Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 5, 1994 TAG: 9401050077
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: OMAHA, NEB. LENGTH: Medium
Fans are upset with the officiating in the Cornhuskers' 18-16 Orange Bowl loss to Florida State that cost Nebraska a national championship. The Seminoles finished No. 1 in the final Associated Press media poll and USA Today/CNN coaches' poll of the 1993 season.
On the radio, in the newspaper and on the street, fans made it clear they thought the officiating in Miami stunk.
At the airport in Lincoln, where about 1,200 people chanted "We're No. 1" to greet the Nebraska football team early Monday, fans carried banners announcing their disapproval of the calls.
"The way it should be - NU 16, FSU 6, Refs 12," read one sign. Another depicted an official making a call for illegal blocking and proclaimed him Florida State's most valuable player.
The man who chose the Big East Conference officials who worked the game, Dan Wooldridge, said he was eager to review films of the Orange and Peach bowls. At issue in both games were goal-line fumbles on plays that were ruled touchdowns.
"I hope our officials were in the right position to make the calls," Wooldridge said in a telephone interview Monday from his office in Salem. "They were veteran crews at both games. Our Orange Bowl crew had a combined 140 years' officiating experience."
Wooldridge, the Big East's coordinator of football officiating and the commissioner of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, attended the Peach Bowl. In that game, a Kentucky player fumbled near the goal line. Clemson recovered the ball and went on to win the game.
Wooldridge watched the Orange Bowl on television and saw a Florida State player fumble on what was the Seminoles' only touchdown.
Wooldridge said the referees made an excellent call in putting a second back on the clock at the end of the Orange Bowl to let Nebraska attempt a field goal even after Florida State began celebrating on the field.
"They did the right thing. It didn't look very pretty, but the ball ended up where it should," he said.
The kick sailed wide and Nebraska lost.
Wooldridge said he reviews film of every game for which he provides officials.
"If I find the official was in error, I will reprimand him," he said. "It will affect how and whether he works for the rest of the year."
Wooldridge didn't offer any alibis for the officials.
"We're human," he said. "I hope to have a final answer by the end of the week for all the people who have questions."
Wooldridge also said he was concerned that NBC-TV's Orange Bowl commentators, Dick Enberg and Bob Trumpy, were particularly critical of the officials.
"They had something to say about every call that was made," Wooldridge said. "It's the perception. If there's a controversial call, they play it over and over. If it was a good call, it's usually played only once."
by CNB