From: boisseau@chpc.utexas.edu (John R. Boisseau (Jay))
Subject: Re: Texas Got Screwed--SWC is a Goner
Organization: The University of Texas System - CHPC
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 92 17:08:11 GMT

In article <1992Nov23.160751.2967@ods.com> scott@ods.com (Scott Harper) writes:
>John R. Boisseau (Jay) (boisseau@chpc.utexas.edu) wrote:
>: 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
>
>And to think, just a few weeks ago all the bitching about the SWC refs
>was because they were biased *in favor* of A&M and Texas... (remember
>UH vs. Texas, Baylor vs. A&M?)

You're right, Scott, about UH vs. Texas, but that doesn't disprove my
point. I can even argue how it is consistent. As a matter of fact, I
meant to do so, but in my ranting/whining, I forgot.

I think the refs were _possibly_ biased IN UT'S FAVOR during the UH
game. We got a _few_ calls in that one. Bad calls are a part of the
game (as Michael Nelson just said in a UVa-VaTech post), and in
general (actually, always until now) I accept them. I have _never_
posted a whine about calls. Refs make mistakes, and when you're
dealing with small number statistics, it is quite likely that they
won't exactly even out. Thus, I wasn't so sure that the refs were
biased in UT's favor as opposed to just plain bad.

Now, however, I have begun to re-think some games here at UT in the
last six years. I remember Texas got a few breaks in BOTH of the close
games against UNT, and we have been the beneficiaries of a few calls
in both of the home games against UH (this year and two years ago,
both wins). But if these refs are biased good ol' boys, they would
certainly give calls to UT over John Jenkins and UH, especially with
McWilliams two years ago, and even with Texas now (it IS Texas, after
all, a "traditional" SWC school, even with Mackovic at the helm).

As for the A&M Baylor game, I only saw parts of it. I didn't see
everything Teaff was complaining about, but I know one of the calls
had to be the grounding call against J.J.Joe when Baylor was down
17-14 late, but was moving the ball. That call cost them 19 yards and
the down... they never recovered. But I didn't see anything to
disprove the "small number statistics" argument of bad calls going one
way or another. I think maybe the zebras made a "home field call" on
that one, but that happens. Did they make 10 of them?

Thus, I believe that the SWC officials are TERRIBLE, in general, after
years of watching them. I don't think ANYONE will argue this point
with me, at least not anyone who has seen significant SWC officiating,
and "other" officiating. I also believe that the officiating in
Saturday's Texas-Baylor game showed more than bad officiating--it
showed a bias towards the "outgoing legendary good ol' boy coach" (I
would trademark this, but Teaff is the last one left in the
SWC--everyone else is "new" ;-) ) Yes, often one team benefits from
one, or two, or maybe even three more calls a game than the other team
(small number statitics), but I bet the difference is in double digits
for Texas-Baylor game.... and not even SWC refs are THAT bad.  (Plus,
the worst of the bad calls weren't even _close_, and yet the refs
_still_ blew them.) I don't know if it was conscious or subconscious,
but I believe it _was_ bias, one way or the other. I think the game
films back it up. I have never heard even the most whining/complaing
Longhorn fans caomplain this much in 6 seasons.

Lie I said, I think Texas has probably been the recipient of bad
calls in the past. I am whining about one game, and I know it probably
has gone the other way. That doesn't excuse it. It shouldn't go _either_
way (except on this Thursday... just kidding!). I believe it may just
a part of the mentality of this conference. I will continue my lobbying
efforts to get Texas out! ;-) I just don't know where I want them to go
yet.

Jay

p.s. I'd be curious to know what other people who saw the ENTIRE game
though. (If you didn't see the whole game, you can't see what I'm talking
about... I wouldn't have believed it, either, if i hadn't seen the entire
game.) This morning, I talked to the first UT-hater that I know
personally who actually watched the game... and he agreed. Of course, 
he was GLAD that the officials were biased, since he hates UT, but he
was sure they were, too.

-- 

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