The zebras could probably legitimately call holding on almost every play of every football game but if they did who would want to watch?

So what should be done to correct this. Fans in every level of football complain about refs. Refs have the same senses and reaction times as regular human beings. Their eyes can't see things in slow motion when they are happening at full speed. So what can really be done?

What fans have to try and understand is that players on both sides of the ball are trying to get away with stuff on every play, yet refs can't make calls on every single play, b/c if they did no one would watch the games. Actually a high percentage of calls made throughout a game are only mental penalities (offsides, lining up in the nuetral zone, breaking the huddle with 12 men, etc). Everything else is a judgement call, and on every judgement call . . . the other team thinks they got screwed. How many times do we see offensive interference called? Yet, when watching the tapes, you will see on almost every pass the WR pushing off the DB to get back to the ball.

Remember, football was once played without interference. Interference was created so that the game would flow, and allow for the passing game to be useful. In the real old days, DBs would just line up and tackle the WR keeping him from running a route. Fans didn't like this (and scoring was down) so they adjusted it. It goes on and on. Holding isn't called like it used to be, but then again traveling in basketball happens on every play. More often than not, penalities are created and enforced for the enjoyment of the fan.

One way to fix this is for fans to give offiacting a shot. Try out for the local HS crew, take the test, go to the several summer workshops, and work a few games. It is much harder than it seems, and has to be one of the most unforgiving jobs in all the world. You rarely hear fans say, "man, that ref called a great game", but hearing "that ref screwed us" is very common.

My point is that people make mistakes all the time (in life, at work, etc). Yet, refs are supposed to be like robots who never make mistakes. I will agree that bad calls change games, but like a coach talking about missed FG's . . . there are 60 minutes to every football game and one play or call shouldn't lose a game for any team when that team will have around 70 offensive plays a contest.

Sorry for the rant. But my family has a few refs working and retired, and I know it is a tough job.

You are correct about it being a tough job. The game is faster now, and I'll bet it's harder than ever. Instant replay makes it easy to second guess calls.

What bothers me is that the institution itself has no apparent plan to evolve or change in an attempt to strengthen its aptitude. Maybe more officials are needed? The game is faster, so maybe more eyes on the action will help. I also think that they should adopt a philosophy of letting the players play.

I have no solutions to offer. I'm merely wondering aloud whether the institution of Officials is able to adapt and develop new methods that will improve officiating. To my eyes, they seem stuck in the past. It's easy to do so when the only thing one needs to do to avoid change is to shrug one's soldiers and announce, " Oh well, we have always done it this way, and it's never going to be perfect, so let's just accept things the way that they are."

Oh, I see your point. I jumped the gun. I do feel things are stuck in the past, when it comes to officiating. Like any profession, people are always looking to improve the quaility of the product. Lately the biggest improvement has been the review process. Tapes are studied all year, to find ways to improve calls. They have more live tests during the offseason as well. It doesn't just fall on refs though, coaches have their part and teaching the proper techniques would go a long way to less penalities or atleast "game defining" calls.

Instant replay is not a cure all, but it does improve fans perception of the way the games are called. In college it will be almost impossible to have instant replay installed any time in the near future . . . but it will be something on the horizon that will help correct judgement calls. Instant replay is not really embraced by the refs (it does cause second guessing, and delayed calls/whistles), but with the speed of the game it helps to keep things level.

More eyes on the action would also be an interesting solution to some problems. Sometimes seeing the action from behind won't look the same way from the front or the side (or from the fan's view of the game). Like a QB making a read, refs have to look for certain things. If they don't see that back arm wrapped around a WR, or if it doesn't look like the WR's movement was harmed in any way, they won't make the call. It sort of why we don't see holding on every play, the refs are trying to allow the teams to decide the action on the field.

I get defensive when officiating gets debated, so sometimes I jump the gun and immediately start ranting. I'm not an official, but my grandfather, dad, and 3 uncles have all been/are refs on all the different levels. I've seen it on both sides. These guys are former players who have a deep passion for the game of football. I won't say that refs don't miss calls, or have bad games . . . it does happen. But usually those refs are their own biggest critics, and watch as much tape as the players and coaches to find ways to improve their performance.

Overall, harder test and tougher requirements will improve the game . . . but people aren't really knocking each other over to apply for the job either.

Here's what I would do:

1) Have a couple of refs at the game be located up in a booth somewhere, watching the TV broadcast.

2) At any time after a play before the next play is run, they have the ability to pause the game for 30 seconds.

3) During those 30 seconds, all replays that are available will be shown on their monitor, and if they determine that the on-field refs screwed up, they will notify the on-field refs and play continues as soon as possible. Play should resume within 60 seconds max under most circumstances.

I look at the instant replay as being a quick way to fix mistakes, and if they can do that in under a minute I'd be very happy. Would it fix all mistakes? No, but if it can overturn 90% of the incorrect officiating calls, wouldn't that be worth it?

I'd guess that most games would have maybe 5-10 calls that would be reviewed at a maximum, so this should add no more than 5-10 minutes to the game.

They could also use the overturned calls as part of the way to rate the officiating crew.

(I don't know how well this would work in college, since every college game is not televised.)

If they are going to do some sort of "instant replay" in college football it should be done like the NFL...

I have faith in the officials as individuals.

The officials love the game or they wouldn't be there. My hope is that, as an institution or group, they have a mechanism for considering and making changes to improve officiating. I like the idea of an official watching replays having the option to change a call. I wonder whether putting another official or two on the ground for each game would improve things.

Organizations must have the ability to evolve with the times. The US military understands this, and much is spent on developing "The Army After Next."

In 1940, France learned that a competent and well-equipped military organization that had not properly prepared for "The Next War" could be quickly defeated. I hope that the institution of officiating has the vision to see what the future will require for officiating to remain at its best.

The game is much faster now! Do the old methods remain adequate, or are new techniques required?

I don't know, but I hope that some very smart people involved in officiating are working on these issues.

all this talk is blasthamy!

keep the college game pure. it is bad enough Nike is corrupting it with techno/street uniforms

I agree mesquite, I think the college game should try to avoid imitating the NFL. Besides, these boards would be pretty boring if we didn't have a bad call or missed call to berate each other about.

they will let the arm around the waist go as long as hes not pulling the WR away from the ball or using it to spin him