Saturday, November 19, 2011

Vanderbilt Loses Heartbreaker in Knoxville

I don't know what to say. Truly. This loss is devestating. I thought the Georgia game was bad. And it was. I thought the Arkansas game was bad. And it was. But the 27-21 loss to Tennessee was worse. This loss stings for a whole host of reasons.

First, Vanderbilt was the better team and squandered countless opportunitieis. Second, it was to Tennessee. We hate them, and they don't respect us. Third, the referees continue to factor into Commodore games more than they should. Tonight, the referees were not only awful, but showed a complete lack of integrity. Mike Pereria, the former head of officials for the NFL tweeted the following:
"The referee said there was "no signal" and "no whistle" and hence, the replay assistant allowed the touchdown. Here's the problem.... There was a whistle and there was a signal. What you really have here is an inadvertant whistle and unfortunately, it appears ... that the official who blew the whistle and pointed to the ground did not step up and admit his mistake. It's clear on video."
He's 100% right. You can say the referee made the incorrect call by blowing the whistle and calling the play a fumble that was recovered, and then saying the player was down by contact. That was incorrect. It was a bad call. But you can't say there was no whislte. That is simply not credible. Worse, it shows a complete lack of integrity on the part of the official. He blew the whistle and pointed to the ground. Man up and say so. That official should be fired by the SEC. Not because he got the call wrong, but because he lacked the character to acknowledge it.

Vanderbilt might not have won the game. After all, all the Volunteers had to do was kick a field goal to win the game. They probably would have won the game. But that doesn't matter. Vanderbilt was robbed of the chance to make that play. And that's what football (and sports) is all about. Opportunities. Vanderbilt squandered many. But that shouldn't have robbed them of the chance to make another.

This team still has a shot to go a bowl if they beat Wake next weekend, and there is no doubt that the program is moving in the right direction. I think I speak for all Vanderbilt fans when I say I wish we were getting "there" a little faster.

59 comments:

Anonymous said...

Regardless of officiating, the simple fact is that we can't seal the deal. A solid team would not have been in that position. Multiple, stupid turnovers and missed FGs my mom could make put us in a position to have a bad call on the FG make a difference. On a weekend where Iowa State (IOWA STATE???) and Baylor make multiple, clutch plays to knock off BCS contenders, we simply opened the closet to expose skeletons of years past. I've lost years of my life as a VU fan.

Anonymous said...

Couple of things here. The outcome was right even with the whistle. I understand Vandy being upset. We would have been had the if the shoe were on the other foot.

Tennessee fans do respect Vandy, especially after this touch season. You guys are on the right track...keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

So, the better answer was to deny TN the win it deserved? How can you say Vandy was the better team? Thats loser speak. Rogers and your play calling sucked. TN outrushed Vandy and passing yards were almost equal...except Rogers threw one extra pick and one less TD. But, yeah the better team lost....whatever

Bobby O'Shea said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

ANCHOR UP!!!

Bobby O'Shea said...

First Anonymous, I appreciated that.

Second Anonymous, the issue isn't denying UT the win they deserved, but its crazy to say that one bad call should cancel out another. The refs blew the final play. Tennessee picked it off cleanly, but you can't have a referee blow the play dead and then pretend it didn't happen. That's what happened. There was clearly a whistle blown. It should not have been, but it was.

As for the "better team" thing, the stats were even, so I get you taking exception to that.

Anonymous said...

Bobby why have replay then? It served it's purpose. They reversed an incorrect call.

Anonymous said...

No reason vandy should be upset. Would y'all have really wanted to win on a horrible call?

Anonymous said...

That was bullshit running into the kicker!!!!!!!!!!!! We made a play and the refs just couldn't have that. They gave the game to UT! SEC refs are the biggest joke in the world! I would be surprised if one of them had a bet on the game.

Anonymous said...

wouldn't*

Anonymous said...

That last guy is an idiot. Learn the rules.

Bobby O'Shea said...

Here's the problem with the "look at the rules" argument: the referees didn't.

That the refereees reversed an incorrect call is less important than how they reversed it, by ignoring another rule.

I had the same reaction to the running into the kicker call. I could stomach a strict adherence to the rule if they were strictly enforced throughout the game. But they weren't. That's the problem.

Anonymous said...

This was a tough loss to swallow. I can't say the better team won. However, if we want to truly be competitive and earn the respect of our fellow SEC breather-en we have to stop finding ways to lose close games. Especially to teams with losing records!

Anonymous said...

If I were a vandy fan I would be more mad at my qb than the officials.

Anonymous said...

It wasn't a horrible call. The final call was 100% correct. You are mad that you didn't benefit from a potentially bad call. Your QB lost the game.. Not the officials.

Anonymous said...

Second Anonymous here. Bobby...The whistle was clearly blown. Your point is well taken. Vol fans would have been upset if they were in the same position.

On the field, the Vols did pull that one off legally. Sorry if a technicality stands in the way.

It's over though...time for both of us to get bowl eligible. Good luck to Vandy.

Bobby O'Shea said...

Appreciate it, Second Anonymous. That's all I was saying. Vanderbilt fans feel burned. This has nothing to do with Tennessee and it is not my intention to take anything away from UT and their win.

Anonymous said...

Having seen Tennessee have 2 end of game heartbreaking calls last year by referees, I can understand what Vandy fans are feeling, but to say that Vandy deserved to win the game is untrue. Tennessee came out to play and won fair and square. And please don't talk to me about respect. I have been to Vanderbilt and experienced your "so called" school spirit and respectful ways.
I do however, feel the NCAA needs to look at the SEC officials. Their officiating is atrocious and has to be the worst in the NCAA

Anonymous said...

Also to the comment about running into the kicker call. I would like to counter with the clear safety made by the UT defense that was call on the 1 yd line by officials. That should have been 2 more points for Tennessee.

Anonymous said...

Stats are not equal.... 27 > 21 We win!

Evita Kiley said...

Thank you for this tutorial.its really informative tutorial.cquemba

Unknown said...


Keep posting the articles,useful to every one. ycqsnzx




John Joeban said...

What a good suggestion posted by the peoples..multimedia-ess

Jambari Juma said...


The information which you people are given are really superb..!!!stop-kokesh

Evita Kiley said...

Information are more innovative and nice to read it.
3starhotelsinamsterdam

Vishali Riyo said...

Thank you for this guidance.its really informative for all..pdroma

Unknown said...


I'm so excited while I read all the comments.pdroma

Aarthi arun said...

Really good one,every should like this.multimedia-ess

John Joeban said...


Thank you for this guidance.its really informative for all..usacivilengineeringjobs

AllinOnePestControl said...

Nice post..stop-kokesh

Jambari Juma said...


Information are more innovative and nice to read it.
hoglacrosse

Riyash Dev said...

Articles are very nice… usacivilengineeringjobs

HMS Janitorial Service said...

Really good one,every should like this..jlydoor

Unknown said...

For my view is Really nice.hoglacrosse

Unknown said...

All the post are nice to read it.software-kit

George jakzin said...

Not only to read need to spreed every one.
wjdkj

zeollo tomo said...


I'm so excited while I read all the comments.shiguanyinger123

Unknown said...

Articles are very nice… myvienthanhthanh

starbrandcoach said...

Really good one,every should like this..konteynershop

Zhara Timothy said...


all the words in simple way every one should understand easily.
iias2013

hollyjpepper said...

Nice work,keep going..factsantidepressants

hollyjpepper said...

Nice work,keep going..factsantidepressants

dhanush simbu said...

Really good one,every should like this..quanchengreyi

praveen said...

What a good suggestion posted by the peoples..dhc9

Unknown said...

Peoples are giving wonderful thoughts…imobiliarianiteroi

nakchtra devi said...

Peoples are giving wonderful thoughts…gecpx

prithiv said...

Really good one,every should like this...66666q

Alvin said...

very useful to implement in Life.villascabovela

Unknown said...

Articles are very nice…
dsn027

Unknown said...

What a good suggestion posted by the peoples..gemofive

Unknown said...

Thank you for this guidance.its really informative for all..redhouselanescotland

Unknown said...

Thank you for this guidance.its really informative for all..redhouselanescotland

Vijay said...

Really good one,every should like thisecomuseocasasola

George jakzin said...


Most of them related to my blog.gkyibiao

Evita Kiley said...


Peoples are giving wonderful thoughts…
noah-koukishin

Unknown said...


Its very useful if every one should follow this.
becempowered

John Joeban said...

Its very useful if every one should follow this.
webonduty

Jambari Juma said...

Technically very well above you said.
gkyibiao

zeollo tomo said...

The information which you people are given are really superb..!!!lu-cioles