PRESS PICKS (Week 4): An age-old college football tradition - complaining about officiating
STAFF REPORT
Is football officiating the worst it’s ever been?
On the surface, fans will scream “yes!” The coaches are complaining in post-game press conferences every week (search Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi) and fines are being levied across the country.
So, why is it so bad? Or is it?
No official statistical data has been released this season and as with any sporting event, the opinions are quite subjective and split down the middle between the winners and losers.
But there are some stats available that can be reexamined.
In 2023, in the SEC, 222 plays were reviewed in 100 games and 88 (or 35 percent) were overturned. The year before there were 250 plays reviewed including targeting calls. Once again 88 were overturned. The most overturned plays in a season took place in 2021 when 52 percent or 120 plays were overturned.
Despite the lower number of reviews in the last few years, the outrage seems to be getting louder.
Max Howell has been an assistant coach at the collegiate level and has watched how the game has changed from both the sidelines and in the pressbox
“The game is faster. The fans are louder and the officials are aware of that,” Howell said.
“They’ve added an extra official on the field. They include more officials in discussions on any call ‘off campus.’ Once a flag is thrown, the group meets, then go to the camera and visit with somebody somewhere else. Coaches also send their copy to the league office but he’s only doing that to support the opinion of his fan base; he knows the calls will not be overturned.”
It doesn’t help that every play can be reviewed a thousand times on the Internet. The media picks up on it and typically has a play or two featured as “controversial.”
Don’t expect a letup and don’t forget the equation of the betting aspect and what it lends. Imagine how bad it might get before someone tries to make some sort of adjustment.
What would that judgement look like? Should we try A.I.? Probably not but there is someone out there right now trying to cook up the perfect robot to keep from bad calls being made.
2024 Standings (Last Week)
1. Michael Butler 45-15 (13-2) .750
2. Rosie Langello 43-17 (14-1) .717
Tim Gayle 43-17 (12-3) .717
Wesley Lyle 43-17 (13-2) .717
5. Doug Amos 41-19 (13-2) .683
6. Mike Peacock 40-20 (12-3) .667
Graham Dunn 40-20 (10-5) .667
8. Barry McKnight 38-22 (9-6) .633
9. Lindsey Bonner 28-17 (0-0) .622
10. Rick Hendrick 35-25 (8-7) .583
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.9&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
45-15 (13-2) .750
Prattville at Hoover - Hoover
Carver at Dothan - Dothan
Bullock Co at Tallassee - Tallassee
Rehobeth at Wetumpka - Wetumpka
Autauga Academy at Maplesville - Maplesville
Arkansas at Auburn - Auburn
Tennessee at Oklahoma - Tennessee
Florida at Miss St - Florida
NC State at Clemson- Clemson
Utah at Oklahoma St - Utah
USC at Michigan - USC
Miami, Fla. at South Florida - Miami
Cal at Florida St - Florida St
Kansas St at BYU - BYU
Illinois at Nebraska- Nebraska
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
43-17 (12-3) .717
Prattville at Hoover - Prattville
Carver at Dothan - Carver
Bullock Co at Tallassee - Tallassee
Rehobeth at Wetumpka - Wetumpka
Autauga Academy at Maplesville - Maplesville
Arkansas at Auburn - Auburn
Tennessee at Oklahoma - Tennessee
Florida at Miss St - Florida
NC State at Clemson- Clemson
Utah at Oklahoma St - Oklahoma St
USC at Michigan - USC
Miami, Fla. at South Florida - Miami
Cal at Florida St - Florida St
Kansas St at BYU - Kansas St
Illinois at Nebraska- Nebraska
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports & al.com)
43-17 (13-2) .717
Prattville at Hoover - Hoover
Carver at Dothan - Carver
Bullock Co at Tallassee - Tallassee
Rehobeth at Wetumpka - Wetumpka
Autauga Academy at Maplesville - Maplesville
Arkansas at Auburn - Auburn
Tennessee at Oklahoma - Tennessee
Florida at Miss St - Florida
NC State at Clemson- Clemson
Utah at Oklahoma St - Oklahoma St
USC at Michigan - USC
Miami, Fla. at South Florida - Miami
Cal at Florida St -Cal
Kansas St at BYU - Kansas St
Illinois at Nebraska- Nebraska
Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
43-17 (14-1) .717
Prattville at Hoover - Prattville
Carver at Dothan - Carver
Bullock Co at Tallassee - Tallassee
Rehobeth at Wetumpka - Wetumpka
Autauga Academy at Maplesville - Autauga Academy
Arkansas at Auburn - Auburn
Tennessee at Oklahoma - Tennessee
Florida at Miss St - Miss St
NC State at Clemson- Clemson
Utah at Oklahoma St - Utah
USC at Michigan - USC
Miami, Fla. at South Florida - Miami
Cal at Florida St -Cal
Kansas St at BYU - Kansas St
Illinois at Nebraska- Nebraska
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
41-19 (13-2) .683
Prattville at Hoover - Hoover
Carver at Dothan - Carver
Bullock Co at Tallassee - Tallassee
Rehobeth at Wetumpka - Wetumpka
Autauga Academy at Maplesville - Maplesville
Arkansas at Auburn - Auburn
Tennessee at Oklahoma - Tennessee
Florida at Miss St - Florida
NC State at Clemson- Clemson
Utah at Oklahoma St - Utah
USC at Michigan - USC
Miami, Fla. at South Florida - Miami
Cal at Florida St - Florida St
Kansas St at BYU - BYU
Illinois at Nebraska- Nebraska
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
40-20 (12-3) .667
Prattville at Hoover - Hoover
Carver at Dothan - Dothan
Bullock Co at Tallassee - Tallassee
Rehobeth at Wetumpka - Wetumpka
Autauga Academy at Maplesville - Maplesville
Arkansas at Auburn - Auburn
Tennessee at Oklahoma - Tennessee
Florida at Miss St - Miss St
NC State at Clemson- Clemson
Utah at Oklahoma St - Utah
USC at Michigan - USC
Miami, Fla. at South Florida - Miami
Cal at Florida St -Cal
Kansas St at BYU - Kansas St
Illinois at Nebraska- Nebraska
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
40-20 (10-5) .667
Prattville at Hoover - Hoover
Carver at Dothan - Carver
Bullock Co at Tallassee - Tallassee
Rehobeth at Wetumpka - Rehobeth
Autauga Academy at Maplesville - Maplesville
Arkansas at Auburn - Auburn
Tennessee at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Florida at Miss St - Florida
NC State at Clemson- Clemson
Utah at Oklahoma St - Utah
USC at Michigan - USC
Miami, Fla. at South Florida - Miami
Cal at Florida St - Florida St
Kansas St at BYU - Kansas St
Illinois at Nebraska- Nebraska
Barry McKnight (Voice of Troy Trojans)
38-22 (9-6) .633
Prattville at Hoover - Hoover
Carver at Dothan - Carver
Bullock Co at Tallassee - Tallassee
Rehobeth at Wetumpka - Wetumpka
Autauga Academy at Maplesville - Autauga Academy
Arkansas at Auburn - Auburn
Tennessee at Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Florida at Miss St - Florida
NC State at Clemson- Clemson
Utah at Oklahoma St - Oklahoma St
USC at Michigan - USC
Miami, Fla. at South Florida - Miami
Cal at Florida St - Florida St
Kansas St at BYU - Kansas St
Illinois at Nebraska- Nebraska
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director - WAKA Ch. 8)
28-17 (10-6) .622
Prattville at Hoover - Hoover
Carver at Dothan - Carver
Bullock Co at Tallassee - Tallassee
Rehobeth at Wetumpka - Wetumpka
Autauga Academy at Maplesville - Maplesville
Arkansas at Auburn - Auburn
Tennessee at Oklahoma - Tennessee
Florida at Miss St - Miss St
NC State at Clemson- Clemson
Utah at Oklahoma St - Utah
USC at Michigan - USC
Miami, Fla. at South Florida - Miami
Cal at Florida St -Cal
Kansas St at BYU - Kansas St
Illinois at Nebraska- Nebraska
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
35-25 (8-7) .583
Russell Co at P. Julian (Thur) - Julian
Tuscaloosa Co at Prattville - Tuscaloosa Co
Alabama Christian at Trinity - Trinity
Wetumpka at Pike Road - Wetumpka
Holtville at Elmore Co - Holtville
Alabama at Wisconsin - Alabama
New Mexico at Auburn - Auburn
LSU at South Carolina - South Carolina
Texas A&M at Florida - Florida
Georgia at Kentucky - Georgia
Boston College at Missouri - Missouri
Memphis at Florida St - Florida St
Notre Dame at Purdue - Notre Dame
Oregon at Oregon State - Oregon
Arizona at Kansas State (Fri) - Kansas St