Tony Piraro
Follow me on Twitter @TonyPiraro
Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIRE

This play makes me sick. Not so much the execution by Michigan State which was fine, but the poor execution by the Badgers and the terrible overruling by the officials makes this play one of the worst in college sports history.

First off, Michigan State is lucky to have just one loss at this point in the 2011 season. They are decent offensively, and overhyped on defense by a poor schedule so far this season. Kirk Cousins tries to play outside his skill set on most Saturday’s, and usually loses when he does so. He is not that good of a quarterback, but has enough weapons around him to play well when he plays turnover-free. His Spartans were looking up at 14-0 deficit in the first quarter. The scary part is if Russell Wilson didn’t throw the most uncharacteristic pass of his season to Nick Toon that was intercepted, the Badgers are most likely up 21-0 and on the verge of blowing out #16 MSU in the first quarter on Saturday. Instead, Wilson was picked off and Sparty scored 23 unanswered points in the second quarter to begin one of the more bizarre college football games of 2011.

Michigan State’s Keith Nichol was in the right place, at the right time. Nichol did nothing on the Hail Mary, but awaited the mistimed tipped ball from Wisconsin wide receiver Jared Abbrederis who should of never been on the field in the first place! I never saw any video evidence that gave the officials enough merit to overturn such a play. It is beyond absurd.

Secondly, what is Bret Bielema doing putting in his 6-foot, 2-inch wide receiver with zero leaping ability for the final play of the game on defense? Abbrederis is a great pass catcher with remarkable hands. He is not explosive. He is not fast. He certainly won’t outleap many people, and did not on Saturday. Abbrederis does not know how to drop a ball, all he does he snatch anything near him. Wisconsin should of asked Abbrederis to catch the ball and not knock it down. Maybe the Badgers would be ranked #3 and still unbeaten at 7-0 if he grabs that ball instead of batting it to Keith Nichol. Time after time, Bret Bielema makes questionable calls at clutch moments. This was another questionable decision by the Badgers head coach. This time however, the decision cost his team their season.

Lastly, how can the officials from this game overturn such a play? The original call on the field was that Nichol was a yard short of the goal line. To overturn a call anytime, there must be substantial video evidence that supports the officials call one way or another. Not one replay I saw gave me the look that indicated MSU had crossed the goal line and beat the Badgers. I have yet to see a team defeat Wisconsin this season. It saddens me that college football is so lost in so many huge areas.

The BCS has created such a problem for college football, many people don’t even acknowledge its existence anymore. Replays after every scoring play in college can be a good thing when the system is used properly. The game should always be decided by the players, not the officials or coaches. Saturday’s events in the final moments of the game should of been followed by an overtime showdown. There is no way on this planet you can rip away a team’s first-ever national title chances on an inconclusive replay. The officials from Saturday’s game in East Lansing should be suspended for the remainder of this season, then fired at the conclusion of the NCAA year. This replay will live in infamy for Wisconsin fans until the team finally wins their first BCS National Championship, if ever. The wound is still fresh.

Tweet
Get more Traffic

14 Rants to “Big 10 Officials Took Game Out Of Players Hands”

  1. Matt Anderson says:

    So, you are essentially saying you saw a replay where the ball broke the plane of the endzone, but you wanted 2 shots of it? Imagine the situation was reversed, if you saw the badgers break the plane would you be whining about it?

    You truly sound like a Wolverine fan – it’s never the team’s fault that they lost, always some other circumstance. Ridiculous.

    • Tony Piraro says:

      I agree with how Michigan fans react when they lose…I am not doing that by any means. Did you not see how the game ended Saturday? Figure it out.

      • Matt Anderson says:

        I was at the 50 yard line, so I had to wait until the next day to see the slow motion replay. However, it’s clear that the tip of the football hit the plane of the endzone, which is all it takes for a touchdown to occur. If Wisconsin feels cheated, they should work on declaring MSU an inter divisional rival so we can settle it on the field each year. Whiny articles like this are an embarassment to college football. Have a great day Tony. Perhaps the Badgers will get a second chance come December.

        • Tony Piraro says:

          Appreciate the thoughts Matt. First off, you sound like a White Sox fan when you make those Michigan comments the reply earlier. Refrain from bringing up your rivals names when nobody is talking about them. Sox fans could care less if the Sox won or lost, just as long as the Cubs lost that day. It honestly makes my Dad happier to see the Cubs lose then his Sox win. You already beat Michigan. You dont need to bring them up again or compare anyone to them. Nice seats, you saw a legendary game! however, wisconsin did play msu last year in east lansing as well. so its not fair they had to go there twice. maybe you should take that up with the Big 10. The Badgers will go undefeated the rest of this season and smoke MSU in the Big 10 Conference Title game. Enjoy the Champs Bowl. This was MSU’s highlight of the season. Thank you for your input Matt.

          • Matt Anderson says:

            :) . Have a great day. If MSU Wisky are in Indianapolis in the title game I’ll buy you a beer if you are making the game. MSU still has to beat Nebraska in Lincoln Saturday to secure that bid though.

          • Tony Piraro says:

            hahaha, I can’t wait Matt…I’d love a beer and I’d love to meet up in Indy. Just get past Nebraska and we’ll try and figure out Braxton Miller and OSU this weekend

      • Don says:

        To Tony: I’m a fan of college football and I’m definitely a fan of both Wisconsin and Michigan State. Wisconsin because they are a power house year after year and they have a style of football that I like. I like Michigan State because they are the new kid on the block and I think they are trying to emulate Wisconsin.

        I’m curious. You are the ONLY person I’ve seen who says the call shouldn’t have been overturned and that the replay was inconclusive. I’ve read through all the reaction in Wisconsin newspapers that I can find. I’ve looked at the Badger websites. I haven’t found anyone who states that the replay official made a bad call and that the play should not have been overturned. I certainly thought the reply was conclusive. Is your concern that there shouldn’t be a policy of allowing instant reply to overturn calls? I don’t think that is the case because you want the replay officials fired. To me…the question is this. Did he score or not? I think everyone….excuse me…almost everyone agrees that he did. It was a heart breaker for Wisconsin…especially because you have to feel after the come back that they would win in overtime. However, as a college football fan, I’m sure that you would rather your team (Wisconsin) win according to the rules rather than let a bad call on the field stand. It was too important a a play for everyone and for the sport. If that is not the case like you, how about we become like Ice Skating and decide who is the winner before the game is played.

        • Tony Piraro says:

          Don, I thank you so much for your well thought out response. We truly appreciate it here at Rant Sports. You would be correct sir, I am the only person in the country who disagrees with the call. First off, the video evidence proved nothing to me. It showed their was a fight for the goal line, but nothing that led to conclusive evidence. Officials let calls on the field stand more times then not because there isn’t enough evidence on the field. In this case, the call on the field should of stood. There is no replay that definitely tells me he crossed the goal line with the ball. There was too much juggling and movement. Also, what they dont tell you at home on your TV, is that the goal line camera angle is coming off an angle in the stadium. Therefore, everything you see is not directly lined up. Either way, I can’t find an angle that I agree with, but I do take your point to heart. Maybe its that my diehard Badger fandom wont allow me to see him cross that goal line. Maybe it’s my pride because I dont want MSU family and friends to have bragging rights for another year. I just know, when something is that close, YOU HAVE TO LET THE KIDS PLAY IT OUT FOR THEMSELVES. that is all I am saying. There have been tons of calls way more conclusive then the Hail Mary that had been ruled inconclusive. I am just saying….as for you being a MSU and Wisconsin fan…that too is a first for me to witness. I’ve never met such a match of two favorite teams. It’s odd, but I can’t hate your philosophy behind it. I dont feel MSU is a carbon copy of us just yet, because they dont have the dominant offensive line and Bell is nowhere near the talent of any Badger back in the last decade. But I do see what you’re saying, especially on the defensive end. The Spartans are like Clemson and the Cubs. They always find a way to break your heart after a huge upset win that brings their fanbase to belief….that they can win the big one….then they let you down…time after time….Either way, I like your enthusiasm and keep up the dedication to both programs, you’re unique in that respect. Thank you again for your opinion Don.

          • Don says:

            Tony-Lol..Last things first. I didn’t say they were my 2 favorite teams. You assumed. That wouldn’t be natural…as you said. My wife is an MSU grad. My brother is a Wisconsin grad. Neither is my favorite team. I just like what Dantonio is trying to do. I agree. I don’t think the talent at MSU is as good as Wisconsin’s yet. However, it is obviously good enough Wisconsin at MSU the last 3-4 times. I played football at Baylor. I’m well aware of the positioning of the cameras. It wasn’t that close. It wasn’t the nose of the ball…the whole ball was squarely on the line. Secondly, the camera opposite the field showed Nichols body squarely overly the line as well and that camera is assumed to not be on the line as well. If what you are saying is true then Nichols would have appeared to have been short of the line from that angle. Finally, the camera that was bouncing in full motion WAS positioned on the line (ESPN confirmed this). When this camera is paused, the picture is clear that the whole ball is straddling the line. As a person who has hated Michigan since I was a youngster in Texas and knows…not believes…but knows…that anyone who has to play in the big house has to compete against the refs as well as the Michigan football team…is more than willing to let a good call go either way. As you were willing to admit, I think perhaps your loyalty is overcoming your logic on the call. I would suggest you spend your time helping the Wisconsin coaching staff figure out why they continue to lose games to Michigan State, who as you say has inferior talent. Maybe if someone in the Big 10 figures out how to win games with inferior talent then we can finally beat a team from the SEC. In all honesty, my favorite team is the one playing whatever team Nick Saban is coaching that he promises never to leave in the lurch. Yeah…one of those 5 teams. :)

          • Tony Piraro says:

            Don, my fault for the assumption. I misread your context. I am glad and appreciate your honesty. That would be weird. However, you just made my bad list…Nick Saban? Really?!? C’mon man!!! That is brutal in itself. So you like snakes too huh?!? That guy is such a….wow, too many expletives and adjectives. anyway, it’s your prerogative. Just don’t be surprised if you have a new favorite team in a few years when he wears out his welcome in Bama. Ugh. C’mon Don! Take it easy man. Thanks for the input, could of done without the Saban comment lol

        • Don says:

          um…by the way..you are correct about MSU having had a history of winning one big game and losing three straight to teams that you would think they can beat. Until last year, the Dantonio era was no different. Either MSU is riding an incredible lucky streak that will result in 7 years of famine..or….maybe…MSU may actually be better for a couple of years. Lets see if they play horrible at Nebraska…and then at Iowa. If so, the trughful axiom you presented may still be in effect. lol

          • brian gransee says:

            First and foremost I want to say that I am huge badger fan. Saying that, wisco lost saturday on a lucky f’n play. Wisco lost, Michigan St didnt win. Yes the w/l columns say different, but we all know it. Wisco missed a fg (blocked), gave up a safety, apparentley stopped blocking for a blocked punt (touchdown) and dropped a long td pass by no hops abbracadabbra. 19 points handed away. Wisco can easily be considered one of the most disciplined teams in the country year in year out, in any sport, especially football. It is just unfortunate that these 4 plays all happened in the same game, in a tough place to play, against a team w/a horseshoe crammed up theie ass. It just happens sometimes. The thing that really boggles me besides the timeouts called on defense and mr no hops is the pass interference in the end zone that was not only ignored by the refs, but also the entire media ranging from broadcasters to debaters on espn and talk shows nationwide. The poor guy from MSU who took a hail mary to the facemask in the end zone (eventually caught by Nichol) pushed #14 Cromartie to the ground, only 5 or so yards from an official. It is blatant and ridiculous that it wasnt called. Watch the replay, and watch the MSU receiver who gets hit in the face w/the ball. He pushes #14 to the ground, infront of the ref, gets hit in the face with ball, then “assists” Nichol for the touchdown. BS!! But Wisco should have been up by 20 or so by then anyhow. Wisco lost out on a great chance to play in new orleans.. they blew it, but the ref should be watching and doing his job, which is watching those players vie for position on a very important play. I dont know what he was watching, but it wasnt the group of guys waiting for the hail mary. Poor discipline, bad luck, and an ill-timed “zone-out” by ref = Wisco loses. Clearly the better team will win in Indy for the title game. MSU wont be there, they will likely lose this week in nebraska. Go Badgers.

          • Tony Piraro says:

            Brian thank you so much for your thoughts!! Yes!!! my sentiments exactly. it is finally so nice to have someone who shares the same feelings as me. Wisconsin is definitely a top-3 team in the nation! but, like you said, “they blew it.” it could of been a special season. it was a bush league finish that will haunt me for years. however, we have to move forward and hope now every team loses so it could be a national title of 1-loss teams, outside of boise. that november 25th game in madison against penn state will be for all the marbles….the winner i see going to the Big 10 Championship Game! Got to stay positive, even though every day I wake up thinking I lived a nightmare out on Saturday. Thanks Brian again, we always appreciate your input

Check out what others are saying about this post...

  1. Latest Football Video Games News - Buy NFL Football Tickets says:

    [...] Big 10 Officials Took Game Out Of Players Hands Instead, Wilson was picked off and Sparty scored 23 unanswered points in the second quarter to begin one of the more bizarre college football games of 2011. Michigan State's Keith Nichol was in the right place, at the right time. … Read more on Rant Sports [...]

Leave a Rant

Agree? Disagree? Have a different opinion? Let us know what you think...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!