Ref takes out South Carolina QB

[shardian]

Is this crap for real? A coworker sent this to all of us, and it screamed "FAKE!!!!" At me. I then saw another angle of it, but I still smelled BS. I can't find anything on ESPN or similar sites about it. Colin Cowherd spoke about it for a while, but that doesn't exactly prove anything.

I would think if this were real it would be a HUGE news story.

Can anyone comfirm this?

[ChadTower]

Maybe it's not a news story because a ref bracing himself for impact with a player isn't exactly news.

[shardian]

There are additional angles on youtube. It seems like a blatant hit to me.

[protokatie]

*ProtoKatie dabbles her toes in sports*

I looked at it (from a non-sporty set of eyes) and even called in a roomate to look at it. Neither of us could come to a conclusion.

It definetly DOES look like the ref is running toward the QB and clocking him. Hell, the QB even seems to adjust his course to get around the ref... BUT

Both my roomie (who is a 55 year old male) and myself couldnt help but wonder if the ref was trying to get out of the way of the mass of players and haden't noticed who had the ball at the time, and didnt see the QB in time; until he had to use a defensive move.

Stuff happens fast on the field, esp when there are so many people running around. Its not like the ref was allowed to know the play beforehand. That info is only for players on each team.

Anyways, just a view from someone who hates sports, and knows little about football (american). Fresh eyes can be useful.

[mpm32]

Maybe he missed playing and had a flashback and thought he was in the game. 

Put me in coach!

[ChadTower]

I've seen it happen a hundred times in games I was playing.  No matter where the ref stands he is going to get in someone's way.  It's just sheer probability that now and then it's going to affect the point of attack.  How many times have you seen a slot receiver use the ref as a pick on an inside slant?  Some receivers make a living that way.

[Kevin Mullins]

That was a blatant hit in my opinion.
Tell tale signs of a former football player ....

The ref stepped waaaay out his way from the pack of players to be directly in line with the QB, dipped his shoulder, lunged forward on his legs long before impact and threw his forearm forward to boot.
Classic blocking technique designed to merely break up a play.
NOT a typical "protecting yourself" scenario.

Watch the refs feet.
Methodical movements.

Look at how much space is around the QB once he comes out from behind the pack.
Absolutely no reason for the ref to move over that far and be where he was.
The ref clearly has his eyes on the QB the entire time.

Possibly just a der der der moment ... who knows exactly why it happened.

Maybe he missed playing and had a flashback and thought he was in the game. 

Put me in coach!

[Ummon]

Yep, I'm with Kev, ref totally gooked him. QB should've let his feet fall out from under him when he saw the ref so close, and then just flattened him. Ooops. I slipped.

Especially in this day when cameras often have better views, they should take the refs off the field or at least keep 'em way off-sides.

[massive88]

Ref thought he was going to take a hit and braced for it so he wouldn't be killed, the hit didn't come, he was already moving to meet the anticipated blow.  The shoulder he dropped was sound as the ref is a former linebacker, many refs are former players.

The SEC and the OBC both say there's nothing to see here, so Id tend to agree with them.  Though its funny to watch, there's no foul play involved.

[ahofle]

The best part is when the QB is on the ground he looks back at the ref with a WTF look.   

[Ummon]

Okay, I say we just dispense with professional sports. Nip it in the bud.

[AtomSmasher]

In a football game between 2 undefeated teams for state pride, Naples High School is trying to run out the clock with the lead. This QB is in for a big surprise.

[Kevin Mullins]

See , now THAT looked like a ref just defending himself from impact.

Although the ref should have had a little more cooth and gave the kid a hand up or something. (influencing sportsmanship at that level is also part of a refs job in my opinion)

[Ummon]

I'm going to extend my recommendation to any league sports.

[ChadTower]

See , now THAT looked like a ref just defending himself from impact.

Yeah, that wasn't even during play.  That was a good 3 seconds after the whistle and kid is still running.  Had no bearing on results whatsoever.

[shardian]

Although the ref should have had a little more cooth and gave the kid a hand up or something. (influencing sportsmanship at that level is also part of a refs job in my opinion)

I think that is the problem at the core of both videos. The body language of the ref in the original video gave the impression he did it intentionally. He could have cracked a smile, or came up and gave the QB a smack on the ass or something, and I would have thought nothing of the incident.

[ChadTower]

I've been a ref.  You can't do that.  You can't do anything that might call attention to yourself.  If you show a little humor with that kid the other team's fans jump all over you... and if you don't the QB's team's fans are all over you.  It is no win no matter what you do.  If you do something stupid all you can really do is keep your mouth shut and act like it didn't happen.  It is a terrible job that I'm always surprised people actually want to do.  At least it's not as bad as hockey, though.  Hockey refs probably get it the worst up here.

[Kevin Mullins]

I have to disagree at the High School level. (like the second video)
And football is a big deal here.
But most kids don't move on to college ball or the NFL ..... so really it needs dealt with in a manner to influence sportsmanship, etc. (moral values)

Yes, I DO agree with catching flack from fan's and all that, especially if "the other team" is winning at the time.
But I do think that a showing good balance from the ref's between the teams also makes a bigger impact on the fans and they catch less flack from it.
I know.... hard to balance..... but I personally notice it when a ref at least tries.

Now as far as up the the bigger leagues.... sure.... I'd copy and paste exactly what you say.

[ChadTower]

I've been screamed at to a point where I thought I might have to defend myself at levels as low as 9 years old.  I won't ref at any level anymore because it was so bad at some points.  Now, those cases are rare, but you only need one or two maniacs to wreck a whole season.  Just isn't worth it with some dickwad with control issues and an anger problem yelling at you every other game for 2 months.

[Kevin Mullins]

Oh yes ... I do indeed and absolutely understand your point there.

Those are the folks that I can't stand with a passion and wish that they wouldn't bother to ever show up again at a game. (even if they are from our school)

a. Not a good influence for the kids.
b. Not a representative to the meaning of sporting functions.
c. I might go to jail.

And yes, I have approached a few of them and made my presence and intentions known to them.

Granted, I've hollered up at an obvious bad call from time to time from a distance, but then it's over .... that's it ... move on ... play the game.

[ChadTower]

And I don't even mind getting yelled at to a certain extent.  It's part of the job.  It gets to me when the person is still yelling two innings later and by that point has started using my name.  Or when it distracts the kids, gets profane, or the idiot is referring to a call I made three games ago.  You can always tell whose parent that is, too, by which kid in the dugout is hiding his head for half the game.

I remember one incident in particular where I called a game 2 outs before it was long enough to become official... 3 parents went nuts because it was a playoff important game and their team was winning.  Sorry, people, lightning is lightning and that rule is not negotiable.  Or the time one dad went off because he felt the opposing pitcher was balking and I disagreed.  Truthfully, the kid was borderline, but it wasn't affecting anything and I wasn't about to call ball after ball after ball on him.