In this morning's Chicago Tribune, there is a phenomenal conversation with retired Big Ten supervisor of officials Dave Perry, who left his post Jan. 31. In the story, Perry addresses the pass interference call in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl that allowed Ohio State to win the National Championship over Miami. Perry says: "I don't think there was pass interference or, certainly, (there was) very thin pass interference. Unfortunately, that's what they announced."
He does say that there was defensive holding on the play, however he notes that the defensive holding penalty did not exist during the 2002-03 season.
In the interest of full disclosure, the 2003 Fiesta Bowl was the only time I have ever wanted Ohio State to win a game because it allowed me to win my confidence pool. As far as I'm concerned, referee Terry Porter (who made the phantom call) is my best friend.
Some more links on Victory Monday:
He does say that there was defensive holding on the play, however he notes that the defensive holding penalty did not exist during the 2002-03 season.
In the interest of full disclosure, the 2003 Fiesta Bowl was the only time I have ever wanted Ohio State to win a game because it allowed me to win my confidence pool. As far as I'm concerned, referee Terry Porter (who made the phantom call) is my best friend.
Some more links on Victory Monday:
- The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel gives us an update on Travis Beckum who is now projected as a Day 2 pick. Obviously the season-ending injury hurt the guy, but he still has Round 1 talent. Whichever team drafts Becks in the third or fourth round is getting a steal.
- If you missed it, and I'm sure you did, former UW tight end Owen Daniels scored a touchdown in the Pro Bowl yesterday.
- Your new USA Women's Hockey head coach, Mark Johnson, did the unthinkable in Wisconsin's shootout win over Minnesota. He pulled goaltender Jessie Vetter in the final minutes of overtime with the game TIED at three goals apiece. The reasoning? Wisconsin is stuck in second behind Minnesota and could have tied the Gophers atop the WCHA standings by gaining two points. Winning in the shootout only pulled UW within 1-point of Minnesota with four league games left to play. It was certainly a risky move because an empty netter for the Gophers would have given Minnesota a 4-point cushion in the standings. I think I'll take the 1-point deficit with four games remaining.
- As always on Mondays, BadgerNation.com's Big 10 Power Rankings should be up at some point. Here's how I voted:
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1) Michigan State
2) Ohio State
3) Illinois
4) Purdue
5) Wisconsin
6) Minnesota
7) Michigan
8) Penn State
9) Iowa
10) Northwestern
11) Indiana