Thursday, January 5, 2006

Official admits Outback mistake

DES MOINES — A Conference USA official said league referees made a mistake when they flagged Iowa’s Chad Greenway for being offside late in the fourth quarter of Monday’s Outback Bowl, the Des Moines Register reported Wednesday in a copyright story.

Down by seven with 1:24 left, Iowa’s Scott Chandler recovered an onside kick that would have given the Hawkeyes a chance for a game-tying drive. But officials flagged Greenway for crossing the 35-yard line before the ball was kicked.

Television replays showed Greenway behind the line of scrimmage when kicker Kyle Schlicher’s foot hit the ball.

Florida recovered the ensuing kickoff and ran out the clock for a 31-24 win.

C-USA coordinator of officials Gerald Austin told the Register that the offsides penalty was one of five Outback Bowl plays under review by the league.

“Out of approximately 175 plays in this game, we have five under specific review — including an important call at the end of the game that really fucked Iowa over.” Austin said. “We do teach our officials that in order to officiate in Conference USA, you have to suck as bad as our conference does. In this case, the onside kickoff call was equally as shitty as our conference, and that’s pretty damn terrible.”

The admission has no effect on the game’s outcome, and it did nothing to make Iowa fans any less pissed off.

“I want my fucking money back!” exlaimed an angered Colestal. “We were just robbed of what undoubtedly would have been one of the greatest moments of our lives–the second amazing bowl comeback in two years.”

NCAA football managing director Dennis Poppe said the penalty in the Outback Bowl — along with a questionable call at the end of the Alamo Bowl between Nebraska and Michigan — forced the NCAA to review its crew selection and protocol process. The issues will be put on the agenda for the NCAA’s spring meetings.

“Seriously, were those guys really NCAA officials? Even my 92 year old blind grandmother started screaming profanities when they called Chad Greenway offsides,” noted a visibly distressed Poppe.

The NCAA picks which conferences will provide officials for bowl games to ensure neutrality.

“That game was as neutral as Rosie O’Donnell is skinny. That’s a huuuuge bitch.”