Great Pitino quote

[chattanoogawildcat]

RP doesn't have SEC officiating so he can't speak for us.

 

[fatguy87]

Our late game execution was more important than ref decisions late against Wisconsin.

We could’ve, you know, actually ran offense to try and score. We hit 60 with more than 6 minutes left and promptly went on a scoring drought in excess of 5 minutes. Wisconsin ended the game on a 15-4 run.

 

[UK Cats Rock]

I can only imagine how much pressure there must be. I think most fans can overlook innocent missed calls and understand that refs are human. But when it becomes a one-sided pattern, like our final game of 2017 (and 2015, 2011, even 2005, all monumental games with a common denominator) it leaves some of us wondering what might have been if X hadn’t been on the whistle. I certainly get it that a call here or there will be missed for both teams in any given game.

What’s your take when it seems one-sided to a fanbase, when it seems like we cannot win the big games (backed up with evidence, even) with certain refs?

Sorry it took so long to respond.

I think it's like anything. There are some great officials who really try hard, but as you stated, are simply human. Then there are those who couldn't care less about the game or the players and are just there for the paycheck.

I also think too many officials think they are the ones people came to see. Some go by emotions and get way too caught up in the game instead of just calling it.

Here's another story ....

I was a first year official. I was asked to call the national AAU girls tournament in Nashville. It was the first time I had ever worked a 3-man crew.

I had Kansas vs. Ohio. Ohio had the ball with less than 10 seconds to go and called a TO. The game was tied. At that time, I gathered with my two partners to discuss assignments. As one of the officials walked up to me and the other guy, he said with a pretty cocky attitude, "There is no WAAAY this thing is going into overtime." I was trying to register what I just heard.

Both of my partners were on the opposite side of the court and I was on the bench side by myself. The ball went to their side of the floor, so I directed my attention toward the lane to ensure no fouls off the ball.

As time expired, a girl from Ohio went up for a 3-pointer in the far corner from me. That official called a foul on Kansas and put the girl on the line with no time. She sank the free throws and Ohio beat Kansas.

The Kansas coach came running to me really upset and said, "She stepped out of bounds!" I said, "Coach, I'm sorry. That play was on the opposite side of the court, so I wasn't looking over there."

We got into our dressing rooms and the official that said the game wasn't going into OT was laughing. As he held up his hands about 3-feet apart he said, "She must have stepped out of bounds that far. No way was I going to call it." And, again, he proceeded to call a foul on the 3-pointer to put the girl at the line.

My heart broke for those girls and if I could do it all over again, I would have reported him to the association. I was so stunned, especially as a new official, I didn't know what to say or do.

So yes, there are corrupt officials for sure.

I also remember calling an 8th grade girls game. No offense to the ladies on here, but middle school girls games are like officiating wrestling matches. My partner called a TOTAL of TWO fouls the entire game and called pretty much nothing. He wasn't a corrupt official. He just stunk at his job. lol

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

…Here's another story ....
I had Kansas vs. Ohio. Ohio had the ball with less than 10 seconds to go and called a TO. The game was tied. At that time, I gathered with my two partners to discuss assignments. As one of the officials walked up to me and the other guy, he said with a pretty cocky attitude, "There is no WAAAY this thing is going into overtime." I was trying to register what I just heard….

As time expired, a girl from Ohio went up for a 3-pointer in the far corner from me. That official called a foul on Kansas and put the girl on the line with no time. She sank the free throws and Ohio beat Kansas.

The Kansas coach came running to me really upset and said, "She stepped out of bounds!" I said, "Coach, I'm sorry. That play was on the opposite side of the court, so I wasn't looking over there."

We got into our dressing rooms and the official that said the game wasn't going into OT was laughing. As he held up his hands about 3-feet apart he said, "She must have stepped out of bounds that far. No way was I going to call it." And, again, he proceeded to call a foul on the 3-pointer to put the girl at the line.

My heart broke for those girls and if I could do it all over again, I would have reported him to the association. I was so stunned, especially as a new official, I didn't know what to say or do.

So yes, there are corrupt officials for sure.

WHOA! I don’t know what to say. I so appreciate you sharing your perspective @UK Cats Rock ! That just reinforces what the evidence has told some of us over the years, that certain refs knowingly hold the power between a win and a loss within their whistle. Regardless if a call was correct, bad or missed, some endeavor to make a certain outcome happen.
I feel for the majority of you who strive always to get the call right, regardless if it “goes to overtime” or not!

 

[UK Cats Rock]

WHOA! I don’t know what to say. I so appreciate you sharing your perspective @UK Cats Rock ! That just reinforces what the evidence has told some of us over the years, that certain refs knowingly hold the power between a win and a loss within their whistle. Regardless if a call was correct, bad or missed, some endeavor to make a certain outcome happen.
I feel for the majority of you who strive always to get the call right, regardless if it “goes to overtime” or not!

You are welcome.

It's kind of interesting.... I decided to no longer officiate and the following year, landed a head coaching job at a private Christian high school. The very first game I was pretty excited to be on the opposite side of the coin. lol

As the two officials approached me, I was excited to introduce myself, and that's what I did. I expected a, "Hi, Coach, I am so and so and this is my partner, so and so." Nope.... I introduced myself, stuck out my hand, he shook my hand and the FIRST thing he said to me was....

"Where's my check?"

That was pretty eye opening as they made a bad call and when I tried to explain the rule to them (being I had officiated for a few years), they just told me I was wrong when, in fact, I knew I was absolutely correct. We still won the game. lol