Nebraska football star puts refs on blast following win over Purdue
For what seems like the fifth straight time this season, the Nebraska football team not only had to try to beat the team on the other side of the field but also had to beat the referees. Whether it’s simply biased perception or reality, the job the officials are doing seems to only be getting worse.
It got so bad for the Huskers on Saturday, that despite winning 28-10, Matt Rhule was so tired of the blown calls that he, himself was flagged for 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct after he threw his headset to the ground.
As it turned out, even getting flagged for that penalty was probably the wrong call as he wasn’t yelling at an official who had once again made an incorrect penalty call. He aslo wasn’t out on the field but, as he put it “in the white” of the sidelines. Rhule getting flagged wasn’t even the most ridiculous call that went against the Nebraska football team. That honor belongs to tight end Thomas Fidone.
Early in the game, the Huskers should have broken the game open, 7-0 thanks to a nice dump off pass to Rahmir Johnson that he got loose on and went on a long touchdown run. However, the TD was called back because the referees claimed Fidone committed offensive pass interference when he contacted a defender.
Nebraska football star calls officiating ridiculous
Video of the incident shows Fidone jumping out of the way of the defender, not making contact and therefore not interfering. However, he earned the flag anyway and after the game he made his opinion known.
“They didn't say anything to me.” Fidone told 10/11 News. “Yeah, they didn't say anything to me. I thought it was a ridiculous call. I didn't even touch the guy. So I literally jumped out of his, I got out of his way, so I didn't get a flag called on me. Yeah, I was pretty upset about that, but they didn't say anything to me. It was ridiculous, though.”
Fidone isn’t wrong, and far too many good Nebraska football plays have been wiped out by bad officiating. It needs to change right away.