Referees Whistles

94VegasCat · Post by **94VegasCat** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:51 pm

I know that I am not deaf. There were many times during the game that I did not here a whistle to stop play. Sure the play is over when the ball falls to the ground on an incompleted pass, but when there is a run up the middle and the pile is not moving, shouldn't there be a whistle to signify the stopage of forward movement? I know the crowd noise was high, but I intently listened and there were several times when there was nothing. I didn't even drink during this game. Am I the only one that picked this up? Maybe "Hooked on Phonics" didn't work for me like it worked for the rest of you? ?????

Ponycat · Post by **Ponycat** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:56 pm

I remember two incidents were this happened, and our back was stood up with everyone grabbing for the ball. No one was moving but still no whistle. Half the time the only whistle I heard was from some jack-ass college student blowing on one...and when we had the ball.

Post by **kmax** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:56 pm

94VegasCat wrote:I know that I am not deaf. There were many times during the game that I did not here a whistle to stop play. Sure the play is over when the ball falls to the ground on an incompleted pass, but when there is a run up the middle and the pile is not moving, shouldn't there be a whistle to signify the stopage of forward movement? I know the crowd noise was high, but I intently listened and there were several times when there was nothing. I didn't even drink during this game. Am I the only one that picked this up? Maybe "Hooked on Phonics" didn't work for me like it worked for the rest of you? ?????

You are not alone, there were several times that I was left wondering why there was never a whistle blown. The same thing happened in the SFA game and I believe was the cause of the one late hit we were called for.

94VegasCat · Post by **94VegasCat** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:11 pm

kmax wrote:
94VegasCat wrote:I know that I am not deaf. There were many times during the game that I did not here a whistle to stop play. Sure the play is over when the ball falls to the ground on an incompleted pass, but when there is a run up the middle and the pile is not moving, shouldn't there be a whistle to signify the stopage of forward movement? I know the crowd noise was high, but I intently listened and there were several times when there was nothing. I didn't even drink during this game. Am I the only one that picked this up? Maybe "Hooked on Phonics" didn't work for me like it worked for the rest of you? ?????
You are not alone, there were several times that I was left wondering why there was never a whistle blown. The same thing happened in the SFA game and I believe was the cause of the one late hit we were called for.

EXACTLY!!! That play was the one that made me pay attention to it this game. Sure that was a incomplete pass v. SFA, but the receiver kept fumbling around with the ball and there was no whistle, so he got drilled and we got the flag. Blow the damn Whistle to end the play ref! Thanx for backing me on this one kmax

Platinumcat · Post by **Platinumcat** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:18 pm

A lot of the times I find myself wondering if the officials aren't becoming too much of a spectator and watching the play from that perspective vs taking a I'm-here-to-work approach.

I seriously questioned several calls and non-calls on Saturday. The ones that stood out to me the most was the pass interference call on us that set up their first touchdown; that was third down and would have resulted in a field goal attempt. Second was when I saw one of our defensive lineman (I think it was Rogers) literally dragged down from behind on a sweep to the left in the third quarter. There was an official not 8 yards from where this happened and no flag.

Oh and another one, I didn't think they were ever going to call the Bison for action after the play. There were at least two incidents before the personal foul that was a part of the 25 yard penalty in the second quarter where they were smashing our heads into the grass after the play was well over.

wbtfg · Post by **wbtfg** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:26 pm

barechestcat wrote:A lot of the times I find myself wondering if the officials aren't becoming too much of a spectator and watching the play from that perspective vs taking a I'm-here-to-work approach.

I seriously questioned several calls and non-calls on Saturday. The ones that stood out to me the most was the pass interference call on us that set up their first touchdown; that was third down and would have resulted in a field goal attempt. Second was when I saw one of our defensive lineman (I think it was Rogers) literally dragged down from behind on a sweep to the left in the third quarter. There was an official not 8 yards from where this happened and no flag.

Oh and another one, I didn't think they were ever going to call the Bison for action after the play. There were at least two incidents before the personal foul that was a part of the 25 yard penalty in the second quarter where they were smashing our heads into the grass after the play was well over.

I agree with the lack of whistles. I have noticed that all season. It's awefully difficult to flag someone for a late hit, when you aren't blowing the whistle. BUT these guys seem to find a way.

How many times did the NDSU line move early w/ no call?

Also, what happened with Murray and the kick off (maybe punt) return. It looked like he got hit late out of bounds, and then somehow Murray was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct? I was sitting at the total opposite end of the stadium so I couldn't see, what Murray did to deserve the flag?

HelenaCat · Post by **HelenaCat** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 5:08 pm

That play happened below us. Tramaine was easily hit 3-4 yards out of bounds. He turned around and looked for the flag. When it was obvious the ref was going to do nothing, Tramaine threw the ball up in the air about 10 feet above his head. He may have also said something-I could not tell. But once he threw the ball up, the ref threw the flag. It was just another of many frustrating calls or no calls by this group. each week it seems to get worse.

longhorn_22 · Post by **longhorn_22** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 5:19 pm

HelenaCat wrote:That play happened below us. Tramaine was easily hit 3-4 yards out of bounds. He turned around and looked for the flag. When it was obvious the ref was going to do nothing, Tramaine threw the ball up in the air about 10 feet above his head. He may have also said something-I could not tell. But once he threw the ball up, the ref threw the flag. It was just another of many frustrating calls or no calls by this group. each week it seems to get worse.

I remember that play, and that was complete B.S. I couldn't agree more.

MSU01 · Post by **MSU01** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 5:43 pm

HelenaCat wrote:That play happened below us. Tramaine was easily hit 3-4 yards out of bounds. He turned around and looked for the flag. When it was obvious the ref was going to do nothing, Tramaine threw the ball up in the air about 10 feet above his head. He may have also said something-I could not tell. But once he threw the ball up, the ref threw the flag. It was just another of many frustrating calls or no calls by this group. each week it seems to get worse.

He actually spiked the ball, instead of just throwing it...that was an absolutely ridiculous call, though. The NDSU player dove a good 2 or 3 yards out of bounds to hit him. The refs will always miss some borderline calls, but I don't think it's too much to ask for officials to always get the OBVIOUS calls like that one or those delay of games against PSU last year correct.

El_Gato · Post by **El_Gato** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 5:44 pm

Ok, I agree with all of the above but I want to take this opportunity to state that I think our coaches & our players MUST do a better job addressing personal fouls.

We had 3 on Saturday; 1 was the facemask (which should have only been a 5 yarder as the Cat defender released it almost instantly); I've got no beef with a guy accidentally grabbing the mask while attempting to tackle someone.

What I can't accept, however, were the other 2 we were flagged for. First, on the pass that sailed WAY over the receivers head, the hit by our safety (not sure who it was) was completely out of line & is the kind of penalty you HAVE to eliminate if you want to be a championship-caliber team. I find it hard to believe that he didn't see the ball had not been caught; if that's the case, then I'm wrong on this one.

The other one, however, was the Murray return described above. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should Murray lose his cool and toss the ball and/or bark at the ref. NO MATTER WHAT THE REFS DID OR DIDN'T DO, Murray's actions negated it. How did he know one of the trailing refs hadn't thrown his flag? If they had, Murray's PF would have wiped it out; as it happened, his penalty ended up costing us yardage. If he just gets up and heads for the huddle as he should be constantly coached to do, we get significantly better field position to start that drive.

Those types of mental lapses HAVE TO BE ELIMINATED. We have NO control over the Big Sky refs (who does?) but we have total control over our own actions on the field.

In a game like Saturday's, one stupid mistake can change a W to an L. I'm glad it didn't happen...

94VegasCat · Post by **94VegasCat** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 8:41 am

If the players and coaches take care of business, the referees shouldn't be able to lose a game for us. One or two or three plays shouldn't be the game breakers. I wasn't trying to say the refs did a bad job in this post, (although I do agree with the above mentioned plays) I just want to be able to hear the whistle. When and who is deciding if forward progress is stopped? If the whistle is being blown and our guy squirts out of the pile for a huge gain and the ref says the play is over and there is no whistle, then I am gonna really be pissed. That is what I am afraid of happening.

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 9:11 am

Okay with some of the opinions being posted, but this is twice our kids have been hit with cheap shots way out of bounds only to get flagged for unsportmanlike for retaliating. One was on Travis damn it

Another play where our kids are supposed to just stuff it was captured on film when he had his helmet ripped off in front of a damn zebra--you can't keep asking kids no matter what level to control themselves when they know they're getting screwed or you'll eventually have a riot on your hands. What game did the league reprimand a coach last year because his kids finally had had enough of our b.s. officials?

But I know in my heart Dougie and the head of Big Sky officials are this very minute reviewing and grading all of our outstanding Big Sky officials and will proclaim in print what fine, upstanding officials we have in this conference

bobcatbaby · Post by **bobcatbaby** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:54 pm

I feel the big sky conference has the worst officals by far

Btowncat · Post by **Btowncat** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 7:29 pm

El_Gato wrote:First, on the pass that sailed WAY over the receivers head, the hit by our safety (not sure who it was) was completely out of line & is the kind of penalty you HAVE to eliminate if you want to be a championship-caliber team. I find it hard to believe that he didn't see the ball had not been caught; if that's the case, then I'm wrong on this one.

I agree with your premise that the players need to keep their heads and avoid stupid penalties. But the late hit (it was on Grenfell), looked like a bad call on replay. He had already committed to separating the receiver from the ball -- looked like a momentum play rather than a cheap shot.

El_Gato · Post by **El_Gato** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 7:54 pm

94VegasCat wrote:If the players and coaches take care of business, the referees shouldn't be able to lose a game for us...

Nice thought, but we had a W turned into an L because of ONE TERRIBLE call at ISU 3 years ago, remember? IMO, the problem with the Big Sky and Dougie is that they take your comment literally and "shrug off" their often inept performances.

Unfortunately, the zebras ARE a huge factor in the game of collegiate football, and IMO the guys getting paid by our league are sub-standard and don't appear at this point to be improving. Yes, they call a lot of games crappily for both sides, but that's still crappy.

For the amount of time, energy, and $$$ EVERYONE puts into our football programs, you'd think Mr. Fullerton would do a better job addressing what appears to be a league-wide complaint.

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 7:25 am

El Gato, I assume you're referring to the same individual who nearly destroyed single-handedly our entire athletic program in Bozo who's also the individual who feels compelled to have the Sacramento and Portland t.v. markets in our conference and has now added Northern Colorado while shunning tier one state institutions such as the Dakotas and Cal Davis

Come on, we get what we pay for and I know he was simply "promoted" to his highest level of incompetence

Our officiating will never get fixed until those in control accept we have an inferior product wearing the zebra shirts on Saturdays and during the basketball season.

mquast53000 · Post by **mquast53000** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:23 am

Speaking of terrible calls by our officials… I was talking to a gentleman that watched some of the NDSU game film yesterday and I asked him about two calls that stuck out in my mind. I asked him if on NDSU’s 3rd quarter touchdown drive if a 3rd and long pass skipped in front of the WR. I told him from the stands it looked like it skipped, but the refs said it was a catch. He said yes the ball skipped- first down Bison! Then on the next 3rd and long we were whistled for pass interference- first down Bison. He said that play was whistled because our DB hit a WR that was unable to protect himself because he was in the air. Those were two VERY costly calls. We were lucky that those calls didn’t cost us the game!

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:31 am

...and then I'll quit beating this dead horse to death; why can't we read how the officials graded out (or heaven forbid see where they were suspended by the conference--even terminated) as the "traditional" football powerhouse conferences such as the SEC and ACC does? And last, why do we suspend a coach for stating the obvious? If a call costs a team, why do we muzzle coaches here? If they want to wear the zebra suit, let them read about their performance also

BobcatLionFan · Post by **BobcatLionFan** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 10:42 am

Cat Grad wrote:El Gato, I assume you're referring to the same individual who nearly destroyed single-handedly our entire athletic program in Bozo who's also the individual who feels compelled to have the Sacramento and Portland t.v. markets in our conference and has now added Northern Colorado while shunning tier one state institutions such as the Dakotas and Cal Davis .

Maybe I am missing something, but Cal Davis is the Sacramento TV market. The schools are 40 miles apart.

Also, Cal Davis and the Dakotas were Div II schools when PSU and Sac State entered the Big Sky. Thus they were not a consideration when the league was formed??

PSU is the same distance from Bozeman as the Dakato schools? So there is no travel difference and Oregon is a good place to recruit (a couple from there are Lulay? Lulay? Force? Roosevelt?) Seems PSU is a good school to keep?

El_Gato · Post by **El_Gato** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 11:07 am

From my understanding, it isn't the mileage, it's the logistics.

If you could fly an entire football team on 1 plane into Fargo, it wouldn't be an issue. Apparently, however, such is not the case; the Fargo airport cannot handle a plane that large (which simply proves the point that Montana may NOT be the end of the earth, but you CAN, in fact, see it from here (NoDak)). I can't believe that a state's largest city doesn't have an airport capable of landing a plane large enough to haul 120+ people.

Anyway, it sounds as if the league doesn't want another NAU situation where the teams must fly and then bus significant distances.

EXPAND YOUR AIRPORT, BISON, AND YOU'LL BE IN THE BIG SKY IN NO TIME!!! I have to believe if this is an issue for the Big Sky, it would be for any other similar (or bigger/better) conference as well.

Referees Whistles

Referees Whistles

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Re: Referees Whistles