The ND SC game is another example
of the fundamental problem with conference referees. I do not know who will be working this game, but the Pac 12 and ACC both have a strong monetary interest in the outcome. The Pac 12 needs an ND loss and the ACC needs an ND win to get a spot for their team in the final four. The referees are well aware of this, as they are aware of who pays their salaries and reviews their performance. A few million years of evolution has given all humans a strong self-interest bias. The refs probably won't affect the outcome of the game, but the perception is all wrong.
The conferences will never willingly give up this system, they want to have their refs on the field when they play. I suspect that Michigan and Ohio State have de-facto veto power over any refs working for their conference.
Given their relationship with the ACC in all sports, I assume that ND has a place at the table in performance reviews of officials. I have not detected any strong anti ND bias among the ACC football referees. If they are trying to screw ND, they are sure doing a crappy job given the won-loss record.
Replies to: The ND SC game is another example
Re: The ND SC game is another example
Could it be that ND wins despite that? That it is an unnecessary impediment to victory?
When was the last time you saw 3 pass interference penalties called on one team in a quarter of football? ND got 3 PI penalties on the SAME drive in the Clemson game.
Speaking of the Clemson game, the hit on Drew Pyne was, in my humble opinion, both late and helmet to helmet. Neither was called, despite the review. Do you ever ask yourself if ND did that would it be called on us?
We have a very good defensive line, what are the odds a team like Syracuse held often while blocking our DL, any it was hardly ever called?
ND scored on the first offensive play of the Syracuse game, the very next drive 2 15 yard penalties were called.
Just last game against BC, there was a Drew Pyne run that appeared on the Jumbotron to make the first down by yards, not inches, on third down, no review, no fix. Next play ND had a false start.
Also, against BC, #8 Marist Liufau had a backwards lateral recovery and returned it for a TD. First the refs called it an incomplete pass. Then they gave ND the ball at the 42, when that fumble happened it was a live ball. ND should have had a TD, no?
Against Navy, first drive of the second half for Navy 4th & 1, Navy attempts a pass it’s incomplete, a PI magically appears. That’s like a turnover and truly a game changing moment. No flag, ND is first & 10 at the Navy 29 yard line.
I could go on, but I believe one of the pay sites had an article earlier in the season that ND’s opponents were some of the least penalized in college football, by which, I believe they were pointing out when teams played ND they weren’t getting flags thrown on them. (That’s from memory I could be mistaken)
Just my 2 cents, as always I could be wrong. And my opinion, is based on what I saw at the game from my vantage point or from my seat on the sofa.
That said, I’d like for ND to use truly neutral officials like from the Ivy League or the MAC or the best from FCS level.
Good observations.
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Exhibit A
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Link: https://youtu.be/mqfIcVzeOQM