Mike Leach has never been one to shy away from a microphone and speaking his mind. Saturday night Leach
brought the hammer down on Big 12 officiating and a perceived bias toward Texas because they are "higher bowl-wise."
"Last year in this incidence, I bit my tongue and I regret it," Leach said. "This whole, 'Do everything status quo' and 'Oh my gosh, the conference might fine you' – you know, sometimes it's just the right thing to do. Sometimes nothing's going to get changed until someone steps up and says something."
"I don't know if this will impact anything or not. I want to make sure that I do my part to impact it the best I can. I've got players out there – we work hard, we try hard for years, days, weeks. There's no defense if somebody doesn't stand up and say something. People have to know. People have to be aware, and people have to quit being afraid of fines. People have to say something."
Leach was less than amused by the fact that the game's referee Randy Christal, is an Austin resident. Leach seemed to imply that Christal's presence might have influenced a series of calls that went against the Red Raiders.
"Leach was upset about a drive in the third quarter in which a pass deep in Texas territory to Michael Crabtree of Carter was ruled incomplete. That ruling was upheld after a review on a coach's challenge by Leach.
Three plays later in that drive, officials ruled on the field that Graham Harrell had completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Edward Britton. A touchdown would have cut into Texas' 35-20 lead. But the catch was ruled incomplete after an official review. Replays appeared to show the ball hit the ground before Britton secured it.
Two plays later, a 13-yard touchdown pass to Danny Amendola was negated by a holding penalty called on Louis Vasquez. Leach said Harrell was roughed on the play and didn't draw a flag. After the penalty, Leach went for it on fourth-and-15 instead of attempting a 40-yard field goal. The pass fell incomplete."
I saw the game, and thought the plays were close, but wasn't particularly surprised by any of the final rulings. But at the same time, as a Nebraska fan, I'm fully on board with Leach's sentiment that since it's inception the Big 12 has favored the Longhorns both on and off the field. Of course I have no proof of this, but Mike Leach can't be wrong...he likes pirates
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-11-2007 @ 9:39PM
Rob said...
I agree that the Big 12 officials are agenda driven ... and it's not just for Texas. You don't have to go very far back to remember the 2002 Fiesta Bowl when the Big 12 Officiating Team had a certain Terry Porter (a former Ohio State student who got his diploma elsewhere and therefore didn't include his OSU days on his profile) who threw a flag for a fictitious infraction a full 4 seconds after the game was over (with Miami in the lead) in the first overtime which extended the game with a 1st and goal for OSU from the 1. OSU scored, won the National Championship and only later did it come out that Porter was known to be both an OSU fan AND a Miami detractor. The Big 12 spent 6 months letting it die down "under review" before they decided to do nothing. They actually condone the behavior that upsets Leach and they don't mind damaging people in the process.
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11-11-2007 @ 11:10PM
DP said...
This is a load of crap. This guy says "...since it's inception the Big 12 has favored the Longhorns both on and off the field. Of course I have no proof of this..."
You have no proof cause there isn't any. Favored the Longhorns off the field?!!? In what ways?
Were you watching a different game? I remember these calls being reviewed (strike one) and they were upheld (strike two). The slow motion replays confirmed the calls. The announcers agreed with the calls (strike three, you're out, do not pass go, do not collect $200, go sit down).
As a Husker fan you're just mad cause your season sucks, your coach sucks, Texas OWNS you (regardless of where we play - home, away, neutral), and Kansas made you look like a JUCO team. Not so fun being on the other end of the stick is it? Paybacks are a bitch.
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11-11-2007 @ 11:24PM
Big 12 fan said...
Same 'ol crap game after game. Tech coaches/fans always whine about "bad" calls every time they lose. They can't just suck it up and admit they lost, they always have to whine. There's bad calls in every game but Tech is no victim. They are just losers.
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11-12-2007 @ 10:49AM
Bob said...
I didn't hear Mike Leach complain when the officiating crew containing people from Lubbock flat out stole the 2005 OU / Tech game from OU with two embarrassing bad calls against OU at the most critical moments possible. And that the Lubbock Insurance Salesman who called the game winning phantom touchdown hired the player he gave the touchdown to after the season.
Why weren't you complaining about how unfair and biased that was Mike Leach?
And from looking at the game again, there was no bias for Tech.
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11-13-2007 @ 8:46AM
Joan Breith said...
yeah for mike leach for standing up to what he believes is right and for his team. I have never known a Texas fan who was a good winner or loser. They are as a whole arrogant and bad sports. But this issue has nothing to do with the team or coaches from Texas. It has to do with the referees who were awful. How embarrassing for any Big 12 team and how bad that any Texas fan cannot see that either.
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