Solutions to the Issue of the Phony Michigan 'Victory' - Updated

 

Note: I am spending so much time (see my Twitter/X feed) on this because I LOVE football. There have been too many 'mysterious' endings to games in recent years but Saturday night's was beyond the pale. Add the endorsement of gambling by college sports and it makes it worse.

It is time for fans to say STOP!

The outcome of Saturday's Western Michigan v Michigan game needs to be overturned by the NCAA.

We need universal, not conference-loyal, referees (like the NFL's). The same should be true of all officials from the chain gang to the official timer in the press box.

There can be no more double-secret, decoder ring, password-protected 'clocks' that no one can see except (allegedly) the replay booths. The stadium clock, which is the same as TV (barring malfunction), should be official. Period. The NCAA rule outlawing the use of tenths of second in college football timing should continue.

By NCAA ruling, all conferences should adopt the replay transparency of the ACC. So should the NFL.

Finally, there should be an independent system (like baseball's) for appealing egregiously incorrect outcomes. This would mean overturning maybe one game per decade (when I say egregious, I don't mean "unfortunate") short of going to court.

P.S. A rules clarification clearly stating the stadium clock is the "official" clock was sent to schools and officials this morning. It is here. But, if that was the case Saturday night, that is all the more reason to overturn Michigan's "victory."