Game’s referees could have been more hug-friendly
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 11/16/2009
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We all had high hopes for the football game this weekend, so of course it was a crush when we lost to Michigan State’s Spartans Saturday. The sting of defeat was intensified, however, by a bad call (and a lack of call) on the referees’ part.
Though it’s always better to lose by a few points than get slaughtered, the game left a sour taste in many Boilermaker football fans’ mouths. We cried out especially loud when one player was penalized for “unsportsmanlike conduct” after he hugged Purdue Pete after a touchdown in the second quarter.
Yes, Big Ten rules clearly state players are not allowed to celebrate with mascots during the game. But come on – referees should be realistic about calls they make. Ralph Bolden, the player in question, said he had thought there was a holding call and they were going to bring the play back when he got hugged by Purdue Pete. Plus, anyone who attended the game could attest to the fact that Bolden was running so fast that a collision with Pete was impossible to avoid. Might as well make it a pleasant collision!
The penalty on Bolden was enough to get on our nerves. But when State made a touchdown a few plays later, three of their players excessively bumped chests. Referees seemed to think this was much more innocent than Bolden and Purdue Pete’s interaction and failed to penalize MSU for their excessive celebrating.
Next season when we have home games, the Big Ten should consider assigning better officials to football games. Yes, calls will anger fans, but refs need to stay fair and consistent or they’ll have merited discontent on their hands in no time.