Worst Call in CFB History

[ulukinatme]

PAC-12, among conference refs as a whole, have to have one of the worst histories of botched calls in college football.

 

[Bishop2b5]

I absolutely hate shit like this. It's infuriating and only a problem with how our college officiating is setup... they basically don't screen people for bias. They do a little, but not much. Also, when they first put in replay, there was a serious issue with very large number of replay officials being "homers" that just lived near the school.

Yep. All of us understand that even the best officials are human and sometimes just miss a call or make an honest mistake. We can live with that. It's the inexplicably stupid calls, the biased ones, and the outright dishonest calls that chap our ass so badly.

 

[IrishLion]

South Carolina getting jobbed right in front of their own bench against scUM in the Outback Bowl is my "favorite" worst call ever, simply because of the brutal justice on the very next play.

I also remember being outraged at this, and I care nothing for Arkansas, and I really liked Tim Tebow:
(Watch the whole video. It starts with a "bad" PI call that is not uncommon. But the call after that was the most atrocious "Unsportsmanlike" I've ever seen)

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/og5SO4XUodk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[irishog77]

South Carolina getting jobbed right in front of their own bench against scUM in the Outback Bowl is my "favorite" worst call ever, simply because of the brutal justice on the very next play.

I also remember being outraged at this, and I care nothing for Arkansas, and I really liked Tim Tebow:
(Watch the whole video. It starts with a "bad" PI call that is not uncommon. But the call after that was the most atrocious "Unsportsmanlike" I've ever seen)

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/og5SO4XUodk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Good pull on the Arkansas-Florida game.

I had forgotten about this game. I was watching this game (and ND-sc) at a bar in Arkansas with a bunch of Arkansas fans. Arkansas got screwed bad. I liked that we were able to see the penalty stat-- truly a one-way affair. I think there was another almost equally as bad PI or roughing the passer call made as well in that game. Like mind blowing bad.

 

[gkIrish]

This isn't the "worst call" but one that I will never forget as it is the prime example of Michigan being the luckiest team in college football. Call on the field is touchdown. Video evidence does in fact show that it is a touchdown....but it gets overturned.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LG7Gt6C9rFM?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[connor_in]

Bush Push, Little Giants vs MSU, 5th down and the Clip

What was the issue here, I don't remember. Ineligible man downfield due to line releasing?

 

[yankeeND]

This isn't the "worst call" but one that I will never forget as it is the prime example of Michigan being the luckiest team in college football. Call on the field is touchdown. Video evidence does in fact show that it is a touchdown....but it gets overturned.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LG7Gt6C9rFM?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Ugh, I was so mad watching that.

 

[yankeeND]

What was the issue here, I don't remember. Ineligible man downfield due to line releasing?

I believe it should have been a delay of game called on MSU QB.

 

[IrishLax]

What was the issue here, I don't remember. Ineligible man downfield due to line releasing?

First, the play clock hit zero before the ball was snapped.

Second, ineligible man downfield.

Third, offensive pass interference where Harrison Smith had the play covered PERFECTLY but got run over by a MSU player.

They missed three obvious infractions on the same play.

 

[IrishLax]

This isn't the "worst call" but one that I will never forget as it is the prime example of Michigan being the luckiest team in college football. Call on the field is touchdown. Video evidence does in fact show that it is a touchdown....but it gets overturned.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LG7Gt6C9rFM?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Earlier in that game they had their center catch a pass 20 yards downfield. How did he get 20 yards downfield? Yeah....... exactly...................................... no flag.

 

[connor_in]

My favorite missed call because it ripped the heart out of scUM and especially Desmond Howard and happened in scUM's own stadium.

"The Trip" at about 5:15:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/6NORCQnx4ls" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[MrIrishCanadian1]

One of the more recent and painful ones for Irish fans:

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SCxuVXRTt3I?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[bkess8]

Gotta go with the 2005 game against USC. The no call on the push, and the PAC-12 ref's response to it...slap in the face imo. Plus, USC was trying to call a time out with 7 seconds left and they had none left. Rules say that's a delay of game penalty that would have pushed them back 5 yards.

I was saying this the whole time I was reading all the inputs!!!

 

[Irish#1]

One of the more recent and painful ones for Irish fans:

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SCxuVXRTt3I?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

This was pathetic. Maybe a penalty and loss of down, but being kicked out was terrible.

 

[PANDFAN]

look at the clock

look at the clock

What was the issue here, I don't remember. Ineligible man downfield due to line releasing?

 

[bobbyok1]

I wanted to see what everyone thought the worst call in college football history was, since it's the offseason and we need more FOOSBALL, BOBBY BOUCHER, FOOSBALL! going on. Honestly, I think the worst is this call in the 2006 Oklahoma-Oregon game:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dSIykYoM260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The second worst I can think of is the 2007 ND-Stanford game David Grimes catch:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/pKh7-C0izlE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Another really awful call was in the 2013 Outback Bowl (2 mins 30 sec into video):
Highlights: Outback Bowl - Michigan vs. South Carolina (HD), 2013 - YouTube

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QJCpoJFy-3g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Of course, Clowney got some justice against the Skunks for that blatant ref carnage. What are some other awful calls you can think of?

(I did a search for this topic and didn't see one; if one exists and a mod wants to merge, feel free)

Love Grimes lighthearted explanation as to why the refs called his clear catch incomplete, "They graduated from Stanford or they didn't get into Notre Dame."

 

[Riddickulous]

There were also some people that argued that Harrison Smith was moving to cover Gantt and was tackled.

 

[EuropeanDomer]

Texas win against Iowa State.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVw75K9C0-8

 

[IrishLion]

Smith got straight up run-over while the pass was in the air haha

 

[IrishLax]

There were also some people that argued that Harrison Smith was moving to cover Gantt and was tackled.

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It was blatant offensive pass interference. Kelly in the post game even said they were ready for it in field goal safe and thought they had it covered and he's not sure what happened and would have to watch the replay.

Starting at around the 25 second mark, watch the two players on the right. They are both covered man-to-man. Harrison Smith gets grabbed (you can see his jersey pulled) by the one player as he moves to cover Gantt. He is held and ripped to the ground (watch the jersey stretch) which prevents him from running with Gantt... who simply trots wide open past him sprawled out on the ground.

If you pause it at the 27 second mark, you can actually see how all three potential receivers are covered on that side.

 

[IrishLax]

Smith got straight up run-over while the pass was in the air haha

Slightly before the ball is actually released... but yeah, he's ripped to the ground by his jersey about 7 yards downfield as he tries to turn and run with Gantt. All three players were covered at the start of the play, MSU got away with one on multiple levels.

 

[ND NYC]

re: the MSU FG....on that one, i fail to see all the penalties/missed calls you guys do; rather, i tip my hat to donofrio with a ballsy call--that worked to perfection.

 

[IrishLax]

re: the MSU FG....on that one, i fail to see all the penalties/missed calls you guys do; rather, i tip my hat to donofrio with a ballsy call--that worked to perfection.

I linked a replay above.

Clock clearly hits zero.

Smith clearly gets brought down trying to cover. The Smith one is debatable because the ball isn't in the air yet when most of the contact happens, but he does visibly get grabbed in the v-neck of his jersey as he tries to turn and run.

 

[ClausentoTate]

Even without the penalties downfield, it was without a doubt a delay of game. "Lag time" my ass.

 

[ND NYC]

Even without the penalties downfield, it was without a doubt a delay of game. "Lag time" my ass.

can't disagree with you guys there...defintely passed more than a full second at 0:00...but it was close though. crazy finish.
p.s. fleming needed to load the side with RB and 2 TE on end of the line...he was on wrong side-and not ready for the fake IMO--despite what they say about calling "safe" prior to the play.

 

[gkIrish]

That MSU crowd barely got excited after that play. Most people look like they were just clapping. I remember when Shark scored against UCLA I was underneath a pile of about 15 people.

 

[nlroma1o]

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It was blatant offensive pass interference. Kelly in the post game even said they were ready for it in field goal safe and thought they had it covered and he's not sure what happened and would have to watch the replay.

Starting at around the 25 second mark, watch the two players on the right. They are both covered man-to-man. Harrison Smith gets grabbed (you can see his jersey pulled) by the one player as he moves to cover Gantt. He is held and ripped to the ground (watch the jersey stretch) which prevents him from running with Gantt... who simply trots wide open past him sprawled out on the ground.

If you pause it at the 27 second mark, you can actually see how all three potential receivers are covered on that side.

I was at this stupid game.... i had no idea about the clock hitting zero until i was out of the stadium and my buddy called me up to let me know... i originally had thought it was just a damn good fake, but after that, i knew we had just been had by the refs...

 

[AllGoldEverything]

 

[irishog77]

That play is like a Brokeback Mountain joke-- never gets old.

I laugh every time I see it. It's almost like a clip out of Naked Gun or Airplane movie.

 

[dshans]

I have vague recollections of most of these plays for one reason or another. I hold my grudges but generally save them for matters of import. The only CFB game officials' fuck up that really sticks in my craw is the Bush Push.

I was a Blue-Hair-In-Training at the time. I'd driven 20 miles to an official MN Alumni Association Game Watch at a Joe Sensor's Sports Bar. I was jumping up and down and screaming like a 20 year old when we had won.

I called for a round for the group, on me. Then the storm clouds rolled in. You know the rest.

I still had to pay for the round. This may explain why I remember it so vividly and fume to this day.

What I'd intended to be celebratory drinks became downing our sorrow and dulling our anger drinks.

I avoid game watches now. It's much more economical for me to watch at home and hoist a few in joy, or misery, by myself.