Stoops Says Officials' Actions Were Absolutely Inexcusable And Unacceptable

Earlier Monday, the Pac-10 apologized to the University and suspended the games officiating crew for one game.

Photo: orangebowl.org

NORMAN, Ok. - Oklahoma head football coach Bob Stoops reacted sharply Monday night when asked about the Pacific-10 Conference's announcement earlier in the day that it had apologized to OU and handed down a one-game suspension to the officiating crew working last Saturday's game at Oregon.

The Sooner coach said that the actions of the officials were, "absolutely inexcusable and unacceptable."

Here is a transcription of Stoops' comments ...

Opening statement, regarding penalty and response from Pac-10 Conference:

“At least they have reacted to it and tried. Truly there can be no amends to it and it can’t be corrected. I think (the media) are fair to discern whether the actions taken against (the officials) or the individuals who had an opportunity to get it right are acceptable or enough ... compared to how our season has changed.

“If you're going to write any of this, you need to say it all. I’ve made a million mistakes; I’ll make a million more. In each game and in that game included ... there are things I could have done differently or changed. Unlike officials, players and coaches don’t have that opportunity. They had an opportunity to get it right and they chose not to.

"So I find it still absolutely inexcusable and unacceptable. In particular (the) people who had an opportunity to review it all and look at it and get it right. They chose not to. You discern whether a one-game suspension is appropriate for those individuals.

"I’m not talking about people in the heat of the moment out there in the middle of the chaos. I’m talking about people who, like every viewer at home, had an opportunity to see it. It’s not for me to decide what is appropriate, but I think it's fair to say that a one-game suspension compared to the way our season now is altered, I don’t know if that fits the situation.

“Like I said, I’ve made a million mistakes. In a game I’d love to have a chance to replay it and do it over. They get that opportunity, we don’t. To me again it’s just unacceptable and inexcusable.”

On if the players understand that the season is not lost:

“Our players understand we’ve got a lot in front of us. The season is young. We’ve got a ton to get better at, improve at. I have to deal with this because I am the head coach, but we’re on to Middle Tennessee. We had a great practice. Our players are upbeat. They understand the potential that is on the football team and we’re going to keep working to get better.”

On President David L. Boren’s letter:

“We have a great administration. President Boren is the absolute best president a head coach can have. And you know what, and a great president for this university. You look at what he has done for this university, it’s remarkable. He’s a great leader for us right through Joe Castiglione. I’ve got faith in what they believe is right and trust their opinions.”

On the team’s motivation:

“It’s behind us. We’re motivated. We’ve got another game coming up and we’re going to keep getting better. That’s all the motivation we need.”

On accountability:

“I get a 19-year-old kid who’s out there in front of the whole country and out there in front of 60,000 people who makes a mistake and gives up a play at the end. He’s got to talk to (media) and he’s a man and walks in the tunnel and talks to everybody and explains (himself). All parties involved should have to explain their actions to some degree you would think. There are a lot of dynamics to it.

“We all make mistakes in the heat of the moment. Every coach in the country and every kid would love to replay it and say, ‘Let me do that over.” (The officials) have that opportunity, so how can it be excusable and acceptable? It’s just not.

"The people who were in those positions, I don’t know if that’s enough compared to what they’ve done to our season when they had an opportunity to get it right. And it isn’t like there’s 10 minutes to go. We’re taking a knee, game’s over. I’m not saying we didn’t have our fault in it that we could be better. But that’s the end of the game and there is no refuting that.”

Here's the best quote I can find on the subject. It pretty well sums up the thought process at all the football "heritage" schools. "Mistakes happen. When an official’s mistake enabled Joe Washington to score a two-point conversion in 1975, Oklahoma determined it to be the work of destiny. When an official’s mistake enabled Oregon to recover on onside kick last Saturday, Oklahoma determined it to be the work of a home-conference officiating bias."

I am still not convinced the refs made the wrong call. Please show me a picture that actually shows a duck’s hand on the ball before the ten yard. The photo strongly suggests it, but not a single unaltered photo was available that showed someone touched the ball. Oregon had possession when the ball was blown dead. Regarding the pass interference Oregon would have scored anyway. The Oklahoma defense was awful. Oklahoma’s defense lost the game. Simply but they lost and are showing their true character and sportsmanship. I am embarrassed for Oklahoma.

Sore losers everywhere. Take a look at the game stats. The Ducks out played the Sooners. OK 381 yards with over 34min of possession. OR 501 yards with less than 26min.

How about a key 3rd down where Oklahoma snaps the ball after the play clock expires? They get a critical first down and keep Oregon's offense off the field. Shouldn't that be as much a part of this discussion as whether a kickoff went 9.8 yards or 10 yards? Isn't a missed call a missed call, regardless of timing?

Those of you that are being too lite on the calls and refs are still using the "old" style to debate these calls. With adding the dynamic of video reviews and charging a team a time out changes this whole debate! How long has college football had this ability? 2 Years. College football does NOT need more problems....but less!

great game played by two great teams, they should have a rematch in the BCS.

To Kate's message below ... The better team got screwed! The better team fielded the kick-off and would have taken a knee for the remaining seconds on the clock (nevermind Oregon touched the ball inside 10 yrds). One lose means the difference in going to a BCS game vs. going to the "Weed-Eater" bowl. Last time I checked, there are pretty big finanical incentives to the schools and programs (not to mention coaches salaries) based on how the teams perform. So ... do give me the this "better team won" crap. The better team didn't win ... otherwise you wouldn't have Coference Commissions apologizing to the world!

Forget who touched the ball, Oregon did not even recover the kick-off....

void the win, Oregon played a great game no doubt about it but with the calls made by the officials the game was in favor of the sooners it's a shame that the pac ten produced these officials they dont deserve the rite to be in there profession

There are hundreds of infractions each week in college football. Some are never seen. Almost every game has infractions seen by TV comentators that are not acted on by officals.

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