Stoops threatens pullout if policy stays

By John Helsley

Published: September 20, 2006

NORMAN - A seriously-upset Bob Stoops on Tuesday threatened to pull out of Oklahoma’s 2008 game at Washington if Pac-10 Conference officials don’t amend their policies on officiating.

The Pac-10 is the only BCS conference with a written rule stating that only their officials can work home games involving league teams.

The Sooners have been involved in controversial officiating decisions their past two trips West to face Pac-10 foes, including Saturday’s game at Oregon, which featured two errors that resulted in the suspension of an entire crew and the replay official.

Both mistakes - confirmed by the Pac-10 office and deemed “unsettling” - came in the final minute and six seconds. One, the improper awarding of an onside kick to Oregon, led to the game-winning touchdown in the Ducks’ 34-33 win.

The Sooners are due back in the Pacific Northwest in 2008 to play the return game in a home-and-home series with Washington. The Huskies played in Norman on Sept. 9.

“I think there’s no question that Joe Castiglione and I or President Boren will, if that rule is not changed, reconsider that game,” Stoops said. “And I think it’s justified that we look into that.”

Asked separately about the topic, and unaware of Stoops’ comments, Castiglione said such talk was premature.

“I know it’s heat of the moment and I don’t want us to answer those kinds of questions in the heat of the moment,” OU’s athletic director said. “Decisions like that are better made when people are rational.

“Keep in mind, the University of Washington didn’t do anything wrong. To speculate about another university in relation to what we’re doing right now, it’s really imprudent. I don’t want to get into that at the moment.

“There will be plenty of time for us to think that through and evaluate whatever our options are and see how it relates to the current contract.”

Washington athletic director Todd Turner said Tuesday he is expecting the Sooners to honor the contract.

“We had such a good trip to Oklahoma, despite the loss,” Turner said. “Our fans enjoyed the trip. They enjoyed the hospitality of the Oklahoma fans and the Oklahoma athletic department and the people of Norman.

“We were looking forward to having Oklahoma back in 2008. And we’re still looking forward to having them back. We have a contract. And really, nothing’s changed. We haven’t had any official contact with Oklahoma on this matter.”

Typically, the BCS conferences leave non-conference officiating assignments to be worked out by the schools. For Oklahoma’s recent series with Alabama, Big 12 officials worked the game in Tuscaloosa, while SEC officials handled the game in Norman.

Saturday wasn’t the first sour experience for the Sooners in Pac-10 country. Last year after OU played at UCLA, Stoops asked the Big 12 to forward his concern about several calls to the Pac-10.

Pac-10 Associate Commissioner Jim Muldoon said his conference’s mandate is in place because it regards Pac-10 officials among the most competent and honest in the college game.

Muldoon, however, said that the recent events will likely put the mandate under review by Pac-10 athletic directors during their Oct. 11 league meeting.

As far as Stoops is concerned, changes better be made if the Sooners are to keep their appointment with Washington.

“After our situation - we had two turnovers taken away from us last year at UCLA as well - in this situation I think it’s pretty obvious to everybody that whether we go up there with that rule still in place, and that’s going to be the case, I don’t know that we would agree to that.

“I think that’s something that Joe Castiglione should truly look into. I feel strongly about that. So we’ll see where that goes.”