I find it funny that Barry or any other OU fan/supporter would write such a piece given their reaction to the Oregon game a few years back. I went to Barry's site and dug up this article he wrote. Notice that Barry is calling for accountability and feels that an explanation was needed for calls that didn't go OU's way. I also linked an article at the bottom in which OU's president sought to have the Oregon game removed from the record books. Seems to me Barry and his fellow supporters seem to have a case of amnesia.
Refs don't have to answer to anyone
By Berry Tramel Oklahoman
Published: September 18, 2006
Nic Harris, 19 years old and a college sophomore who says he's been shaped most by "growing up without parents," answered questions about how he got burned on the game's pivotal play.
Garrett Hartley, 20 years old and never before called on to kick a field goal of such import, answered questions about how the Oregon Ducks blocked what could have been a kick to last forever.
Bob Stoops, 46 years old and long tired of answering questions, nevertheless stood in the bowels of Autzen Stadium and until the last writer fled, fielded all queries on how his team blew a 13-point lead in the final 72 seconds.
But Gordon Riese, a 28-year Pac-10 official, in whose eyes and mind the OU-Oregon game swung, received immunity from cross-examination.
What kind of accountability is that?
Oregon beat Oklahoma 34-33 Saturday in a drama that could have been a game for the ages but instead is a game for the rages, at least in these parts.
Two replay reviews were not overturned, mistakenly, turns out, and the onside kick play would have cinched victory for the Sooners, provided OU could execute the old take-a-knee play.
When I saw the replay Saturday on the Autzen big screen, I thought, uh, maybe. By Sunday, I saw all the replays you saw and know the Sooners got rooked.
I know this was another game OU lost via dubious means, similar to Texas Tech a year ago, though frankly the Sooners deserved that one more.
Play defense the way OU did Saturday and officiating complaints lose some oomph.
But still, funny how technology or poor eyesight felled the Sooners for the second time in a span of six games.
Maybe there's an explanation. Maybe there's a perfectly good reason Riese looked at Oregon's onside kick and decided everything was kosher.
I don't see what it could be, but you never know. Fuzzy TV screen. Laryngitis. Bad headsets. True story: an OU fan e-mailed Saturday night that the only possible explanation is that the replay official in the booth said "Oklahoma ball," and the referee, holding his headsets to dim the Autzen noise, thought he heard, "Oregon ball."
We're open-minded. We're willing to listen.
But no one is talking.
Well-paid coaches face the music after games, win or lose. Unpaid players too. Heck, even the mediocre-paid media is accountable. I have a radio show and take calls; I have e-mail and answer them by the hundreds, even politely, provided you hold the profanities under five.
But the officials? They're untouchable.
Follow my track record, and you know I'm no ref-hater. I support the officials almost to a fault. Officiating is a thankless job, and most do a fine job.
If you're one of those Little League parents who harass the refs, shame on you. If you're one of those fans at the state basketball tournament who scream at the officials, lighten up.
But this is not Little League or Minco High School. This is big-time stuff. Big environment. Big money. Big stakes.
Officials on the BCS football level are not drafted. It's an all-volunteer army, and they are fairly compensated. Truth is, it's competitive among the striped shirts. That Big 12 crew calling OU-Tech last year, the Pac-10 crew calling OU-Oregon on Saturday, they all aspired to be on that stage.
So how about some accountability? How about Gordon Riese not hide behind the Pac-10 office? Our man George Schroeder talked to Riese on Sunday, but Riese clammed up and said he needed conference permission to talk. The Pac-10 declined to grant it.
What kind of nonsense is that? No wonder the replay system emits a foul and unpleasant odor. No wonder everyone hates refs.
Conferences do their officials no favors when they bury them in secrecy. Truth is, put these guys behind the mic after a game, and it would help to humanize them.
Put these guys' feet to the fire after a game, and it would do wonders for responsibility.
Here'e that other link:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003264358_weboregon18.html