The addition of instant replay has helped to eliminate some of the more obvious missed calls. But my question is what is the worst officiating call that you have ever seen in a UTEP game?
I have two that come to mind, both were football related:
- In 1992, UTEP was playing at UNLV. UTEP had the lead and I believe that we were driving around midfield when we called a shovel pass. It was a clear shovel pass play call, in which UNLV got pressure into the backfiled and our running back dropped the ball and it fell incomplete. The UNLV defensive linemen picked up the ball and started running, thinking that it was a fumble, and he ran it back for a touchdown. The UTEP players didn’t make much of an attempt to catch him or run him down, becuase they knew it was an incomplete pass. The officials looked at each other and just went with the play. They hudled and talked after the UTEP coaches tried to explain that it was a pass, but the officials stuck with the call on the field and that incorrectly called fumble that was returned for a touchdown is what won the game for UNLV. They beat UTEP 19-17. UTEP would have almost certainly won that game if they had instant replay at that time.
- My second play can be seen in the video linked below. Back in 2004, UTEP was playing Boise State’s tail off. It was a very close 3 point game towards the end of the 3rd quarter and Boise was trying to convert a key 3rd down. Their WR caught a pass with BOTH feet out of bounds, it wasn’t even really that close when you watch the replay, yet the officials gave him the completion and Boise was awarded a first down. That call kept the drive alive and they ended up scoring a TD on that drive a few plays later instead of punting. Thus UTEP began the 4th quarter down by 10, instead of being down by only 3 and having the ball. What upset me most is that you see the official in the replay staring right at the play, yet he still makes the wrong call. The play can be seen at the 1 hour and 17 minute mark(1:17:09) of this video below:
I have two that come to mind, both were football related:
- In 1992, UTEP was playing at UNLV. UTEP had the lead and I believe that we were driving around midfield when we called a shovel pass. It was a clear shovel pass play call, in which UNLV got pressure into the backfiled and our running back dropped the ball and it fell incomplete. The UNLV defensive linemen picked up the ball and started running, thinking that it was a fumble, and he ran it back for a touchdown. The UTEP players didn’t make much of an attempt to catch him or run him down, becuase they knew it was an incomplete pass. The officials looked at each other and just went with the play. They hudled and talked after the UTEP coaches tried to explain that it was a pass, but the officials stuck with the call on the field and that incorrectly called fumble that was returned for a touchdown is what won the game for UNLV. They beat UTEP 19-17. UTEP would have almost certainly won that game if they had instant replay at that time.
- My second play can be seen in the video linked below. Back in 2004, UTEP was playing Boise State’s tail off. It was a very close 3 point game towards the end of the 3rd quarter and Boise was trying to convert a key 3rd down. Their WR caught a pass with BOTH feet out of bounds, it wasn’t even really that close when you watch the replay, yet the officials gave him the completion and Boise was awarded a first down. That call kept the drive alive and they ended up scoring a TD on that drive a few plays later instead of punting. Thus UTEP began the 4th quarter down by 10, instead of being down by only 3 and having the ball. What upset me most is that you see the official in the replay staring right at the play, yet he still makes the wrong call. The play can be seen at the 1 hour and 17 minute mark(1:17:09) of this video below:
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