Official Ruling on Osborne hit/Gabbert fumble

[Hercules]

Wow, this thread went in about 14 different directions since I started it last night.

I'm not going to get into the helmet-to-helmet thing too much. It seems to me from watching this game, and watching others yesterday (UT-Baylor, Oregon-USC), no one really understands when the helmet-to-helmet penalty should be called. About 1/10 of these hits seem to be malicious hits by the defender, trying to hurt the other player. The other 9 seem to basically be collisions that are inevitable in this game.

I think both Osborne's hit and Meredith's hit were simply collisions, similar to when Osborne knocked Alfonzo Dennard (teammates) out of the game with a helmet-to-helmet hit. On Osborne, when Gabbert saw Osborne coming, Gabbert's stance changed and he became closer to the ground. Courtney Osborne is running at full speed, aimed at Gabbert's left shoulder, and then Gabbert takes a little step and all of a sudden it's a helmet-to-helmet hit. How does Osborne adjust that? How can you ask any defender to play aggressively without those plays happening by accident every now and then?

Meredith's hit earlier in the game was similar. He was coming off a blocker, while Gabbert stepped up in the pocket, and the two collided. Meredith had no chance to adjust his stance to aim for any other part of Gabbert's body, the game is simply much too fast for that.

However, the spectacular thing about this play has NOTHING to do with helmet-to-helmet hits. There was no penalty flag thrown for that, so it's out of the question. The play CLEARLY resulted in a fumble, though on the field the play was ruled dead. However, the immediate action after the play showed clearly that Nebraska had recovered an apparent fumble. The officials than reviewed the call to see if a fumble had taken place, which IS a reviewable ruling. The officials then, instead of concluding that there was a fumble and it had been recovered by Nebraska, concluded that the play was dead before Gabbert's fumble because of his forward progress.

 

Gabbert got hit, and he dropped the ball immediately. Any amateur football fan can see that forward progress had nothing to do with this play.

I believe this has to be one of the worst calls I've ever seen in college football. It's one thing to miss a Penn State receiver catching a pass 3 feet out of bounds in 1982 (without replay review). It's one thing to miss a clear fumble (without replay review). It's one thing to miss an obvious facemask on Eric Crouch in 1999 in Manhattan (without replay review).

 

Here, the officials missed the fumble, then watched the replay, saw that they were wrong, and BLATANTLY made up a bunch of crap in order to give the ball to Missouri.

 

As said in the OP, I'm now fully on the conspiracy bandwagon.

I dunno... TripleOption's theory seems more viable than any conspiracy. They called it a non-fumble as a sort of "make-up call" in response to not flagging any helmet to helmet contact. Regardless, I wish they released audio recordings or transcripts of the replay officials discussing what he sees to the on-the-field ref. For accountability they probably should.

Replay Official: Yeah, the ball's definitely out before his butt hits. You probably should've flagged Nebraska for the helmet contact though. I can hear Cunningham three booths over having another conniption fit. The office is going to be on our asses again.

Field Official: Well, sh#t. What do we do? Should we just say the play stands and at least give Missouri the ball?

RO: And, how do we explain that?

FO: How the hell should I know? You're the one with the rulebook...

RO: Hmm. I dunno, just don't say anything. If anybody asks we'll just bullsh#t out of it. God knows this rulebook has enough useless crap, I'm sure we'll come up with something.

If the Big 12 office comes out and says that it was a makeup call for the helmet to helmet hit, I'll buy the make-up call theory. But they can't do that, because you're not supposed to have makeup calls either.

And normally makeup calls would be at least a little less blatant. Like calling Nebraska for holding on the next play after they get the ball.

 

[huKSer]

How about the conference publish each official crew's grade for each game?

 

[dutch91701]

How about the conference publish each official crew's grade for each game?

If they screwed us, then they'd get As every time.

 

[huKSer]

I dunno... TripleOption's theory seems more viable than any conspiracy. They called it a non-fumble as a sort of "make-up call" in response to not flagging any helmet to helmet contact. Regardless, I wish they released audio recordings or transcripts of the replay officials discussing what he sees to the on-the-field ref. For accountability they probably should.

Replay Official: Yeah, the ball's definitely out before his butt hits. You probably should've flagged Nebraska for the helmet contact though. I can hear Cunningham three booths over having another conniption fit. The office is going to be on our asses again.

Field Official: Well, sh#t. What do we do? Should we just say the play stands and at least give Missouri the ball?

RO: And, how do we explain that?

FO: How the hell should I know? You're the one with the rulebook...

RO: Hmm. I dunno, just don't say anything. If anybody asks we'll just bullsh#t out of it. God knows this rulebook has enough useless crap, I'm sure we'll come up with something.

"Upon further review, Dan Beebe says the call goes against the Nubbers"

 

[NebraskaShellback]

If the Big 12 is serious about cleaning up the game then they ought to look at their mafia run officials. If anyone should be suspended it should be that booth official.

And if any Mizzou fan wants to talk about missed calls, go back and watch the Huskers D-line. There jersey about got pulled off them everytime Gabbert ran. Blatant holding.

You noticed that too! One example, Moore in the middle blew by the O line, the linemen grabbed his jersey clear as day, no call. He did get to Blane. LOL

 

[NebraskaShellback]

If that's an illegal hit, how do you tackle? He had his head all the way up, arms open to wrap up and drove through with the legs. Gabbert saw him on the last second. Of course the facemasks will collide, Gabbert is standing straight up.

Honestly, how does a blitzing player tackle a stick straight quarterback? Put the head down and spear into the gut? That's a good way to break your neck. Dive at the ankles? Terrible technique not to mention chance of snapping a QBs leg. Push him with arms extended hockey check style? Horribly unreliable way of bringing down a 230 pound tower. I guess that leaves the limbo-imitation style.

This is getting ridiculous. The Martin hit was close call, but Cunningham sounded like an idiot with the Osborne hit. Shut up. Also, Franklin has been suspiciously silent during these Cunningham rants. I wonder if he's thinking, "Son, I'm old enough to have watched d!(k Butkus. If you think that was bad, maybe you should try basketball."

Well said. I was thinking about that crap too.

 

[NebraskaShellback]

I rewatched the hit by Osborne. He sacked the QB and the helmets did hit. It was a fumble, no question. If a flag would've been thrown for helmet to helmet, so be it. They stopped the clock and let Gabbert go to the sideline. They broke for commercial and did some kind of review. After the commercial break they came back and said 3rd and 22 with no explanation. They started the clock again and that is when Gabbert ran for 10 yards and they punted. The way that played developed, how is there anyway that could not be ruled a fumble? Just blows my mind.

Point is Gabbert should'nt of been allowed to be back on the field for the next play. Injury results in sitting out a play.

Gabbert told the news that he was not hurt and never is in games. Hum, he sure did looked dazed after Osborn hugged him.

 

[schuhbdoo]

I don't know about conspiracy, but I do have to say that the forward progress call was among the dumbest I've ever heard. Forward progress? On a collision that took Gabbert down almost instantaneously? That is some ridiculously stupid crap. I did have a strong feeling that they just made that up in order to punish Nebraska for the supposedly cheap hit that wasn't reviewable.

Same thing happened with a different fumble. There was a facemask that wasn't called (I think it was Crick) and the play resulted in a fumble recovered by us. The instant I saw the facemask I knew they weren't going to give us the ball. The facemask isn't reviewable, but the fumble is. They see the facemask and decide to ignore the fumble. I can see why they ignored that one, though.

If we were on the receiving end of that play and lost a ball due to facemask but the penalty was missed and then on top of it have the ball taken away due to video review.... What a mess. They are ignoring the written rules and going by how they feel the play should have ended.

I think someone from NU like T.O. needs to go on record and address this. He can say he is reaching out for the officials via the Big 12 to discuss several missed calls over this game. Guess what happens when safeties actually play tackle football. Progress is stopped. If they go to the ground without a fumble, the play is over, if they fumble as they are hit, it's a freaking fumble.

Where is Mel Gibson?

 

[huskerfan333157]

I dont think the Missouri fans are understanding what we are exactly complaining about. We are complaining about the AMOUNT of bad calls that have gone against us in Big XII play, not just the missouri game. If you look at all the calls that has happened against Nebraska it is blatantly obvious that the officials are going to call horrible calls on Nebraska the whole year. I dont like conspiracty theories but its obvious beebe nor the big xii exactly like us at this moment in time. I think everyone knows that the big xii or "texas plus 9" will go down the draiin in 5 more years anyway, leaving beebe without a job and the officials probably wont be officiating any other games. If someone messed up your whole world, you are going to feel some resentment towards them and will want to bring them down in any way you can. Missouri fans, look at some of the calls we have endured throughout the big xii thus far. YOu will definately be singing a different tune after knowing all the facts.

 

[schuhbdoo]

I rewatched the hit by Osborne. He sacked the QB and the helmets did hit. It was a fumble, no question. If a flag would've been thrown for helmet to helmet, so be it. They stopped the clock and let Gabbert go to the sideline. They broke for commercial and did some kind of review. After the commercial break they came back and said 3rd and 22 with no explanation. They started the clock again and that is when Gabbert ran for 10 yards and they punted. The way that played developed, how is there anyway that could not be ruled a fumble? Just blows my mind.

Point is Gabbert should'nt of been allowed to be back on the field for the next play. Injury results in sitting out a play.

No injury was awarded. Play was stopped but it wasn't for an injury. No stupid sign the on the screen that said, official review. They broke for a commercial and didn't say what was going on. I don't know if the ABC feed was the same since I was on reverse ESPN's feed. I have never seen a forward progress ruling ever and I have been watching football a while.

 

[bigredfan]

i know this is a bit off subject but did any one see this hit last night? I would think you would have to have had helmet to helmet to knock each other out. the caption says

Texas' Aaron Williams and Blake Gideon lay motionless after colliding during fourth quarter action knocking each other out of the game.

 

http://galleries.sta...-103010/#138579

 

 

[Hercules]

i know this is a bit off subject but did any one see this hit last night? I would think you would have to have had helmet to helmet to knock each other out. the caption says

Texas' Aaron Williams and Blake Gideon lay motionless after colliding during fourth quarter action knocking each other out of the game.

 

http://galleries.sta...-103010/#138579

 

Saw this. It was a nasty collision, but I think Gideon's helmet hit Aaron Williams' chest. If my memory serves me correctly. But William's head snapped pretty violently, and he looked like a crash test dummy, and the way he fell to the ground it looked like he had lost consciousness on impact, because his body just went limp and fell backwards to the turf. Gideon got his bell rung, but it wasn't nearly as scary looking as Williams. Thankfully, both walked off under their own power.

 

[kansas husker]

I hope somebody at Nebraska demands an explanation from the head of officiating. I doubt they will get one that makes much sense though.

Remember Walt's explanation after the CCG. I think it woudl just upset me more. Another point to bring up is if that is ran back for a touchdown, Roy gets one fewer change at getting yardage and he may have missed out on the record (he only got it by 13 yards) not justifying the call, but maybe pointing out the silver lining

 

[epocSoN]

I would love a detailed description of how Osborne was suppose to tackle Gabbert. IMO when your eyes are straight ahead and they collide with the eyes of Gabbert... this is form tackle. Also... the refs should be fired for explanation of Gabbert's fumble. FORWARD PROGRESS? ON A FORM TACKLE SACK!?!?!?!

FORWARD...

PROGRESS?????

With this absolutely blatant miss call, as well as the face mask, holding, block in the back, PI miss calls for both the Tigers and the Huskers... they should be fired.

 

[huskerscott]

Uh what about the officials waiting 1 or 2 extra seconds before throwing a damn flag for delay of game. Oh and BTW Missouri has perfect blockers. :sarcasm And on the Gabbert sack, there was no way that's not a fumble, he got KTFO and lost the ball.

Was at the game that was driving me nuts to death. How about that chop block on Steinkuhler on Gabberts miracle run down to the goalline???

On Osbornes sack.... Osborne drilled him, the ball CAME OUT before Gabbert starting falling to ground. I dont understand how you can call forward progress on a hit like that. Im sitting their in the stands saying oh yea they will get this one right. Sure enough I was wrong. I believe Beebe has it out for Nebraska, the absolutely horrible officating even not over turning play reviews, the Martin suspension, the Osborne suspension coming this week. We will make to the Big 12 Champ, but it will be a screw job of a game. Beebe and his butt buddies will make sure the Huskers wont win the Conference Championship game, you can count on that.

I cant f&*king wait to join the BigTen. Im getting so tired of this crap, I cant even enjoy a win anymore cause I know we are getting screwed over.