Officials need public accountability
Clemson's Spiller has the ball yanked free against N.C. State
Nov 19, 2009
On Wednesday, N.C. State was informed by the ACC their replay official screwed up the challenge on C.J. Spiller's fumble in the third quarter. And that's about it. No announced suspension similar to the SEC officials who blew an obvious interception in the LSU/Alabama game. No public reprimand. Just a simple "our bad" and some form of internal punishment.
Ultimately this is what bothers me about instant replay and calls that are not handled properly. Especially replay decisions that do not mesh with what everyone else sees, whether it's on a 1080p HDTV or a pixelated YouTube video on the iPhone. I'd like to know what the referee saw. Have the official answer questions just like a coach or player would after the game to explain the sequence of events. Following an error, there should be a public reprimand, similar to how a coach or player gets fined for stepping out of line. Basically something tangible that says, "yes, we screwed up and here is how it will be fixed."
The quaint notion that officials should be anymous has been blown out of the water with the proliferation of sports talk radio, message boards, YouTube, and various other media. Refs are just as much part of the game as the coaches and players. Let's start treating them as such.
Most Recent Comments
RE: Officials need public accountability
Joe - that's ridiculous.- Posted by pjtarheel
The official(s) did not "step out of line" in a similar way that gets a player or coach fined. They simply blew a call. I love college football, but you are waaaay overstating the importance of the game calling for a public flogging of an official over a bad call. It was a mistake made on the job - poor performance - happens all the time. Looking for public blood over it is absurd.
I scream at the refs as much as the next guy, you are going way overboard on this one.
That's the point, he doesn't want them fined necessarily, but he wants them to have to answer questions just like a player would after a terrible game, or a coach after a terrible play call
Posted Nov 19, 6:46 p.m.
Rank: Sports Legend Posts: 13574
Joined: Dec, 2007
Location: Southern Pines, NC
RE: Officials need public accountability
Officials should have accountability issues to the ACC Commission. They don't need accountability. This topic is worded all wrong. The ACC should be the driving force to get them straight. Fine them. Fire a few.Then we as the can get it in the news.
To this writer: You should have rephrased the topic.
RE: Officials need public accountability
I believe officials should be held accountable....sincerely Mike Easley.RE: Officials need public accountability
Joe - that's ridiculous.The official(s) did not "step out of line" in a similar way that gets a player or coach fined. They simply blew a call. I love college football, but you are waaaay overstating the importance of the game calling for a public flogging of an official over a bad call. It was a mistake made on the job - poor performance - happens all the time. Looking for public blood over it is absurd.
I scream at the refs as much as the next guy, you are going way overboard on this one.
