Andrew Velnosky
Staff Reporter
Ed Hochuli, one of the NFL’s best known referees, has been feeling the heat lately after a blown call in week two. While the call was obviously bad, Hochuli has been criticized unfairly for it, which is still only one bad call in a 19-year career of good ones. He is a former president of the NFL referees association and has officiated numerous superbowls and playoff games- things that only the best officials are chosen to do. But before I say more, here is a little background for those of you who haven’t heard what happened:
Trailing the San Diego Chargers 38-31 late in the fourth, the Broncos’ offense was nearing the endzone when quarterback Jay Cutler obviously fumbled the ball. However, referee Ed Hochuli blew his whistle, ruled the play an incomplete pass, and said the play could not be reviewed because the whistle had been blown.
This call allowed Denver to keep the ball, and on the next play, Cutler threw a touchdown. After that, in what may be the most daring call we have seen in a long time, Denver coach Mike Shanahan decided to attempt a risky two-point-conversion instead of an extra point- opting to either win or lose in that one play and not take the game to overtime. Unfortunately for the Chargers, Shanahan’s bold move was successful and the Chargers lost 39-38. The team and its fans were devastated. The call sparked outrage by fans all over the NFL.
Simply put, NFL fans hold officials to too high a standard, so it makes sense that when a call like this happens, fans will go nuts.
Heck, if an official so much as calls a questionable 5-yard penalty against the home team, stadiums regularly erupt in boos.
It is important for us to remember that when we are watching the game, whether at the stadium or at home, we see slow-mo replays of every big play that happens. This is not the case for officials, who have to make a call based on what they see as it happens.
It is impossible for them to always be in the perfect position and see everything that they need to make a perfect call.
Of course, the Broncos call was really, really bad. But these things happen. Hochuli himself has said that he is devastated by his mistake.
I know that Chargers fans will probably not like what I am about to say, but you will just have to accept the call and move on. It was a terrible piece of bad luck for the Chargers, but it could have happened to any team. The fact that blown calls of this magnitude rarely occur is a testament to the skill that NFL referees have, and Ed Hochuli is still one of the best.
It is easy to get angry at the officials during a game, but usually, even if they make a bad call or two, they are not going to cause your team to lose the game.
For Chargers fans, it is worth noting, that if your team had not given up 31 points to the Broncos without the aid of the officials, the game may not have come down to that fateful drive. So, to all NFL fans out there: next time your team is the victim of a bad call, give the officials a break.
They are not perfect, but they are pretty good.
Instead of booing and shouting profanities or throwing your $8 stadium beer onto the field, just sit down, be calm, and accept that the world is not a perfect place.
And be glad you aren’t a Chargers fan.