When will ND stop the tradition of allowing visiting teams to bring their own conference affiliated officials with them? This inane practice has burned us more than once. Does anyone find it to be a real coincidence that Pete Carroll decided NOT to use instant replay and that the game was decided in the final seconds on a play that really needed to be looked at by instant replay to make sure the ball was placed at the proper yard line and that the clock was reset to the exact time when the ball was fumbled out of bounds? Old Pete was right down there harassing the officials to ensure he got a "fair" ruling.
At the least, ND should change this practice. I believe they should bring in conference officials from either a conference that is not involved in the game being played, or just use Big East officials for all home games. Why put our games at risk with the possibility of having "homer" refs helping out our opposition? I'm not saying it actually happens because most refs try to call an honest game. But with todays pressures and the dollars attached to which teams go to the big money bowls (in which the conferences share in the proceeds) it makes the temptation too great....like making a non-call on having a teammate pushing the runner over the goal line?????????
At the least, ND should change this practice. I believe they should bring in conference officials from either a conference that is not involved in the game being played, or just use Big East officials for all home games. Why put our games at risk with the possibility of having "homer" refs helping out our opposition? I'm not saying it actually happens because most refs try to call an honest game. But with todays pressures and the dollars attached to which teams go to the big money bowls (in which the conferences share in the proceeds) it makes the temptation too great....like making a non-call on having a teammate pushing the runner over the goal line?????????
