SI: Oklahoma's victory at TCU makes case for preserving Big 12 as it is

[TopFrog]

SI: Oklahoma's victory at TCU makes case for preserving Big 12 as it is

By Andy Staples

FORT WORTH, Texas -- A few minutes after they had walked off the field at Amon G. Carter stadium on Saturday afternoon following their 10th win of the season, Oklahoma players emerged from their locker room wearing T-shirts and hats that bore the phrase "Big 12 Champions." The league had made it quite clear that even if Kansas State beat Texas on Saturday night and clinched the conference's automatic berth in the BCS, both teams would be allowed to claim the title if each finished 8-1 in Big 12 play -- even though the Wildcats beat the Sooners head-to-head.

That wasn't good enough for Oklahoma players. They wanted the outright title even though getting it would mean the following things:

• They had to cheer for hated rival Texas to beat Kansas State.

• They would probably face Oregon (a terrible matchup for Oklahoma's defense) in the Fiesta Bowl (in a metro area in which they've spent the past two bowl seasons) instead of most likely playing Florida (a better matchup) in the Sugar Bowl (where they can eat all this stuff).

"Obviously," Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones said after his team's 24-17 win against TCU, "you want to be the outright champion." But isn't it tough for a Sooner to pull for the Longhorns? "Probably not," Jones said. "Not right now." Offensive tackle Lane Johnson had even fewer qualms about turning the horns up. Asked if he could cheer for Texas, he smiled. "Yeah," he said. "No doubt." ...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/andy_staples/12/01/oklahoma-tcu-kansas-state-big-12-bcs/

 

[gofrogs152]

Wow, Staples calls out the Big 12 officiating. Really surprised to see that. I don't think the officiating cost us this game, but the officiating has been questionable all year, and really should be examined.

 

[Frog DJ]

Officiating did not cost TCU the win - huge plays at the end of the first half, and the beginning of the second did.

That was simply too much for the young Frogs to overcome.

The zebs had a rough day, but TCU just didn't make the plays, and the Sooners did.

Go Frogs!

 

[geno]

They always say that holding can be called on any play in the game. There was only ONE holding call all game yesterday. Strangely, it cam 30 seconds before the end of the game after TCU scored a game tying touchdown. Hmmm.

 

[KillerFrog InD KitchenSink]

I do agree with the main premise of the article. That being the only major league with multiple games on championship Saturday usually brings more excitement than most neutral field championship games. The ACC has been a dud for years, the PAC-12 plays on a Friday and the Big 10 is off to an inauspicious start. The SEC is the only one who seems able to meet the potential of a championship game.

 

[frognutz]

They always say that holding can be called on any play in the game. There was only ONE holding call all game yesterday. Strangely, it cam 30 seconds before the end of the game after TCU scored a game tying touchdown. Hmmm.

Wow, if this is true that is bs.

 

[tcujsauce]

The timing sucked, and we can call it unfair if we want, but it was a very blatant hold by Foltz with the back judge lookin right at him.

I agree with the "be consistent" argument, as there were quite a few holds missed on both sides, but you can't say it was a terrible call by the ref, bc it WAS clearly holding.

 

[dweller]

The problem with holding calls, is offensive lineman are allowed to hold as long as the hands are inside the shoulders, when defensive twist that forces the hands outside. Holding can be called on just about any play and becuase of this, when hold is called on a critical play it leads to complaints. The problem I have with the timing of the call, is the poor officating throughout the game. 71 should have been ejected per rule, the botched call on the field goal, and the non call on the final pass .

 

[illini_frog]

Anybody have a clip of the hold? Everyone says it was obvious but I didn't see it at the time.

 

[QuilterFrawg]

It may not have cost us the game, but officiating mistakes were made. As Staples put it:

"Tyrus Thompson was only flagged when the rules are clear that he should have been flagged and ejected for pinning and punching TCU defensive end Stansly Maponga. Later, officials called a TCU field goal attempt no good when replays appeared to show the ball hooking inside the right upright. The sun was shining directly into the eyes of the two officials under the uprights, which made a tough call even tougher. The Big 12 -- and all the other leagues -- must do more to help officials get those calls correct. Currently, plays are not reviewable when the ball flies above the uprights. This needs to change, and, given the advances in technology, there must be some way to actually extend the uprights indefinitely. (Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher has suggested lasers. This seems to work when something is blocking the path of my garage door, so it could work here.) The league was lucky TCU didn't punch the ball into the end zone in the final seconds. An overtime loss for the Horned Frogs would have been bemoaned everywhere, because they should have had three more points in regulation."

Oh, BTW, Kansas State beat OU, therefore IMO K-State is the Big XII champion. Eat it, OU.

 

[itsalizard]

The timing sucked, and we can call it unfair if we want, but it was a very blatant hold by Foltz with the back judge lookin right at him.

I agree with the "be consistent" argument, as there were quite a few holds missed on both sides, but you can't say it was a terrible call by the ref, bc it WAS clearly holding.

I disagree. It is like an ump calling a large strike zone all game and then compressing it in the bottom of the ninth. There were two clear holdings on the long Williams run the announcers pointed out that were ignored.

In other news, Stoops is the John Kerry of CFB. He was against Co-Champions when his team had the head to head win claiming the Conference wanted one true champion. Now he is all for it now that KSU holds the head to head tie breaker. He used to do the same thing regarding the CCG. If he was #1 the game shouldnt count. If he was outside the top 2 and trying to get in the NCG he pumped the CCG as his reasoning for moving up. And of course the famous "I'm not going to campaign (like Mack Brown) but..." and proceeded to campaign.

 

[TEUFELI]

1st down. Zone read. gain of 1 by the frogs.

2nd down and 9...

 

[tcujsauce]

...and the non call on the final pass .

It was a non-call on the final pass, because there was no pass interference.

Anybody have a clip of the hold? Everyone says it was obvious but I didn't see it at the time.

Yes, watched it several times on replay on my dvr, and it was most definitely a hold.

I disagree. It is like an ump calling a large strike zone all game and then compressing it in the bottom of the ninth. There were two clear holdings on the long Williams run the announcers pointed out that were ignored.

Um... like I said in my original post, I agree with those crying for some consistency, because there certainly was a lack of that (they missed an equally obvious hold on OU's big TD run at the beginning of the second half), but to say it was a "bad call" is just an inaccurate statement, because it was clearly a hold by Foltz.

 

[illini_frog]

Okay let me re-phrase my question.

Does anybody have a clip of the play....which they could post on here?

 

[Purple Daze]

Um... like I said in my original post, I agree with those crying for some consistency, because there certainly was a lack of that (they missed an equally obvious hold on OU's big TD run at the beginning of the second half), but to say it was a "bad call" is just an inaccurate statement, because it was clearly a hold by Foltz.

Serious question, based on the missed no calls for holding on OU, do you feel that it would have still been called if the roles were reversed and OU was heading in for a tying score? I think they probably let it go just like they did on the long touchdown run early in third quarter. I also believe that if the OU kicker makes the exact same kick Oberkrom did then he gets the three points. I know it can't be proven but I'm convinced that there was a bias towards the Sooners.

I read the TCU 360 article where GP stated he can't comment on officials but will go watch it on film. I'd be real interested to know what his true feelings are tho' I'm sure we may not be provided that opportunity.

 

[tcujsauce]

Serious question, based on the missed no calls for holding on OU, do you feel that it would have still been called if the roles were reversed and OU was heading in for a tying score? I think they probably let it go just like they did on the long touchdown run early in third quarter. I also believe that if the OU kicker makes the exact same kick Oberkrom did then he gets the three points. I know it can't be proven but I'm convinced that there was a bias towards the Sooners.

I read the TCU 360 article where GP stated he can't comment on officials but will go watch it on film. I'd be real interested to know what his true feelings are tho' I'm sure we may not be provided that opportunity.

Maybe those things transpire the way you believe. Maybe they don't. I couldn't care less about speculating about those kinds of things. In any sport I've ever played or coached, I've always be taught/preached the notion that blaming things on others instead of looking in the mirror is a loser's attitude, and you never get better by doing so. I said this in a few more words in another thread, but if we would've done every little thing possible to win that game, but didn't win, THEN you earn the right to complain or raise questions about the officials. But we didn't do that... we got out played and OU made a few more plays than we did that resulted in them winning the game.

 

[Purple Daze]

I used to coach so know all about how you can't allow the team to use officiating as an excuse but I also know that had the same things transpired in the same ways on any staff that I worked on then there would have been a whole lot of cussing, discussing and anger behind closed doors. Those cuss words and that anger wouldn't be directed at the young team but squarely at the officials that made some very questionable decisions.

I'm a fan now, not a player or coach, and don't have to quote the party line in order to insure the team takes responsibility from removing all doubts. I'm sure that GP is doing that right now while at the same time feeling much the same things as several of us feel. We have the freedom to express our disgust, anger and frustration without fear of reprisal while the staff doesn't but that won't change what I'm sure they are thinking-feeling right now.

Of course there are things we could have done better during the game that perhaps keeps us out of situations where the officiating can hurt you. Same goes for Oklahoma. None of that is the point though. The point is the officials being wildly inconsistent, deciding at the most inopportune moment to call something that they had let go all game. If it's not holding on OU's touchdown run (two of 'em in fact) then it's not holding on Foltz. If it is holding on OU's touchdown run then you call it just like you did on Foltz. I wouldn't be so upset if I didn't perceive a distinct bias towards the Sooners.

It brings to mind the officiating in the Frog-Sooner game back in the late 90's. Can't recall the exact circumstances but I remember walking out of ACS feeling the exact same way I felt yesterday.

 

[Ron Swanson]

There was a slight hold, but it wasn't some BLATANT must-call like some are implying. That degree of holding probably happened 20 times on Saturday and was never called.

It's like the last second shot in basketball, IMO.... you don't call the hold there unless if was just atrocious and you literally couldn't NOT call it

 

[geefrogs]

and the SEC title game is typically a blowout.

this year was an exception.

i enjoyed the Big 12 playing games throughout the day to settle the score.

Reminded me of the EPL this last year......Aguero......

 

[anom]

So in hindsight now that OU is missing out on a bid, does B12 still not want to have a an expanded conference?