The Swindle in the Swamp

The 2003 FSU-Florida game is in the history books, and Lane Fenner is laughing. The Gator Nation thinks it was robbed by the refs, and FSU homers will of course argue. Why even try and defend the Gator side of things, when the WHOLE NATION is on our side? What follows is a an indicative summary of news, talk, and opinion from around the nation.

From message boards around the nation during the game:

Auburn: http://mb8.theinsiders.com/fauburnfrm2.sho...cID=52630.topic

Clemson: http://mb6.theinsiders.com/fclemsonfrm2.sh...cID=18206.topic

Iowa: http://iowa.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=804...96&sid=&style=2

Miami: http://mb7.theinsiders.com/fmiami20779frm1...cID=93522.topic

Michigan: http://michigan.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid...40&sid=&style=2

Mississippi: http://olemiss.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=...79&sid=&style=2

N. Carolina: http://northcarolina.rivals.com/showmsg.as...27&sid=&style=2

Oklahoma: http://www.soonerfans.firstdownsports.com/...read.php?t=5228

Penn State: http://bwi.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=36&t...67&sid=&style=2

http://bwi.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=36&t...sid=890&style=2

Texas: http://forums.hornfans.com/php/wwwthreads/...sb=5&o=0&fpart=

Texas AM: http://texags.com/main/forum.reply.asp?top...2058&forum_id=5

Tennessee: http://tennessee.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fi...25&sid=&style=2

From a War Eagle:

Geez guys..

I have NEVER...I mean...NEVER....seen a screw job like you guys got this evening.

That was some of the most blatantly HORRIBLE "officiating" I have ever witnessed. There were 10 Auburn Tigers...4 of which are not the biggest Gator fans...in the room...cheering like crazy for UF to overcome both the Criminoles AND the Zebras.

In my book...you guys won. Same with 99.9% of the non-FSU free world.

My condolences. WAR EAGLE!

From a Marshall fan:

Marshall had a series offered with FSU. Pruett said sure as long as we can bring our refs. He added we will NEVER play a game again with ACC refs. In 1999, Pennington had to overcome 60 yards of PHANTOM penalties in our last drive to beat Clemson 13-10

1991, Marshall led undefeated and highly ranked NC ST 14-3 late in the 4th. The ACC refs took over and beat MU 15-14. Jim Donnan kicked the end zone pylons across the field and vowed he would never play at an ACC stadium again.

2000, Marshall got " ACCed again" at North Carolina 20-15. MU ran a fumble back for the winning td after a catch and three steps by a UNC wr before he fumbled. ACC refs call it back said he didn't have control of the pass. Pruett sent the film with 9 horrendous calls that screwed the Herd out of the win. The ACC office said, your right, we are so sorry.

Now, I sat and witnessed what I never dreamed I would EVER see at Florida. The ACC refs have stolen a game in front of a Prime Time National Audience not a 1-AA or MAC team on the road at an ACC school!Foley needs to follow Pruett and demand NEVER again to play with ACC refs in the series. I would think a Big 10 or Big East crew for a rivalry with national implications like UF/FSU would be a better way to do it.I saw UF get 4 fumbles and have them taken away by refs while UF was clearly down and FSU is allowed to score a TD off a NO Fumble. Inexcusable IMHO.In the 20s and 30s , the old " Homer" was a standard before TV and instant replays etc......but I can't beleive what I witnessed yesterday at the Swamp.

From a coach at a Florida High School Football Powerhouse:

". . . my H.S. football team is undefeated and in the H.S. playoffs. We have at least 6 D-1 players on our team including a RB that runs a 4.3 40 yd. dash and has rushed for over 2,500 yds. so far this season. What this means is our practices have an audience of the nations top football programs coaches. I know a lot of these coaches well and all everyone talked about was the hose job the ACC officials put on UF. Two of these comments came from ACC schools whom I won't mention. Every one of these recruiters was embarrassed for college football.

Now from the National, State and LOCAL media:

TV: Both CBS and ESPN say the officiating was awful!

TJ: Kirk, Why isn't the officiating for the Florida/FSU game being discussed in the national media? Why haven't we heard an explanation from the ACC yet? I've seen the replay numorous times and have received photos of all plays in question over the web.

Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN): I don't know where you live but everywhere I have turned this week, Jeremy Foley the AD at Florida and Dave Hart the AD at FSU have been quoted since the end of that game. Every national analyst and talking head from one time to another has had an opinion about how horribly officiated that game was. We can't go back and change the 5 or 6 blown calls that affected the outcome of that game. I said after the game Sat. night that was the best game in college football this year, but unfortunately it was also the worst officiated game I have seen all year. I don't know if I can ever recall so many game-changing blown calls. If you are a Florida fan, I feel for you .. but at this point, I don't know if anything can be done.

CBS Sportsline has a play-by-play description of the bad calls and the results of each.

NBC Sports.com:

Normally, tough calls even out over the course of a game. In this case, however, there were no fewer than six key calls, ranging from questionable to downright awful, all of which went against the Gators (8-4)...

Among the worst of the calls came on the opening kickoff, when Florida State’s Antonio Cromartie fumbled and the Gators recovered. Officials ruled the play over before the fumble, even though Cromartie’s knee clearly hadn’t touched the ground.

In the third quarter, Florida State’s Pat Watkins scooped up a fumble and returned it for a score, even though Florida tailback Ciatrick Fason appeared to be flat on the ground before the ball popped out.

In the fourth quarter, Chris Rix ran for a touchdown and a 31-27 lead four plays after officials awarded the ball to the Seminoles, even though Gators linebacker Channing Crowder came out of the pile with the ball. Leon Washington, who fumbled, appeared to be sitting on the ball when officials made the call...

http://www.msnbc.com/news/999542.asp

Dave George, PB Post:

OFFICIALS LIKE THIS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL

THIS ACC CREW'S CALLS THAT NULLIFIED BIG PLAYS FOR THE GATORS DEFIED BELIEF.

...this rivalry deserves a high level of officiating to match the high level of Sunshine State talent on the field and that wasn't the case on Saturday. The quickest fix would be to make sure that an officiating crew from an outside conference calls the game, meaning no more SEC crews at Tallahassee and no more ACC crews at Gainesville. That might not chase all the incompetence away, but it would end the questions about impartiality...

What did I see? A pattern of calls and no-calls that struck like lightning, again and again, on the UF sideline.

... This mystery about the officiating, be it a series of amazing coincidences or consistent incompetence or a subtle shade of partiality toward a particular team, that's the gray fog no one can penetrate.

Note: Dave George is normally a solidly pro-FSU/anti-UF writer.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/conten...fb316d000e.html

Eddie Pells, AP/ESPN.com/CNNSI.com/Sporting News/USA Today:

...one of the few calls that went Florida's way on a day that will surely not grade out well for referee Jack Childress' ACC officiating crew.

The crew made at least three questionable calls on fumbles — calling players down when they weren't or vice versa — and absolutely blew at least two more, including giving Seminoles tailback Leon Washington credit for a fumble recovery near the Florida goal line even though Crowder sprinted out of the pile with the ball.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/foo...u-florida_x.htm

Gene Frenette, Jax Times-Union:

OFFICIALS MAR GATORS-'NOLES QB SHOOTOUT

...Ratliff's touchdown gave the Gators a 24-17 lead before FSU's Pat Watkins returned a controversial Ciatrick Fason fumble 25 yards for a score. Replays appeared to show that the Fletcher High grad was already down. It was the last of four disputed calls involving fumbles or non-fumbles -- all going in FSU's favor -- that cast a bad light on a well-played game....

Leak's last-gasp effort ended with a 32-yard scramble to the FSU 18 as time expired. It was the only time all day that he came up short.

Too bad the same can't be said of the officiating.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stor..._14175806.shtml

Jeremy Fowler, Miami Herald:

...Referees from the Atlantic Coast Conference waved off four Florida fumble recoveries -- including one the Gators returned for a score. They allowed a Seminoles score after FSU pounced on another questionable bobble and returned it for a touchdown...

Peter Kerasotis, Florida Today:

OFFICIATING CREW STEALS SHOW AT FLORIDA FIELD

...Some football games produce second-guessing. But this one produced plain-old guessing. Period. The Gators are still searching for a fumble call to go their way.

They didn't get one. Not one. And there were six fumbles of question -- five that involved FSU fumbles and one from UF.

That the officiating crew for Saturday's annual showdown between these two state rivals was from the Atlantic Coast Conference, the conference that FSU plays in, doesn't help matters. ..

It's a shame, then, that rather than the topic of conversation being on the players afterward, it focused almost exclusively on the officials...

For the record, these were the calls, some questionable, some perhaps not, but all went FSU's way.

On the opening kickoff, FSU's Antonio Cromarite fumbled the ball, Florida recovered, but Cromartie was ruled down.

On the next UF kickoff, after the Gators took a 3-0 lead, Cromartie fumbled again, UF's Bill Latsko recovered at the 10. But Florida was flagged for being offsides on the kickoff, which is arguably the most un-called penalty in all of football.

After retaining possession after Cromartie's second fumble, the Seminoles fumbled twice on their ensuing series. The first fumble came when running back Lorenzo Booker was being tackled. On his way down, it looked like he was stripped, with UF recovering. But the officials said the whistle had already blown.

Later in that same series, FSU quarterback Chris Rix completed a pass to Chris Davis, who seemed to catch the ball and tuck it in before safety Guss Scott creamed him, knocking the ball loose with Florida gaining possession. But the officials said it wasn't a fumble.

With 2:49 left in the third quarter, UF running back Ciatrick Fason fumbled, though he might've already been on the ground. The call, and the fumble recovery, went FSU's way. Not only that, but Seminole safety Pat Watkins returned the ball 25 yards for a touchdown.

Midway through the fourth quarter, when FSU had first-and-goal at Florida's two, Seminoles running back Leon Washington fumbled, and the officials said he recovered. But UF linebacker Channing Crowder came out of the scrum with the ball. "I had the ball in my arms," he said afterward. "I had it right from the start. As soon as it hit the ground, I grabbed it."

No go.

None of those calls went Florida's way.

Neither did the game.

Even Seminole coach Bobby Bowden was scratching his head afterward, not so much from the calls, but because of FSU's overall good fortune.

"I can't hardly believe we won," he said.

He isn't the only one.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stor..._14175806.shtml

Joey Knight, Tampa Tribune:

GATORS FEEL CHEATED BY QUESTIONABLE CALLS

The officials disallowed five apparent Gator fumble recoveries in the first quarter but let FSU safety Pat Watkins' 25-yard TD return of a Ciatrick Fason fumble stand. Replays showed Fason hitting the ground before losing the ball.

http://gators.tbo.com/gators/MGA65V0MMND.html

Pat Dooley, Gainesville Sun:

OFFICIALS DROP THE BALL IN GREAT GAME

...They were booed from start to finish, these officials who need to attend a weekend seminar in what does and does not constitute a fumble...

Certainly, many of the plays in question were arguable. But every one of them went the way of the Seminoles. Those of you who believe in conspiracies probably thought all of those first-down signals were the head referee doing The Chop...

There were six plays in all, no, make that six fumbles that turned a majestic game into a boo-fest.

It started right away when Antonio Cromartie clearly fumbled the opening kickoff. Fumble? Naw, it was just a misunderstanding. On and on it went. Five times in the first quarter, FSU players lost the football. Three times, they were ruled to have been down or at least close enough to overlook it. The fourth was ruled an incompletion. The fifth time, Florida was offsides on the kickoff.

Had Florida received at least one of those calls, who knows what might have happened? Certainly, the Gators wouldn't have been digging themselves out of a 17-6 halftime hole...

Look, nobody is trying to say the officials were biased. OK, (UF lineman Shannon) Snell is. They just screwed up. At least three of the calls were obviously blown. The others you can argue about.

The shame of it is that Florida still almost pulled this game out. The Gators kept coming back, kept fighting even when they felt like they were getting jobbed.

http://www.gatorsports.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...UMNS02/31130001

Steve Ellis, Tallahassee Democrat:

While the game had countless big plays, an ACC officiating crew headed by Jack Childress made sure this game will be talked around the office water cooler for weeks and months to come.

http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee...ity/7378255.htm

Again, from the Democrat:

This quote is from the Tallahassee Democrat article titled "FSU defense bends, gets a few breaks", dated Nov. 30, 2003. (Don't you love the title of the article! Even the Democrat knows they got the breaks!)

http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee...ity/7378256.htm

"I saw Darnell Dockett hit the running back. I came up to try to finish him off and he fumbled. I don't know if it was a fumble or not, but I figured I'd run and let the refs sort it out."

From ESPN/AP:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1674610

"An officiating crew from the Atlantic Coast Conference overshadowed the classic game, ruling five close calls on fumbles against Florida.

There is no instant replay in college football, so Florida had to accept each call. Had the five calls gone the other way, Florida likely would have won in a rout.

Two of the Seminoles' fumbles occurred just before they scored touchdowns (14 points), and a Florida fumble was recovered and returned for a score (seven points). Subtract 21 points and FSU is left with 17 points.

Also, the Gators were in a position to return two fumbles for touchdowns (14 points), and a third would have given them field position to kick a field goal (three points). Add 17 points to UF's total, and the final score would have been Florida 51, Florida State 17.

If you are an FSU fan and you read that score, you are furious right now, because, of course, it's all irrelevant. The Seminoles won because Chris Rix hit P.K. Sam with a 52-yard TD pass with 55 seconds left.

The idea of reading the 51-17 score is infuriating, so imagine just how angry the Gators were after the loss --- because all five calls did go the other way."

Do you get it now, Nole fans?

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/colleges/university_of_florida/7384848.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

And from a pro-Gator writer:

"How did the Noles manage to win? The answer - ACC Officials"

And this from the most-read sports writer in the state:

ORLANDO SENTINEL: MIKE BIANCHI

You can understand refs missing 1 call, but 6?

November 30, 2003

GAINESVILLE -- It took them nearly 40 years, but Florida State finally got even for Lane Fenner.

FSU won the game in the end Saturday, but it was the Atlantic Coast Conference officials who helped the Seminoles from the very beginning. Too bad the 'Noles didn't have this officiating crew for all those wide-right games against Miami. These guys would have looked up and called every kick right down the middle.

There's an old limerick about officials that goes like this:

"There once was a ref whose vision,

Was cause for abuse and derision,

He remarked with surprise,

"Why pick on my eyes?

"It's my heart that dictates my decision."

The limerick aptly described the feeling of the Seminoles back in 1966 when their wide receiver Fenner caught an apparent game-winning touchdown pass with 28 seconds left in the game. However, Doug Mosely, then a Southeastern Conference official, called Fenner out of bounds -- a call that was proven wrong the next day when a newspaper photograph clearly showed the catch was made in bounds. And the debate still rages today.

But Lane Fenner was the only questionable call then. The Gators were victimized by three, four, five and maybe even six controversial calls during Saturday's dissension-scarred, fight-marred 38-34 loss to the Seminoles.

"That's the worst [bleeping] officiating I've seen in my entire life," Florida offensive guard Shannon Snell said. "We're supposed to be cordial, but the way the game was called was b.s. They were definitely biased. I can see one or two bad calls, but it happened at least five times. They took the game away from us."

When told that the officials were pelted with debris when they left the field, Snell scoffed, "They deserved it."

Added UF offensive tackle Max Starks: "It's hard to win when it's 17 playing 11."

OK, so Starks' math is a little off. Actually, there are seven officials on a crew, which means the Gators were actually outnumbered 18 to 11. Or so it seemed.

The controversy started on the opening kickoff when it appeared FSU return man Antonio Cromartie fumbled, but the officials ruled Cromartie down. A short time later, on another kickoff, Cromartie again fumbled, but officials ruled Florida was offside. On one series later in the first half, there were three times when officials disallowed potential Florida State fumbles. Three times in one series.

In the second half, it appeared as if Florida running back Ciatrick Fason might have been down before he fumbled, but officials ruled Florida State recovered and returned it for a touchdown. Meanwhile, Florida State running back Leon Washington fumbled near Florida's goal line later in the game and UF linebacker Channing Crowder came out of the pile with it, but officials gave the ball to FSU.

"I had it right from the start," Crowder said. "I had the ball in my arms, but they gave it to FSU."

Obviously, Florida had Chris Rix in a fourth-and-14 late in the game and allowed the Seminoles to convert. And that had nothing to do with officiating. Obviously, P.K. Sam caught the game-winning 52-yard touchdown with 55 seconds left. And that had nothing to do with officiating. And, obviously, the officials didn't miss every one of those controversial calls.

But how often does every questionable call go against one team?

I'm not positive who the officials were Saturday, but I believe their names were Terry Bowden, Tommy Bowden, Timmy Bowden and Tony Bowden. And I can't swear to this, but I think I saw the field judge leaving the game Saturday riding a horse and carrying a flaming spear. And I'm still a little fuzzy on this, but I believe I saw the head linesman signal that it was Florida State ball by doing a tomahawk chop.

I'm kidding, of course, but there are certainly questions today regarding the allegiance of game officials. This is a problem that could easily be solved by just contracting officials from a neutral conference to call big games pitting teams from different leagues. Many times there are $15 million BCS bowl bids riding on the outcome of these games, so why not eliminate even the appearance of favoritism?

You'd think four decades after Lane Fenner, the schools would have learned their lesson.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/coll...?coll=tf-gators

The tale of the tape:

Bad calls (upon review):

#1-Opening kickoff. Cromartie was popped, the ball clearly came loose before his knee hit the ground. Should have been UF ball @ the FSU 30. Instead, it's 1 and 10 FSU at their own 32. Drive ends in a punt, should have been at least 3 points for UF.

#2-Same drive. Guss Scott forces the ball out, then Matt Farrior dives in and it pops out in our favor to Guss before the officials blew the play dead. Scott would have had a return for a TD. Instead they say he was down, again, the drive ended in a punt.

#3-The kickoff after the UF FG. Leon Washington has a case of the Butterfingers and can't hold on to the ball, Billy Latsko makes the play of his career and runs the ball into the endzone for an apparent UF TD. Officials call UF offsides on the kick, results in rekick and FSU 1st down. You've all seen the pics, there was no offsides.

#4-Same drive. FSU WR clearly has firm possession of the ball and 2 feet down right before getting completely leveled and losing the ball which UF recovered. However, refs rule it an incompletion. FSU keeps the ball.

#5-Very next play. Booker loses the ball before the officials rule the play dead again, which once again would have resulted in a UF TD, this time Darryl Dixon. However, Booker was ruled down, and FSU scores on the very next play.

That was just the 1st half. Here's the 2nd.

#6-The no call on Keiwan's catch in the end zone. After watching it in super slow mo, I waited til he had the ball in his hands, then once he did I looked at his feet, his left foot was clearly in bounds. I remember seeing it live and seeing him throw the ball down in frustration, now I know why. That was an INT taken away. However, it worked out cuz he returned the Rix fumble for a TD. That one actually stood. But would be made up for a few plays later...

#7-Fason was tackled by Dockett, on his way down, Fason ran into to Show's big ole ass and the ball came out of his hands a little, however he clearly regained possession before hitting the ground because he was on the ground for a good half second to a second before you even see the ball squirt out. A missed call by the officials, leads to an FSU TD and a make up for Keiwan's TD.

#8-The goal line stand. Leon Washington clearly fumbles the ball, that's not in question. The officials acknowledged that, however they said the "fumbler re-established possession." I would love to know how. After watching the replay, Washington lands on the ball with his knee while Channing Crowder is simultaneously falling to the ground. While down there, Crowder beats Washington to the ball, and takes it from him, perfectly legal and should have been awarded to Crowder. However, the refs bitch about him not getting the ball and then taking his frustration out on the ball. Result, FSU TD.

More fun: Semi poetry for the Holiday Season.

'Twas the night before gameday in the Seminole house,

Ol' Bobby was plotting, the miserable louse;

Next to the mantel where Dorothy's stockings were hung,

Sat drool-monkey Andrews flicking his tongue;

Then Blob started preaching, while adjusting his diaper,

And told cheatin' Mickey he was feeling all hyper;

"You know ol' Mickey, you bass-face old cheat,

I think the Gators will be bringin' the heat;

"Their freshman Leak has mastered the pass,

And Jeffy's still pulling our plays from his ass;

"Rix is a moron, an arrogant bumbler,

He choked against Clemson, he's the consumate fumbler;

"He lives with his 'preacher,' another strange putz,

Dockett can't stand him, in fact we all hate his guts;

"And speaking of Dockett, that illiterate clown,

Does he still hump opponents down on the groun'?

"And what about Keiwan, their defensive back,

Or Crowder and Troupe, I've seen them attack;

"We've become Miami's bitches, those miserable Canes;

And what on God's earth will we do if it rains?

"And, Mickey, you know there's hell to be paid,

For my lies to recruits, who haven't yet played;

"My lapdog ol' Hart, that crap-shovelin' rookie,

Caught three more boyaz on the phone with their bookie.

"As Saint Blob blubbered on, he started to cry,

Until Mickey spoke up, with an audible sigh;

"Now listen here, Bobba, you senile sad sack;

I've got a plan to cover your back;

And after old Toad-Tongue had whispered the plan;

Another voice called out to the fat man;

I couldn't quite place it, but it sounded so true;

And I could hear the conviction, it bled orange and blue;

"Bobby, the voice said, I know you quite well;

I used to respect you, you never could tell;

"Back in the 70's you took on all teams;

But then you ran to your conference, where you hatched your sad schemes;

"You decided to work the small-town churches, you did,

Wailing your sermon, then hustling some kid;

"We'll take care of your boys, was your standardized answer,

But when Devon died, you blocked his own brother's transfer;

"You joked with the media, a real southern ham,

But you ran a thug program, and you're now in a jam;

"Your players lie, take cheap shots and they steal,

And every year you're asleep at the wheel;

"You're always against playoffs, a true competitive test;

You stammer and stutter, 'aw shucks, let it rest;'

"The media boys now know you, old schmoozer,

the great Bobby Bowden's a phony old loser;

"Yes Bobby, I recognized all of this shame;

So I lit you up in the championship game

And as the voice trailed off in that late autumn night,

I knew the head ball coach was still in this fight;

Returning to Mickey, I listened for more,

But Bobby and Mickey walked out the front door;

We all know the rest: six fumbles--and more,

And then I understood about the night before;

'Cause Mickey and Bobby left the tribe house that night,

Each wearing knee pads fastened real tight;

And as they left the house, turning off the last light,

Ol' Bobby exclaimed, this is Jack Childress' night!