It’s college football bowl season. I have been indulging myself in endless ball games. I am amazed at how many I can watch, then something starts to bother me, the number of penalties that are being called. In addition to the number called, how many of those calls change the momentum of the game. You begin to wonder if the refs are being too picky. The perfect referee would as far as the fans are concerned be invisible.
The worst case of penalties is the one where a team executes a perfect play and goes for a touchdown, and on the opposite side of the field completely out of the play a player commits a foul which has no effect on the play except to when called, nullifies the play. Many people think the referee should make the judgement that it didn’t influence the play, so should be ignored. This could open a real can of worms, making the whole game become judgmental. Not the answer.
So, I start watching the referees to see how accurate they are. I was amazed, as they are very good at what they do. Sure, there is the occasional missed or wrong call, but all and all they do an admirable job. So, what is the problem, the players themselves.
I’ve been watching the military academies games and notice that they do not commit as many penalties as the other teams. It could be the discipline, or maybe they have a better knowledge and understanding of the rules. I am not sure, but there is something.
Last night I saw at least ten hands to the face calls in the games I watched. In most case the hands were to the face the entire play only putting them down when the play ended. Maybe they don’t have any feeling in their hands to know they are against a face mask. Whatever, I would think they would be concerned at problem they cause their teams.
Today they seem to be more concerned about name image and likeness and how much they can get from another school. I have no problem with the players being compensated for playing, but it is a little out of control. Today I heard the numbers that there are 3000 players in the transfer portal from the 134 BCS schools. That averages out to 22 players from each school. You do the math.
However, it shakes out, it’s not a healthy situation. I don’t have the answer, it is easier to ask questions.
