OSU bandwagon," I believe I gave a pretty specific reason why I am currently following them without divulging particular interpersonal connections with the Burrow family.

Upon further reflection, I wonder if you actually read my post.
 

FL4WL3SS

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
15,214
Andy Brickley's potty mouth
Was there something confusing about "I've never been much of a college football fan"? Just wondering; I thought I was being fairly transparent about how "milquetoast" any D1 fandom I have might be. I mean, I kinda liked Michigan because they have the same moniker as my favorite member of the X-Men. That's probably not going to be very indicative of a strong identification with a team past the age of 13 or so.

As for "jumping on the OSU bandwagon," I believe I gave a pretty specific reason why I am currently following them without divulging particular interpersonal connections with the Burrow family.

Upon further reflection, I wonder if you actually read my post.
We're happy to have you sir!
 

Average Reds

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 24, 2007
36,107
Southwestern CT
God help us if Michigan gets into the final four and there's a rematch.
I've been reading this thread in amazement since yesterday and I have to disagree. If that happened it would be the most epic thing in the history of epic things. And if anyone other than dhappygilmore42 is the thread starter, it's a mistake.

Of course, the reality is that it's not going to happen. But I'll admit that I'm chuckling to myself just thinking of it.
 

kenneycb

Hates Goose Island Beer; Loves Backdoor Play
SoSH Member
Dec 2, 2006
16,398
Tuukka's refugee camp
I dunno, sequels are never as good as the original. Too much organic greatness in this thread that I think would be hard to replicate or trying too hard to replicate.
 

snowmanny

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 8, 2005
16,526
Was there something confusing about "I've never been much of a college football fan"? Just wondering; I thought I was being fairly transparent about how "milquetoast" any D1 fandom I have might be. I mean, I kinda liked Michigan because they have the same moniker as my favorite member of the X-Men. That's probably not going to be very indicative of a strong identification with a team past the age of 13 or so.

As for "jumping on the OSU bandwagon," I believe I gave a pretty specific reason why I am currently following them without divulging particular interpersonal connections with the Burrow family.

Upon further reflection, I wonder if you actually read my post.
I read your out of nowhere post carefully. What I said you said is absolutely not exactly what you actually said but I have further reviewed it and determined that it was fair.
 

nolasoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 11, 2004
7,330
Displaced