I invite any comments relating to college football, though I will focus on BYU (and the OU Sooners, my adopted other team).
I can't count tonights game against UCLA as a win, but as a fan I'm not going to put an L on the schedule. The primary reason for this is PAC-10 officiating. As Sooner fans know all too well, it's nearly impossible to get a fair shake on the left coast.
BYU was flagged 11 times to UCLA's 4.
Vic So'oto was clearly down when UCLA picked up a fumble. After review, however, the PAC-10 confirmed the call. They could have let the call "stand" which essentially means that the replays were inconclusive, but "confirming" the call meant the officials were clearly right. At best, the fumble was inconclusive. That put an end to a promising drive.
I believe it was in the first half when Bryan Kehl popped the ball in the air which a BYU DB caught and would have returned for a TD. This play was prematurely called dead. Then under review it was again inconclusive. Why does the game only have 2 camera angles? Everything is going to be inconclusive when you can't properly see a replay.
During BYU's comeback, the offense was moving the ball at will. Then a personal fould was called on Michael Reed which ruined the momentum of what could have been a critical drive. Did Michael Reed do something flagrant and egregious? Who knows. There was no explanation as to what the personal foul entailed, and of course no camera caught it. We'll just take the word of the officials.
On the drive when BYU should have taken the lead, UCLA forced a supposed Max Hall fumble. It probably was a legitimate fumble, but you better believe that would've been a different call had that been UCLA.
But oh well, our D will stop UCLA like they have all day and we'll get another shot. That could've been the case without the interference of the PAC10 officials. On UCLA's final drive, the D pretty much had them stopped. Ben Olson came up to the line snapped the ball and threw an incomplete pass. But, the zebras threw a flag. Wait. The play clock had already expired before Olson snapped. It couldn't be delay of game (even though BYU was called on that at least once during the game, but I think twice). Or was it delay of game? Nope, pass interference. Let's keep the UCLA drive alive and virtually secure that BYU's come back will fall short.
Well, enough is enough. I feel better. BYU outplayed UCLA for the final 3 quarters. I feel confident about the remainder of the season. I hope UCLA goes on undefeated. Beat those other pathetic PAC10 teams (Cal, USC, Oregon). All the best to Ben Olson though I'm ecstatic that he's there and Max Hall has the reigns in Provo.
It's unfortunate that one game will cost us any BCS talk. With any luck enough other teams will lose 2 games so BYU could possibly make some noise in the ridiculous BCS poll towards the end of the season.
Go Cougars!
