Let’s be clear about one thing: Wisconsin didn’t lose to No. 12 UCLA on Saturday because of the officiating.
While allowing a backup quarterback to throw for 264 yards on 67% completion, the Badgers finished less than 40% of their passes for a total of 66 yards. They made bad decisions given the circumstances. They couldn’t get their hands on the ball. They couldn’t get off the field on the third down. They didn’t create a lot of pressure
. Hence, there are several reasons why Wisconsin was defeated by UCLA even before we discuss the rather bad officiating. But make no mistake, the referees didn’t help the Badgers in Pasadena, and considering some of the flags they threw and didn’t throw at important junctures, it’s reasonable to conclude that the officiating harmed Wisconsin’s prospects more than the Bruins.
Overall, Wisconsin was assessed ten penalties for a total of 102 yards. During his regular press briefing, Luke Fickell was questioned regarding the scattering of penalties. “We’re getting into a delicate topic,” he stated with a sarcastic grin.
Colton Joseph’s “nose wipe” first down celebration.
“We gotta be smart. There’s a discipline thing, something about the nose wipe. I didn’t see it, to be honest, I had to pull it from the TV copy cause it’s not on our copies of things. Those are things we’ve gotta be better about,” Fickell said.
This is a celebration you see quite frequently in college football. After the game, Joseph was clearly as dumbfounded as everyone watching.
“Yeah, I don’t really know what’s going on with that,” he said.
Surely, he’s done that celebration in the past, correct? “Many times,” he responded succinctly.
Mason Posa’s unsportsman like conduct penalty
According to the coach, Fickell or any member of Wisconsin’s team were never given an explanation for this one of the most flagrant calls, and we still don’t have a clear shot of it from the broadcast to this day.
He stated that we received a taunting phone call that, let’s just be honest, after an interception on Posa, I don’t know that I would say is a problem in a junior high game, to be honest with you.
Things they don’t want to take away from these players, but then we have a guy that may yell and then go right back to the play, and we get a 15-yard penalty. Is the flag thrown by her? She picks it up and flicks it again. No explanation has been offered regarding that. “
This officiating team painted themselves into a corner early in this game by tossing flags frequently and early. It was subsequently forced to continue referring to the match in the appropriate manner, which was once again one of the more outrageous examples, and Fickell’s statements are telling.
Malachi Coleman’s “blindside” block
.
Afteraninterceptionon Posa, he said we got a taunting call that I don’t know I‘dcallanissue in a junior high game, to be honest.
We have a manwho may screambeforegoing right back to the play, whichresultsin a 15-yard penalty, even if these guys don’t want to lose anything. Is the flag being thrown by her? She takes it up and flicks it once more. There has been noexplanationfor that.
This officiating crew painted themselves into a corner early in this game by tossing flags frequently and early. Fickell’scomments are telling, and it was ultimately forced to keepmentioning the match correctly, which was once again one of the more outrageous examples.
