Refs overlook possession
Patrick's unseen recovery could have won the game

By George Schroeder

Published: September 18, 2006

NORMAN – Last season, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops chided tailback Allen Patrick for showboating after a score. Saturday, Stoops could have used a little more exuberance from his player.

If anything, Patrick was too nonchalant after recovering Oregon's onside kick with 1:06 left. Cradling the football, he walked away, even as officials frantically searched for the ball in a chaotic pile of players.

"I wish he'd have got right out of the pile and showed (the ball) to them immediately," Stoops said.

Maybe then, the confusion and controversy that ensued with instant-replay reviews might not have occurred. Maybe then, Oklahoma would have escaped Oregon with a win.

Instead, unaware Patrick had the football, officials awarded possession to Oregon, then concentrated on a replay review of who touched the ball first, and when and where.

Somehow, they missed Patrick's possession.

"How they could explain that, I don't know," Stoops said.

On Sunday, they weren't doing any explaining. After yet another controversial call and review in the waning seconds, the Sooners left Eugene, Ore., convinced the crew of Pac-10 officials -– and the replay official perched in the press box –- had botched two critical calls that allowed Oregon to score the winning touchdown. Stoops said he was "incredibly disappointed" at the outcome.

"The instant replay (rule) was brought up to eliminate issues like this," he said. "And here, there are a number of issues that are clearly, from looking at video, wrong."

OU athletic director Joe Castiglione has asked the Big 12 to forward the Sooners' concerns to the Pac-10. But answers to the Sooners' questions weren't immediately forthcoming.

Verle Sorgen, the Pac-10's director of officiating, did not return calls to his office or home Sunday.

Reached at his home in Portland, Ore., replay official Gordon Riese declined comment, saying he needed permission from the Pac-10; Jim Muldoon, the league's associate commissioner for communications and football administration, said the league does not allow replay officials to do interviews.

Muldoon said the league might issue a statement today regarding the controversial finish. Muldoon said Sorgen typically reviewed tapes of games on Mondays, but was reviewing the OU-Oregon tape Sunday. In the past, Sorgen has been publicly critical of officials' decisions.

"We aren't afraid to admit mistakes," Muldoon said. "We need to carefully review the tapes and talk to the parties involved."

-- On the onside kick, Riese concentrated on determining which player touched the ball first, and where the first touch came. Stoops said his review of the video confirmed an Oregon player improperly touched the ball first, then crashed into an OU player, denying him the right to field the kick.

The replay official wasn't allowed to review whether Oregon actually recovered the ball, because that call wasn't eligible for review.

-- Seconds later, Darien Williams was called for pass interference. But defensive end C.J. Ah You appeared to have tipped the ball, which would have made any contact by Williams with the receiver legal. In The Oregonian (of Portland, Ore.), Ducks quarterback Dennis Dixon is quoted as having told coach Mike Bellotti the pass had been tipped.

Castiglione said in a statement, "We believe this situation will be properly handled and analyzed by the Pac-10. … There should be no mistaking our very serious concerns about the events that transpired and the energy we will exert in voicing these concerns."

But the eventual outcome is, according to Castiglione, "irreversible, regardless of the decisions made in regards to the grievance."

"I imagine they'll have some kind of reply to what the issues are," said Stoops of the Pac-10's inquiry, "and that will be it. … In the end, it isn't going to change anything. In the end, I've got to look at a bunch of kids who fought hard and have a loss right now."

The postgame scene was reminiscent of the events last November, when Texas Tech edged OU after three controversial calls in the final 27 seconds were reviewed by the replay official. Two of the on-field calls, including a touchdown on the game's final play, were allowed to stand.

After that game, Stoops filed a report with the Big 12, questioning the calls. Several weeks later, the Big 12's reply said the replay official made the correct calls on all three plays.

It's not the first time the Sooners have been upset by Pac-10 officials' calls. A year ago, after OU lost 41-24 at UCLA, Stoops asked Big 12 officials to forward his concerns over several calls to the Pac-10.

The controversy drew criticism of the officiating from commentators, including those calling the game for ABC. ABC Sports' Craig James was critical during a postgame show, and hadn't changed his mind Sunday.

"Oklahoma, my hat's off to them," James said. "They played a heck of a game in a violent place. And some people who weren't even on the field got 'em."