The call

[Fresh]

Can't believe nobody's mentioned this yet:

There were many reasons we lost yesterday. The kicking game was terrible, Bartel's interception at the end was depressing, the running game never really got untracked, etc.

But that call when they took back the touchdown from Don Ieremia-Stansbury was maybe the worst call I've ever seen. They were saying Threadgill was down when Melvin Williams hit him? He was hardly even bending over with Williams on his back - his knee sure wasn't on the ground. It wasn't even close. Or were they saying he was down because he was "in the grasp"? Also ridiculous - he was dragging Melvin with him. For that call to be made, you have to have a guy so wrapped up he can hardly breathe, much less move. There was a chance he could have broken out of Melvin's arms. No way was he down.

Not that we would have won the game with that touchdown, but it sure would have been a different second half.

While we're on the subject, every game makes me more excited about Ieremia-Stansbury. That kid is flat-out fast. He's added a new dimension to our pass rush and he chases guys down all over the field. He's going to get bigger and stronger, and he's going to get himself into the end zone, next year if not this year.

[PonyFan]

I can't believe we didn't get an unsportsmanlike penalty on that play. If I was Coach Bennett, I would have strangled the ref with my headset cord.
What a terrible call.

[smudad]

I think Bennet tried. But the ref wouldn't come within 50 yds of our sideline. He hung out around the huddle - counseling.

[fbdad]

Bennett got his chance at the ref later in the game. It reminded me of two of my dogs in a stare down with teeth bared. It was difficult to see who won the contest. I don't think it was Bennett.Their noses almost touched.I watched the scene through binoculars. It was a game highlight for me...

[Guest]

LoL

[smudad]

I wish Bennett had gotten him when he initially wanted him. It was bad enough that the guy missed the most critical and obvious call of the game. But, then to hide out at the far corner of the field and in a team huddle following the call, when it was also obvious the 'screwed' coach needed, wanted and deserved an explanation, no matter how lame, was inexcusable. I still believe our guys played well enough and hard enough to deserve to win that game. I hope the league has more courage and integrity than the official and admits what it was - pure theft.

[Guest]

Bennett should definitely raise and issue with the WAC with that official. That's inexcusable.

[Pony4Life]

Agreed. The WAC won't overturn the call, of course, but that call was pathetic.

Love your comparison to the two dogs, fbdad! Hysterical....

[Pack66Dad]

The early whistle can hurt a team sometimes but I think in the long run I would rather see that than a lot of QB's getting hurt.

Don't mistake this for an excuse, I understand how bad a play like that hurts a team that is struggling, we have been there.

Hang in there SMU, the times they are a changing and I see you all building a great program again.

[Juice]

That was a terrible call, but what about on third down on the North side of the field when they called an incomplete pass after a Nev. DB slapped the ball out of one of our receiver's hands.

The WR clearly had it, and a first down near the 25.

[SMUstang]

Not that I am not appreciative but.....
the fans of just about every one of our opponents say how good we looked in losing to their team and how we are building a great program here.

Why is that? Either we are good enough to beat some of these teams or we stink. Personally I think we had a much better team 6 or 7 years ago than we do now.

[The Q]

That no-TD call actually might have cost us the game. I know it's only one play, but we'd been hanging with them up to that point, and it would have put us ahead, which would have helped the confidence a lot. When that call was made, and a legit TD was taken away from us, it looked like it really took the wind out of our sails.