Bitch, Bitch, Bitch!!!

Texas – Oklahoma

I guess the Longhorns - a Sooners game is a big deal. I do not know why since, being from Ohio, there is only one Big Game and its Ohio State – Michigan.

Any who, this was a crucial match up not only between rivals and Big XII competitors but also because it was the first ranked Sooners against the number five Longhorns. It was a great game that showed why Colt McCoy is a great field general and leader on the field, but you would not have really known of that.

This game was marred by the over powering judgment of Brent Musburger. Three plays highlighted the game and most of them were not the “blown call of the century”, as Brent would have put it. It was not Garcia calling a home run over Tony Tarasco or the Tuck Rule.

First play was Oklahoma’s first touchdown, a pass where the tackle happened at the goal line, but the lineman called the ball in the endzone for a score. Brent did not think so. Kirk Herbstreit thought it was a close play and the official review was not used to rule otherwise.

The second play was an interception by Leon Robinson called an incomplete pass in the endzone. The replay did show that Robinson had the ball in his possession and dropped it in celebration (this was the drive following a fake punt that failed). However the played stood and allowed Texas to kick a field goal. Brent was really not amused because of his hatred of the referees for the whole game.

The final play of Referee’s Death Wish starring Brent Musburger was running in the kicker call against Texas. Here Knall was knocked down and stayed down, holding his left leg, inciting flag. Musburger really hated this call and Kirk backed him up on it. The former Buckeye QB reasoned that the flags be replaced with yellow cards, turning the game into football.

While all these plays were happening, causing Brent to urge the world to murder the officials, burn down their houses with their families in them and killing their pets… he could have instead acted like a professional and not lay it on the authorities on the field.

See in broadcasting school (myself a recent graduate) the announcer is not supposed to attack the officials. Officials, meaning those on the field or in the booth working the video replays, but no, it’s easier for Brent Musburger to attack the officials working a critical game of the year for both schools.

This was a great game as Texas trailed the first half and made a strong comeback in the second half before putting it away 45-35. If Brent would have been really watching the game, the critical turning point was not the blown calls but rather the decision by Bob Stoopes to have a fake punt run by Knall which led to points for Texas. This really helped push the Longhorns into a positive momentum swing to take the lead and then the win.

Kids, next time Brent Musburger starts whining about the rules and officials just remember, Ed Hochuli is lifting weights waiting for a chance to confront him.