"Mr. Carollo:
I am writing to inquire as to your opinion, as head of Big 10 Football Officiating , as to whether you believe the correct call was made on the play linked below:
This play ended up being an extremely consequential play because, instead of OU having the ball inside of Clemson's 30 yard line, the ball remained just inside the 46 and Clemson was able to obtain a momentum altering 4th down stop very shortly thereafter. I'm sure you can appreciate the significant impact this play had on the game as it prevented OU from getting any points on the drive (OU would've already been in FG range had PI been called and likely would have come out of the possession with 3 or even 7 points). Following this sequence of events, Clemson used the momentum from its 4th down stop to go down and get a quick TD which put them up by 2 TDs.
I also have to take issue with the fact that, in a game where both sides were very chippy throughout, somehow OU came out being the only team penalized for it. One of the penalties was another huge momentum shifting call for unsportsmanlike conduct on Dimitri Flowers when he and a Clemson player continued battling well after the play stopped. Instead of offsetting penalties being called, Flowers was flagged for UC and OU was taken out of FG range and ended up having to punt which allowed Clemson to avoid going down by 2 scores as the 2nd QR began. On another 1st half possession Mackenzie Alexander for CU was going after Sterling Shepard after the play ended. Shepard pushed back and both were flagged for UC. I wonder why the same wasn't done earlier on the Flowers UC call.
Also, later in the game when OU was fighting to stay in the game a block in the back against Clemson was overturned without explanation. Once again, I have to ask, do you believe the correct call was made?
I know your officials have a VERY difficult job to do and I appreciate how hard they work to get things right. I just hate that, in this instance, questionable officiating appears to have played a fairly significant role in the outcome of a major college football game. Please take no offense as to you or your officials as none is intended. I appreciate any comments you could provide as to the foregoing concerns."
His name is Bill Carollo and his e-mail address is carollo@bigten.org if anyone else feels compelled to do the same.
I am writing to inquire as to your opinion, as head of Big 10 Football Officiating , as to whether you believe the correct call was made on the play linked below:
This play ended up being an extremely consequential play because, instead of OU having the ball inside of Clemson's 30 yard line, the ball remained just inside the 46 and Clemson was able to obtain a momentum altering 4th down stop very shortly thereafter. I'm sure you can appreciate the significant impact this play had on the game as it prevented OU from getting any points on the drive (OU would've already been in FG range had PI been called and likely would have come out of the possession with 3 or even 7 points). Following this sequence of events, Clemson used the momentum from its 4th down stop to go down and get a quick TD which put them up by 2 TDs.
I also have to take issue with the fact that, in a game where both sides were very chippy throughout, somehow OU came out being the only team penalized for it. One of the penalties was another huge momentum shifting call for unsportsmanlike conduct on Dimitri Flowers when he and a Clemson player continued battling well after the play stopped. Instead of offsetting penalties being called, Flowers was flagged for UC and OU was taken out of FG range and ended up having to punt which allowed Clemson to avoid going down by 2 scores as the 2nd QR began. On another 1st half possession Mackenzie Alexander for CU was going after Sterling Shepard after the play ended. Shepard pushed back and both were flagged for UC. I wonder why the same wasn't done earlier on the Flowers UC call.
Also, later in the game when OU was fighting to stay in the game a block in the back against Clemson was overturned without explanation. Once again, I have to ask, do you believe the correct call was made?
I know your officials have a VERY difficult job to do and I appreciate how hard they work to get things right. I just hate that, in this instance, questionable officiating appears to have played a fairly significant role in the outcome of a major college football game. Please take no offense as to you or your officials as none is intended. I appreciate any comments you could provide as to the foregoing concerns."
His name is Bill Carollo and his e-mail address is carollo@bigten.org if anyone else feels compelled to do the same.
