From: boisseau@chpc.utexas.edu (John R. Boisseau (Jay))
Subject: Texas Got Screwed--SWC is a Goner
Organization: The University of Texas System CHPC
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 92 15:17:02 GMT


Well, I've waited almost 48 hours since the Texas-Baylor game ended in
order to be calm when I posted this. My tone will therefore be less
angry, but my opninions haven't changed in the slightest. I have
_never_ posted an article, or ever even _believed_, that the refs in a
game were _biased_... bad, yes, but not biased. And most of the bad
officiating I have seen has been in the SWC. But I now believe it is
sometimes _biased_.

Texas got SCREWED this weekend. Both teams played well enough at times
to win, and both teams made enough mistakes to lose. Texas, for
example, dropped two sure TD passes (both by Lovell Pinkney, the
"super" frosh who wanted more playing time), and had to settle for FGs
on both drives. The 'Horns also fumbled at the Baylor 4 yard linee,and
also fumbeled after crossing midfield while looking very good on their
opening drive. Baylor also made mistakes. But the zebras decided this one:

On Baylor's 2nd TD possession (the "CA" Jay got this drive confused with the
3rd one on his otherwise-accurate post on this topic), in the first half,
the Bears started deep in their own territory after the aforementioned
Texas fumble on the Baylor 4 (Baylor recovered on their 5). Halfway through
the drive, the 'Horns _clearly_ stripped the Baylor RB of the ball, and 
recovered. The refs claimed he was already down. He wasn't even close,
and it didn't look like the view was obstructed.

On Baylor's 3rd TD drive, the eventual game-winner, the ref: (a) called
defensive pass interference when there should have been at worst a no-call
(and a non-catch), or at best _offesnive_ pass intereference; (b) blew the
most obvious fumble call I have _ever_ seen when Lance Gunn forced a fumble
after a reception by Bonner two plays later, and _then_ drove him out of
bounds while the 'Horns recovered (the damn refs somehow blew the play
dead); (c) claimed Joe had crossed the goal line on the TD sneak when in fact
he hadn't. I could forgive (c), as it was close, and the Bears would have
probably scored from there anyway, but (a) and (b) were beyond bad, 
especially (b).

Then there were other _extremely questionable_ pass intereference
calls against the Horns; a play where Horn punter Kelly McClanahan
(sic?) recovered a high snap, raced around to the sideline and got off
the punt before going out of bounds (he was called out bounds,
changing the field position gam significantly in the 4th quarter); a
very questionable holding call on Blake Brockermeyer on an important
'Horn possession in which they were driving, that stalled the drive; a
blatant clip by Baylor on a big punt return that everyone single
person in the room watching the game saw, but the refs didn't call; etc.

There was one call that I really thought should have gone Baylor's way
in the game and didn't (I think Pinkney stepped out of bounds on the first
TD), but he was already instead the 5, and the Horns would have scored
anyway (just as Baylor would have scored if Joe had been correcctly
called down). BUT, it was _obvious_ that the refs wanted to give Baylor
a sendoff. In the 4th quarter, there was a call against Baylor (pass inter-
ference) that was so obvious that eveyerone in the room was up in arms...
but the ref was so hesitatnt to call it that we had time to make all
kinds of pay-off jokes before he finally the hankie out (he was standing
right there).

I believe I am generally unbiased in my post-game assessments, and I will
admit when calls go the 'Horns way (like a few years ago when we barely
beat UNT on a TD catch that was not a catch). I also firmly believe that
the refs _were_ biased in this game. For those of you who don't know ;-)
Texas is a "good ol' boy" state. Grant Teaff, is a good ol' boy, and the
refs in the SWC are, too. They have been working games as long as he has been
the coach, in some cases. Mackovic, however, is not a good ol' boy. (For
that matter, neither is John Jenkins, and I now know why his teams always
have calls go against them when playing other "traditional" SWC teams.)
Everyone I talked to firmly. The refs, no doubt friends and admirers of
Teaff's aer all of these years, gave him a nice going away present, and
cost the Texas seniors a chance at the Cotton Bowl, and probably any bowl.

I now believe even more strongly that this conference is doomed. I have
seen posts from other (non-SWC) people that recognize how bad SWC officiating
is (I truly feel sorry for fans of other schools that get SWC crews for
out-of-division games). Coaches in the SWC have complained about the bad
officiating, which, like I said above, is generally just bad, but probably
not too biased. (Teaff himself exploded after the lost to A&M, and even
sent a film of bad call to the SWC commisioner--I didn't feel that more
calls went the Aggies way than his, but he did. I wonder if this explosion
by Teaff a few weeks ago also had an impact on the officiating in this
game...) I think Mackovic is _definitely_ going to want Texas out of
the conference now--he has to feel cheated. It's no real secret that
hoops coach Penders would like to play in a real basketball conference,
too, and I'm sure Jody Conradt (the new women's AD) would like to see her
teams play against better competition. Thus, this one game may have a lot
of impact on the future of the SWC. It has probably cost Texas a bowl
bid, and therefore Mackovic will want out. That might be all that is need
to finish it off.

Let me close by saying that Texas could have won this game despite the
officiating by not making so many mistakes. Texas has more talent, and
a more balanced offense. Great teams don't let bad call beat them. Texas
is NOT a great team. They _are_ a good team, though, and deserve to go
to a bowl, somethin they will probably not do since it now depends on
beating the Aggies, who look very good with Pullig at QB.


Jay (whose is _still_ sore from the his workout immediately following the
     game to relieve his tension/anger)

-- 

*********************************
  John R. Boisseau ("Jay")       
  Department of Astronomy