Pac-10 Cop-out

The Pac-10 confirmed what everyone already knew with their review of the onsides kick play in the OU v. UO game: the ball was illegally touched and should have been awarded to Oklahoma. Also, they confirmed what everyone with at least half a brain saw in the replay, Oklahoma recovered the onsides kick anyway! So, now that it's been confirmed I'll stop ranting about that point. It's settled.

However, a one-game suspension? One game? That's ridiculous. One game can determine whether or not a college football team gets to play for the national championship (not necessarily in this case). Officials need to have more at stake for getting calls right than one game. If replay wasn't in effect and the officials had blown the call, then I'd be fine with th assigned penalty: one game. But, fortunately, that isn't the case. According to Pac-10 Commish Hansen:

Officiating on the field is much more difficult than it appears from the stands, and certainly when watching repeated replays ... Plays occur at a high rate of speed. Decisions on the field must be made instantaneously. The training and experience of officials at this level enable them to work at a high degree of accuracy. Unfortunately, at the critical moment of this game errors were made.

Sure, I'll give them that. I don't know how difficult it appears to be from the stands, or how difficult it actually is, but I'll believe the Pac-10 Commish. But, no one really cares if they get it right on the field. Sure, it would be preferable if every call was correct, but replay is in place to correct the errors that are made on the field, if they can be done in a reasonable manner. Reversing the call on the onsides kick definitely qualifies. Thus, I am more concerned with the punishment of the replay and lead game officials than any of the other officials who may not have played a major role in the incident.