The Call

I thought I would post this here because of the sensitivity of the call we adults can be a little more grown up about it here. I just got through reading the editorial in the Bristol paper and it had the play on the screen so you could see what happened. From looking at the video I really think the official stuck him with a flag because he went to the fence line and from the angle of the camera it looked like he was giving a couple high fives to the crowd for a moment. He did not get the flag for flipping the ball to the official because he already had his flag in his hand. Now this is just my observation of the call and in no means am I trying to take up for anyone I just wanted to give some insight to what may have been going through the officials head. We will probably never know exactly why he flagged him but if I was guessing that would be my answer.

High fives? It was a cameraman in the back of the end zone who reached his hand out.

I do not understand how that is detrimental to the game.

The official was looking for a reason to toss that flag. Actively looking. And that ain't right.

I've seen it quite a bit in basketball. Ref gets pissed at coach or player and then makes a point of nitpicking every little thing that player or coach does. I saw it happen once in a JV game. Ref was just doing a [censored]-poor job, coach for home team is talking the ref up on the sideline.

Ref actually stops the game, gets in the face of the coach, and forces the coach to sit for the rest of the game.

I know the coach, have for almost 20 years. I was sitting two rows behind him and could hear every word he said. He didn't say anything objectionable, just trying to get the ref to ease up on some things.

Need to find out who that offical was and what his history is.

He did Highfive a guy at the back of the endzone (Saw the game last night) IMHO I still do not think that call needed to be made in that situation......that being said it would probably help if that call were made in the reg season with all the chest bumps (Clintwood is as bad as anyone in that reguard) raised balls going into the endzone and the phantom Dive into the endzone. If that gets called a few time in the reg season the coaches will correct it.......that being said don't call in at the end of the game unles it is TO bad LOL [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Good observation, but I have seen kids do this hundreds of times in games after scoring, shoot in the highlight tape they showed of us (Coeburn) on channel 19 it must have happened a dozen times. Not just running by and slapping one hand but high-fiving and hugging people along the fence.

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Ref actually stops the game, gets in the face of the coach, and forces the coach to sit for the rest of the game.

I know the coach, have for almost 20 years. I was sitting two rows behind him and could hear every word he said. He didn't say anything objectionable, just trying to get the ref to ease up on some things.


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Had a similar situation happen to me, I was kicked out of a basketball game and escorted out by the police because the official heard someone behind us yelling at him. The big thing here is I was setting beside the 2 principals from Coeburn and the 2 from Appy at the time and they told the cop that I hadn't said or done anything but I got the nice escort out in front of evryone, but I did have fun with it and went out pumping up the crowd and we came back and won the game. The official made a point to find me and try and appologize for being a tard at PV a week later.

Exactly, that call didn't need to be made. You'll never get most officials to pay lip service to it, but in big games, you don't make those game-changing calls at the end.

Watch basketball games. When it comes to low post play, especially for the trailing team, the refs swallow their whistles over the last minute or so.

This is one instance where the same could be said for football. Well, they did so on the last offensive play for Norton.

I'm not usually one to cry about officials, but that guy should be removed from the officials association and banned from attending any VHSL sanctioned event for at least 5 years.

My crew does not allow a lot of the crap that goes on. I would say that we have allowed a chest bump or two but it may be time to tighten it up a little on that. Not trying to argue with anyone about the call I was just trying to give a view of what I saw on the video clip. I do not doubt that there are officials out there that hold a grudge on some coaches and there are officials that want the spotlight on them and that makes it bad for the rest of us.

It is like an old coach once told me about endzone celebrations: The Kids need to act like they have been there before.

Now to what Stewart did I honestly do not see anything wrong with what he did. He was excited because he is a kid and kids get excited. Now would I have made that call, No I would not have but it was made and does have some merit to it whether a lot of us like it or not. By rule any action that will bring attention to yourself is unsportsmanlike. By raising the ball in the air and running along the fence giving a high five that does constitute it but that is one of those calls that you have to look at the situation and when it happend.

I haven't seen the whole thing yet, but I would like to know what each player did after each score in the game, I will bet that there was alot more celebrating than this went on.

I would say that you are right. I have a copy of the whole video at home waiting on me to view. I cannot wait to see it. This whole thing has given all officials a bad name.

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This whole thing has given all officials a bad name.

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Like they hadnt already had the bad name! [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

So, in your opinion, you wouldn't have thrown a flag?

btw...This isn't a loaded question. I honestly respect your opinion. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Honestly in that situation I probably would not have. If he had tried to show the other team up, spiked it, or really gone wild yes but he just scored a very important touchdown in the state finals and could be going for the win. He celebrated for not even a minute and went back to the huddle according to what I saw on film. The part that got him in trouble was the fans reaching over and high fiving him in my opinion. The flag came out after he did that. I would have flagged him if he went down the whole fence line high fiving but not just one or two people who reached over.

There was no fence. It was a photographer stand just outside the end zone.

Looking at this photo...

http://www.jmusports.com/Facilities/...ridgeforth.jpg

There is no way for fans to reach that far towards either end zone.

I was standing in the endzone that #11 scored the final touchdown. The only person that gave him a high five was the camera man. There is a little bench right under the goalpost in that endzone but the police was forcing people to either side. The call was bogus. I guess if the call was because he gave the camera man a high five then WCYB is the one that cost Burton the game. IMO if they wouldnt have thrown the int after the blocked punt and scored againg before halftime Riverheads wouldnt have stood a chance. You have to take advantage of turnovers in a championship game.

Correct me if I'm wrong, and I may be, but isn't the comment from those who seen it that the official was reaching for his flag before he got to the fence to high five or be high fived?

From what I've seen, he was reaching for the flag as Stewart approached the photog. He was delayed from flinging it due to Stewart handing/pitching the ball.

Yes thats right Rock. The ref reached for the flag shortly after
#11 had reached the endzone with the ball held high. From the looks of a few pics it seems as if the qb was holding the ball up so the defender that was diving at him couldnt strip it. Still, Burton had several chances in the first half to put the game away and not leave it up to the officials to decide.

High fived 3 fans in the endzone after a TD catch v. Cwood in 03. No flag. Obviously wasnt the same official, but still.

I demand a post forfeit [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

That was gonna be my question to you and 1inStripes. Would you in the atmosphere and considering the type of game, threw a flag.
I take up for the officials most of the time.
But in what i have seen i honestly don't see it, in the Burton / Riverheads game.
I have to say i think it was honestly a biase call.
One the VHSL hopes goes away. But one that well opened a can of worms for officials.
Thanks Cats for your view.
I didn't see any thing in the celebration dept. from either team being excessive.

I'm sure you all read it, but it's official.
The official admitted the call was a mistake.

lol how funny. Anyone remember Julius Jones? I remember him scoring a TD in the state title game and giving high fives to school board members who were in the end zone. Officials are people, I understand but its obvious the human factor has gotten worse and misguided in the recent past. Especially in our area, like I said a 17 year old kid who runs into the endzone and raises his hand, god forbide slaps a high five, in a game where his team had not scored when it mattered in the past 3 times they were in the title game, for him to score through the adversity they have faced, to poeteintially (sp) put his team where they would have a chance to go a head, He had not been there before. So how could he act as if he had? There seems to be emphasis rules in officiating, how about emphazing enjoying the game and not focusing on thinking your in the NFL or going to be. Ethan is a great kid, you can see by how he handled it. Does Burton get stuffed at the 3 yd line? Maybe/Maybe not. But to defend the officials in this case would be insane, its a no call even if its some far gone rule in the books, like at the end of the basketball games where a lil more bumping is allowed, let the players decide the game, officals (not all I may add, we do have some fine officials that do these things and are as top notch as they come) but officials often think they are patt of the game, they are not, ego steps in the way of better judgment.

Being from the LPD and seeing what transpired at JMU, I laugh, the league born and built on running up the score and flaunting with no remorse being flagged for the silliest and smallest display we may have ever had.

Julius Jones was flagged for that of course he also did a Heisman pose.

Didint say he wasnt just showin an example of what would been different