Not looking to slam the BE, but seriously.. Just about every nationally televised game (and even non-national, re. USF/FAU) has some crazy off the wall calls.

Are you all noticing this as well? Or is it just us outsiders?

I don't think even the refs could believe what they were seeing. And in Morgantown too.

I think Pitt played they way they were supposed to play. Pitt fans should be proud but this was the worse loss ever for the conference- (at least, until next year.)

This was a serious question to ask. The ref's last night had an agenda and it was clear. Is the big east in such a need for credability that they have to help out their best team?

I feel sorry for the teams in the big east that don't get off to a good start. You can bet your ass that if you are not in the hunt for the BCS bowls, you will be working against the 11 men on the other team, plus the refs.

ESPN Radio, ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS, ABC, XM radio, all said the looked as if the fix was in against Pitt. That is a credability problem. And I thought the SEC refs were bad, they just stink but at least they are not on the take.

South Tampa Knight Wrote:This was a serious question to ask. The ref's last night had an agenda and it was clear. Is the big east in such a need for credability that they have to help out their best team?

I feel sorry for the teams in the big east that don't get off to a good start. You can bet your ass that if you are not in the hunt for the BCS bowls, you will be working against the 11 men on the other team, plus the refs.

ESPN Radio, ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS, ABC, XM radio, all said the looked as if the fix was in against Pitt. That is a credability problem. And I thought the SEC refs were bad, they just stink but at least they are not on the take.

Phil, if you actually read the board especially last night we ALL THOUGHT it was complete BS to what was happening to Pittsburgh. Go to the WVU fans and they will even tell you they got some bogus calls.

problem is, it did not just happen last night. It most likely has been happening all year and you have to wonder how this is happening. Is it coming from the top, who knows, but those ref's were not doing it on their own. Its just this time, it happened on a national stage for all to see.

The refs made bad calls- that's all. They're only human. They hear the Morgantown crowd and they know who the underdog is. If they refs games with both these teams before, I sure they had to come in with expectations. That's no excuse but its no conspiracy either.

One holding call that was bad looked to me like it all depended on the angle the ref was seeing it at. They don't get the full 360 view of plays like the home TV crowd gets.

I would have to agree with knight...there has been some pretty bad calls this year and it seems a little suspecious to me who these calls have been benefitting.

Year after year, I’ve always tried to hold back on criticizing officiating. It’s a hard job to do, I accept the fact that they will miss some calls, and you never hear any complimenting officials for calling a great game.

There are fans from every single conference that complain about their officials.

But after watching Pitt-WV last night, I’m convinced we do have a serious issue with our officials. They are second-rate; it’s seems like all the better officials are at other places, and we got the last of the litter.

i just think they're god awful refs. i thought the sec refs called a very fair game during the usf/auburn game, but be refs are just plain terrible. that phantom late hit on the wvu linebacker that gave pitt the opportunity to kick a fg was bulls!t too, i don't think there is a conspiracy but the quality definitely needs to improve and i hope it gets some attention during the winter meetings.

I'm pretty sure the bogus calls were from the top. There is too much money at stake for the big east. Another reason for a 16 playoff with all conferences playing. This bogus stuff will stop.

The quality of officiating around the country is on the decline. It's not just The BEast.

This had nothing to do with some grand "conspiracy" theory.  That is ridiculous.  The officiating sucks in the Big East, and has sucked for years.  I mean it is obvious.  Seriously, do people think it was a "call from the top to have Connecticut win" when the refs missed that punt return that may have cost Louisville the game earlier this year?  I mean, officiating is bad across the board.  If Big East officials really were trying to "fix the game" they would have called pass interference calls to move the ball up the field for West Virginia and insane crap like that.
It's hilarious though to see some people make stupid comments like "The Big East must be in need of credibility" etc., etc. The Big East is fine, we don't need to pay off officials for credibility, but we do need to clean house on the officials.

stpnum4 Wrote:I would have to agree with knight...there has been some pretty bad calls this year and it seems a little suspecious to me who these calls have been benefitting.

Cincinnati got some "bad calls" in the Louisville game. Common knowledge says that the Big East would want #15 Cincinnati to beat Louisville so why not fix it for Cincinnati win? Or what about Syracuse beating Louisville? A few calls here and there and Louisville possibly wins that game. There is no conspiracy theory, these are just bad officials.

CatsClaw Wrote:

stpnum4 Wrote:I would have to agree with knight...there has been some pretty bad calls this year and it seems a little suspecious to me who these calls have been benefitting.

Cincinnati got some "bad calls" in the Louisville game. Common knowledge says that the Big East would want #15 Cincinnati to beat Louisville so why not fix it for Cincinnati win? Or what about Syracuse beating Louisville? A few calls here and there and Louisville possibly wins that game. There is no conspiracy theory, these are just bad officials.

I think it's a little different given the ramifications of this game. I haven't talked to hardly anyone who watched that game who didn't think something was up with the two holding calls and the non call when the WVU defender held the receiver on 3rd down. The timing of the calls give the perception that something was up and the Big East needs to address this because based on what I've read and heard it's a widespread perception.

What are they supposed to say? Yes, we tried to get the refs to throw the game? No, we didn't try to throw the game? They will not be making any comments about somehow trying to influence the game towards a WVU win. They would be inviting trouble and to do so would be suicide for the conference.

Unless there is some proof it is in the BE's best interest to let the issue drop. It isn't going to help the conference for rumors to be spread about dirty officiating.

LaRue777 Wrote:What are they supposed to say? Yes, we tried to get the refs to throw the game? No, we didn't try to throw the game? They will not be making any comments about somehow trying to influence the game towards a WVU win. They would be inviting trouble and to do so would be suicide for the conference.

Unless there is some proof it is in the BE's best interest to let the issue drop. It isn't going to help the conference for rumors to be spread about dirty officiating.

For the average fan it looked like the refs were told to give WVU an advantage. Too many bogus calls. This was much different than a standard regular season game. It was to allow WV to play for the title. You can bet when there is big money on the line that people will and can cheat the system.

Another reason not to have "Conference" officials.

Yes, the fix must have been in. Wish I had that information so I could make a few extra dollars.

LaRue777 Wrote:Yes, the fix must have been in. Wish I had that information so I could make a few extra dollars.

Didn't work. IMO and observation, if they were trying to screw over a team, it was Pitt.

FWIW, I thought the last defensive holding call on Baltimore in tonight's game on fourth down for New England was a little sketchy...

USFFan

LaRue777 Wrote:What are they supposed to say? Yes, we tried to get the refs to throw the game? No, we didn't try to throw the game? They will not be making any comments about somehow trying to influence the game towards a WVU win. They would be inviting trouble and to do so would be suicide for the conference.

Unless there is some proof it is in the BE's best interest to let the issue drop. It isn't going to help the conference for rumors to be spread about dirty officiating.

Rumors are already out there as well as the perception. They need to take steps to improve the officiating.