Quote:
Originally Posted by jTheUmp
The reason you know this is intentional: it happened on the VERY NEXT PLAY after the conversation too place. Had it been 10 minutes later, there could've been some room for doubt.
However, as an umpire, I certainly wouldn't talk to a player like that. The whole conversation sounds needlessly confrontational. I do my best to try to stay out of the scrum as much as possible (although sometimes it's unavoidable). I've even apologized to players for getting in the way, or thanked them for "not killing me" when I do get caught up.
Also, depending on how lower levels of play are officiated, it's entirely possible he hasn't had to deal with an umpire in the middle of the field before now. Around here, all of our non-varsity games are officiated with 2 wings and an R, or sometimes just two wings (which is terrible for all kinds of reasons). The only time we add an Umpire and Back Judge is on Varsity games.
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This looks completely deliberate, agreed. I've been the U for most of my 20 years on Friday nights, and have been plowed over or leg whipped more times than I care to count, but more than confident that none of them were ever intentional.
I agree with jTheUmp said and this takes me back to the second TX incident where the ump is continuing to bark at the huddle and especially at the kid that eventually contacts him. Never should it have led to that, but I don't know why he tried to borrow trouble and keep barking at the kid and following him like he did. That episode looked like not one official was interested in "preventative officiating" until it was past the point of no return. Take care of your business with your crew and your flag, that's why you have them both.
I've had this conversation with more than a few officials over the last 2 years and this makes me wonder again how long it will be before our mechanics as U are to be working in the O backfield.