Game's over, I'm about to move on for good. But I have to make one more point.
The refs blew several key calls, all in Cincinnati's favor. I can't explain it, but for the second consecutive game against a team from Ohio, that Ohio team did not have a live action penalty called against them (UC had 3 delays/false starts and an unsportsmanlike conduct). It's amazing. How many games have you ever watched where Michigan didn't have a single live action penalty? It's now 120 minutes (plus overtime) of games against Ohio-based teams and zero live action penalties against those teams. Thats what like 320+ plays? I hate bitching about the refs, but this is really getting to the point of total absurdity. Its the kind of stuff that just leads you to believe there is some type of conspiracy because how else can you explain that? I didnt see a single team Saturday that went the whole game without a live action penalty.
And to follow that up - here are a couple awful non-calls, both of which really hurt Michigan. Both of them were WR pick plays. You can't even call them WR pick plays, because its not a subtle "rub", the WR is blatantly blocking downfield, with both hands extended, on a pass play. He clearly isnt running a route - he's blocking. Its textbook Offensive Pass Interference:
Check out the 1:40:00 mark of the video below. Key 3rd & 5 coming out of halftime. Check out the inside slot receiver (#1). The announcer calls it a rub route, and somehow says it's "perfectly executed" - that is not a perfectly executed route - its offensive pass interference and its not close. He literally has both hands extended pushing the CB down the field.
The other one was on the touchdown - same exact deal. This one was less obvious because the hands werent totally extended and I can see how you can argue that the CB initiated contact here, but again that WR isnt running a route. If no one is going to call OPI we should just run pick plays on every play because its almost an indefensible play.
OK - officiating rant ended. On to Air Force.
The refs blew several key calls, all in Cincinnati's favor. I can't explain it, but for the second consecutive game against a team from Ohio, that Ohio team did not have a live action penalty called against them (UC had 3 delays/false starts and an unsportsmanlike conduct). It's amazing. How many games have you ever watched where Michigan didn't have a single live action penalty? It's now 120 minutes (plus overtime) of games against Ohio-based teams and zero live action penalties against those teams. Thats what like 320+ plays? I hate bitching about the refs, but this is really getting to the point of total absurdity. Its the kind of stuff that just leads you to believe there is some type of conspiracy because how else can you explain that? I didnt see a single team Saturday that went the whole game without a live action penalty.
And to follow that up - here are a couple awful non-calls, both of which really hurt Michigan. Both of them were WR pick plays. You can't even call them WR pick plays, because its not a subtle "rub", the WR is blatantly blocking downfield, with both hands extended, on a pass play. He clearly isnt running a route - he's blocking. Its textbook Offensive Pass Interference:
Check out the 1:40:00 mark of the video below. Key 3rd & 5 coming out of halftime. Check out the inside slot receiver (#1). The announcer calls it a rub route, and somehow says it's "perfectly executed" - that is not a perfectly executed route - its offensive pass interference and its not close. He literally has both hands extended pushing the CB down the field.
The other one was on the touchdown - same exact deal. This one was less obvious because the hands werent totally extended and I can see how you can argue that the CB initiated contact here, but again that WR isnt running a route. If no one is going to call OPI we should just run pick plays on every play because its almost an indefensible play.
OK - officiating rant ended. On to Air Force.
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