Michigan / Illinois IW

[Reffing Rev.]

Did anyone else hear the Big 10 crew blow an IW and then not fess up to it on the 4th quarter punt that Illinois failed to fair catch? I did and so did the Illinois player.

Sure it stinks for them if they do fess up to it, but won't it stink worse for them not fessing up to it.

We've all blown an IW on that play at least once. I did my second year in a JV game I was back as LJ covering the punt and the kid had made 5 clean fair catches already, and I got caught on the 6th and I first tried to duck out of it but the WH wouldn't let me, and I learned my lesson.

[johnSandlin]

I seen the play and heard the whistle as well. I thought punt returner was complaining about the possibility of interference with opportunity to catch the punt.

[PSU213]

When I watched the play I immediately though IW, which does not seem out of the realm of possibility in the situation. The returner immediately got up and went to the BJ making a gesture to the effect of a whistle blowing. The BJ shook his head "no" to whatever it was.

The announcers never mentioned it (not a real shock considering who the play-by-play man was), and I went away from it thinking it may have been a whistle from the crowd (?). I am assuming (hoping) that an official would own up to an IW at that level, especially considering how apparently obvious it was.

[JasonTX]

Originally Posted by PSU213

When I watched the play I immediately though IW, which does not seem out of the realm of possibility in the situation. The returner immediately got up and went to the BJ making a gesture to the effect of a whistle blowing. The BJ shook his head "no" to whatever it was.

The announcers never mentioned it (not a real shock considering who the play-by-play man was), and I went away from it thinking it may have been a whistle from the crowd (?). I am assuming (hoping) that an official would own up to an IW at that level, especially considering how apparently obvious it was.

I did watch that but I never heard the whistle but was curious as to what the returner was motioning about. I wasn't paying too much attention to the game so that would explain why I didn't hear the whistle.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by PSU213

When I watched the play I immediately though IW, which does not seem out of the realm of possibility in the situation. The returner immediately got up and went to the BJ making a gesture to the effect of a whistle blowing.

Oh, so that's what that gesture was. I thought it was, "I lost my mouth guard."

I heard a whistle too. But I also thought I heard one earlier in the day in our U15 game, so I was willing to believe I was hearing things.

The announcers never mentioned it (not a real shock considering who the play-by-play man was),

Oh yeah. Musberger earlier mentioned a team's having gone back to the power I formation, when it was regular I, and I assumed he was so drunk he was seeing double.

Robert

[seeleather]

If you watch the play closely, the Illinois' receiver has his back directly to the BJ as the ball is coming down. I have a DVR, so I watched this at least 10 times: the BJ grabs his whistle and is in the middle of putting it into his mouth as the ball is reaching the receiver. As soon as the ball reaches the receiver, the BJ lets rip with a blast on his whistle as the receiver muffs the ball and it rolls free.

Now, believe me, I know the feeling all too well (as we all do) of tooting too early, and the expression on the BJ's face said it all (you could see his face going red.) It was without question an IW. I would really like to hear how observers/supervisors deal with it. We can all learn from each others mistakes. I feel bad for the guy.

BTW- that is why I use the moniker "See Leather." Those two words are the greatest advice I ever had (from a great old 40 year veteran official: it is that simple- see leather before you toot- ALWAYS!!

[TXMike]

I don't know how the Big Ten would handle it but if I were the supervisor in any conference and I had proof of an IW with the offending official not ownig up to it at that time. then his punishment would be much more severe than the guy who has the IW and then helps the crew deal with it in real time.

[Warrenkicker]

I saw the play and heard it live. I knew instantly there was an IW and knew Illinois would get a break after muffing the punt. Then I see an Illinois player asking the BJ about it and him shaking his head and saying, "No," while the Illinois player starts saying and signaling that he heard a whistle. I was waiting for a replay where it wasn't slow motion but apparently nobody on the broadcast heard it or was willing to criticize the officials, which may be part of the contract.

I don't feel sorry for the guy at all. He is supposed to be very good to be working at that level and also, based on all the reviews he has received over the years, willing to admit when he is wrong. His mistake almost got Illinois out of a huge mistake that ended up giving Michigan 7 points. If he had admitted the mistake the outcome of the game may have been different.

[JugglingReferee]

For all we know, his supervisor might read this forum.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Warrenkicker

I saw the play and heard it live. I knew instantly there was an IW and knew Illinois would get a break after muffing the punt. Then I see an Illinois player asking the BJ about it and him shaking his head and saying, "No," while the Illinois player starts saying and signaling that he heard a whistle. I was waiting for a replay where it wasn't slow motion but apparently nobody on the broadcast heard it or was willing to criticize the officials, which may be part of the contract.

I don't feel sorry for the guy at all. He is supposed to be very good to be working at that level and also, based on all the reviews he has received over the years, willing to admit when he is wrong. His mistake almost got Illinois out of a huge mistake that ended up giving Michigan 7 points. If he had admitted the mistake the outcome of the game may have been different.

Had the IW been recognized, the break would've gone U of I's way, but as it was it seemed to me that the IW may have caused U Mich. to recover a ball that otherwise a U of I player might've gotten. So I think U Mich. got the break.

Robert

[Warrenkicker]

Oh I agree that the break would have gone Illinois way there. And if the IW had been acknowledged then Michigan would not have had the short field and had the chance to score the TD only a couple of plays later. I totally agree that Michigan did nothing wrong here and I'd even say that the whistle did not change the outcome of the play by causing someone to stop playing.

I'm just saying that I feel an official screwed up and then screwed up again by not owning up to the mistake. The mistake was there as others on the forums have noted that BJ visibly put his whistle in his mouth and blew it just after the muff. Not a good situation as league supervisors seem to be able to find out about these mistakes.

[Rich]

I know this is going to sound harsh, but if I was a supervisor at the D-I level and an official didn't own up to an IW I'd likely be firing at least one official.