LA 4A Final

[just another ref]

By any chance, did anybody here attend the finals at the Superdome and see the 4A final? Bastrop won the title last year but was stripped of the trophy for violations involving use of players displaced by Hurricane Katrina. As one might imagine, the controversy has been rehashed heavily in the past year.
Bastrop cruised through this year and won it all again. Fueling the fire, Bastrop was flagged for a record number of penalties in the final. (approximately 20, I believe) I wondered if anyone without a dog in the fight had an observation on the game. Specifically, did Bastrop commit every conceivable infraction? Did they hit late on every play? Or what? I heard just the last couple of minutes of the game on a Bastrop area radio station. The outcome was decided when we tuned in so the announcers at that point seemed almost amused by the number of flags which continued to rain down. But interestingly, as the broadcast closed the lady at the radio station (she didn't see the game) commented on the huge number of penalties and blasted the "horrible officiating." The Bastrop coach (he was at the game ) said he would wait to look at the films to decide if the officials were "overzealous." Gotta love the media.

[GPC2]

I was at the game, and as an official, I obvously defend officials moreso than the average bear.

HOWEVER - in this game there were waaaaaay too many flags. I wasn't tracking penalties, but it seemed like an easy 30 flags between the teams.

I know I am crossing the line a bit by criticizing other officials, but I think that they could have been a bit more judicious. The opening kickoff was an omen, as the kicking team was flagged for offsides. Later in the game, there was another flag for offsides on the kicking team (that's right two in one game). The kicker to me though, was with 50 seconds left, and Bastrop clearly in control of the game and running the clock out, there was a holding penalty called.

I have never officiated a state championship game, so I don't know the feeling of being down there in the 'dome, so I will just assume that the officials were trying too hard. To be clear, I am not calling them bad officials, but I think they could have done a better job.

...and by the way, Bastrop was clearly the better team, and they probably would have easily won the 5A Championship game too. I sure would love to see them play John Curtis, I think those two teams were the two best teams in the state this year.

[RMR]

I take it you are both in La.? Which association?

I am in BR.

[LouisianaDave]

Hey RMR, i too am in BR

[RMR]

How long have you been at it?

I just finished season #11.

What is your last initial?

[GPC2]

I am in New Orleans.

[LouisianaDave]

RMR, I just finished my second year of football, Ive done much more basketball. My last name starts with an R. This year was much more enjoyable than last year, I hated doing that damn clock,lol

[RMR]

OK, I just figured out who you are I think.

Speaking of clocks, if I'm correct you had the 25 second clock for us the night that the game clock wouldn't stop running for Harold at St. Amant.

[LouisianaDave]

Yes, the announcers for that game raked us over the coals, and it wasnt even his fault.