LAKS wants some answers from the BT on those crap replays

[Negotiator]

Originally Posted by fishrose

The president of a University carries a lot more weight than the athletic director. If she goes in to Delaney's office and says "listen mother****er, this **** won't be tolerated," it will have a much greater impact than someone whose job depends on the success of the athletic programs.

I would donate $1,000 a year for 10 years if I got indisputable video evidence of this.

[fhionnlaigh]

Originally Posted by The Dread Pirate Roberts

She's also the only woman.

I've had the chance to talk to her on several occasions, and she's a perfect fit for the job. Extremely smart, rational, and will talk openly and honestly with students.

She makes a point of visiting the SMB at a rehearsal every season and gives the band a small speech, then opens the floor, as it were, for questions. A lot of the questions I've heard come out of my fellow band members were not critical of her, but genuine questions about university operations or BoT decisions, or requests of clarification on controversial issues. She's always answered honestly and to the best of her ability during those Q&As. I've also seen her around campus, and if she's not walking in front of the band on the way to the stadium on Saturdays, her husband is. Because of everything I've seen of her, I've developed a deep respect for her. Total class act and a true Spartan.

I support wholeheartedly what she's doing - this is just as personal for her as it is for us, and it takes guts to stand up to an entire conference administration. At the same time, I agree with some of the other posters who want to see her address the proposed program cuts and departmental closures. Not sure if she's done that publicly yet. I think I'm going to attempt to contact her and ask a few questions in the coming weeks.

[INDIMSU]

Originally Posted by Blake Ezor

The police doesn't care if you fight that speeding ticket either but you do it anyway....it's not about whether the BT cares...it's about standing up for what's right...something you apparently don't do...if enough Presidents throw a fit, trust me, there will be changes.

Agree 100%

and hopefully more will stand up. This isn't just an MSU issue. Replay has become a joke nationwide.

[PRStoetzer]

Originally Posted by Negotiator

I would donate $1,000 a year for 10 years if I got indisputable video evidence of this.

I could whip something up right now that would meet the average Big Ten replay official's definition of "indisputable video evidence."

[Pablo Fanque]

What's the consensus, that LAKS should or should not be involved in athletic issues to this extent?

I guess I see it both ways. At least someone (maybe a contingent) will be giving the Big 10 hell over this bull****. That's what it is. Bull****. It's a broken system run by morons (video review).

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

Originally Posted by fhionnlaigh

I've had the chance to talk to her on several occasions, and she's a perfect fit for the job. Extremely smart, rational, and will talk openly and honestly with students.

She makes a point of visiting the SMB at a rehearsal every season and gives the band a small speech, then opens the floor, as it were, for questions. A lot of the questions I've heard come out of my fellow band members were not critical of her, but genuine questions about university operations or BoT decisions, or requests of clarification on controversial issues. She's always answered honestly and to the best of her ability during those Q&As. I've also seen her around campus, and if she's not walking in front of the band on the way to the stadium on Saturdays, her husband is. Because of everything I've seen of her, I've developed a deep respect for her. Total class act and a true Spartan.

I support wholeheartedly what she's doing - this is just as personal for her as it is for us, and it takes guts to stand up to an entire conference administration. At the same time, I agree with some of the other posters who want to see her address the proposed program cuts and departmental closures. Not sure if she's done that publicly yet. I think I'm going to attempt to contact her and ask a few questions in the coming weeks.

The last time I had a serious conversation with her was at basketball senior day 2008, when we were kicking Indiana's ass. I was in the front row of the Izzone, and she stopped and talked to me. I told her how proud I was that the arena was packed to the gills during spring break, and that I was really glad that our athletic program was doing so many good things. She talked to me for almost all of halftime, and it was apparent that MSU's athletic success meant as much to her as it does to me. That made me smile.

[HUT1HUT2]

Originally Posted by fhionnlaigh

I've had the chance to talk to her on several occasions, and she's a perfect fit for the job. Extremely smart, rational, and will talk openly and honestly with students.

She makes a point of visiting the SMB at a rehearsal every season and gives the band a small speech, then opens the floor, as it were, for questions. A lot of the questions I've heard come out of my fellow band members were not critical of her, but genuine questions about university operations or BoT decisions, or requests of clarification on controversial issues. She's always answered honestly and to the best of her ability during those Q&As. I've also seen her around campus, and if she's not walking in front of the band on the way to the stadium on Saturdays, her husband is. Because of everything I've seen of her, I've developed a deep respect for her. Total class act and a true Spartan.

I support wholeheartedly what she's doing - this is just as personal for her as it is for us, and it takes guts to stand up to an entire conference administration. At the same time, I agree with some of the other posters who want to see her address the proposed program cuts and departmental closures. Not sure if she's done that publicly yet. I think I'm going to attempt to contact her and ask a few questions in the coming weeks.

I can't think of any recent MSU present that has enjoyed such board support from the students, staff and alum.

[Sigmakan]

Good football team = happy alumni = more donations = less of budget problem

Seems like LAKS is doing her job. I'm sure shes had discussions with Dantonio about the team getting their act together. This is one of the few things she can leverage her power to possibly help the team (or prevent them from being screwed).

I'm glad shes doing this.

[RPMadMSU]

Originally Posted by HUT1HUT2

I can't think of any recent MSU present that has enjoyed such board support from the students, staff and alum.

I have actually worked with her both as a Student (when she was head of Arts and Letters) and professionally as a Faculty member. She def. is the right person for the job and has quite a bit of support among both populations.

(Though let me tell you something....She swears like a sailor in non-official roles...probably why she hasn't said anything about swearing in the stadium...officially).

[kubrickfan]

Personally, I like what LAKS is doing. I agree that there are many other important issues and problems the university needs to deal with, but paying attention to the university's (and conference's) athletic programs is extremely important. In many ways, there's no better recruiter and way to create publicity for your university than to have very good athletic programs. It gets the attention of the general public, the sports going public and potential students and student-athletes.

As far as meeting with the BT, IMO maybe its a step in the right direction. To me the biggest problem the BT has is whenever something happens be it a bad call or whatever, they usually just go run and hide and release some vague statement like they did when it came to supporting the late hit call the week before. The SEC is at least slightly more proactive, they suspend officials and let the world KNOW they suspended them. It helps the creditability of your league when the conference is not only paying attention, but lets the public know they are paying attention and concerned about what the public thinks. The BT can sugar coat it anyway they want in the last two years they have had replay officials who either complete blow calls or at least from afar seem to be overturning calls without much evidence... not only is that poor officiating, it is embarassing to the whole league that you can't even have professionals who can look at a monitor and do their job as it has been described. The officials may be independent contactors but the BT still signs them, they can release them or just not re-sign them. It is the BT's league, I just wish they would wake up and realize that its bad enough on the fans who have to put up with what IMO are mediocre teams in this league, its even worse to know that many of their contracted employees can't seem to follow a rulebook either.

[Bruce Banner Ad]

Originally Posted by GaTechSpartan

I would be all behind this if programs at MSU weren't being cut and tuition wasn't going up by double-digit percents. LAKS is doing a great job, but you should probably have Hollis out in Chicago worrying about the replay while you tackle one of the biggest economic crises in university history. Just sayin.

The argument could be made that the bad calls affect our record, which affect fan interest, attendance, merchandise sales, all which hurts MSU on the bottom line. Look at the "enthusiasm" for the WMU game this week. Had we beaten Minny, it would've been roughly a normal crowd, with some empty seats near the top. Now it's going to be ugly.

We've had A LOT of calls go against us. The BT needs to prove there's no anti-MSU agenda.

[fishrose]

Originally Posted by RPMadMSU

(Though let me tell you something....She swears like a sailor in non-official roles...probably why she hasn't said anything about swearing in the stadium...officially).

OH NOES!!!! She needs to be fired! Won't someone please think of the children?!?!?!?!

[GRR Spartan]

The meeting is in Chicago. Its not in New Zeeland or South Africa. Most university presidents have 10-14 hour days, this might take 6 hours max.

[wingfanjim]

Originally Posted by Bruce Banner Ad

The argument could be made that the bad calls affect our record, which affect fan interest, attendance, merchandise sales, all which hurts MSU on the bottom line. Look at the "enthusiasm" for the WMU game this week. Had we beaten Minny, it would've been roughly a normal crowd, with some empty seats near the top. Now it's going to be ugly.

We've had A LOT of calls go against us. The BT needs to prove there's no anti-MSU agenda.

It also effects MSU's bowl hopes. The bowl payout is a big deal. Plus revenue generated from bowl merchandise, donations, etc.

[fishrose]

Originally Posted by kubrickfan

The officials may be independent contactors but the BT still signs them, they can release them or just not re-sign them. It is the BT's league, I just wish they would wake up and realize that its bad enough on the fans who have to put up with what IMO are mediocre teams in this league, its even worse to know that many of their contracted employees can't seem to follow a rulebook either.

Exactly. The "B10 officials are contracted" argument doesn't hold any relevance to the issue of bad calls. If you hire a temp to work at your company, he still has to do what you tell him right? If he doesn't do what you tell him, you have the right to fire him, correct?

Regardless of whether the officials are full-time employees of the Big Ten, the conference is still responsible for what they do or don't do. Either the Big Ten has instructed them to call in favor of certain teams (which seems far-fetched, but there's a lot of anecdotal evidence for it, this season and last) or the Big Ten isn't holding their contracted workers accountable for the piss-poor job they're doing.

[RPMadMSU]

Originally Posted by Blake Ezor

just because they are contract employees doesn't mean the Big Ten doesn't have control over their performance.

Depends on what's in the contract and what rights, and under what circumstances they have to amend, or cancel the terms of the contract.

[froot loops]

I don't think there is some anti-MSU conspiracy, its just incompetence. Whoever they are employing in the booths are just not up to snuff and they are careless. They should be erring on the side of caution in overrulling the calls on the field but it seems like they are doing just the opposite.

[newlander]

Trevor Barnes

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Join Date: Jan 2001
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Harlon Barnett

[Spartytruth]

Originally Posted by froot loops

I don't think there is some anti-MSU conspiracy, its just incompetence. Whoever they are employing in the booths are just not up to snuff and they are careless. They should be erring on the side of caution in overrulling the calls on the field but it seems like they are doing just the opposite.

I agree.

Did the guy in booth see that the receiver had 9 rather than ten fingers on the ball when he ruled that the receiver did not have "firm control"?

[Pablo Fanque]

Originally Posted by Bruce Banner Ad

The argument could be made that the bad calls affect our record, which affect fan interest, attendance, merchandise sales, all which hurts MSU on the bottom line. Look at the "enthusiasm" for the WMU game this week. Had we beaten Minny, it would've been roughly a normal crowd, with some empty seats near the top. Now it's going to be ugly.

We've had A LOT of calls go against us. The BT needs to prove there's no anti-MSU agenda.

I think it needs to prove there is no anti-ANYBODY agenda!

I don't believe there's a conspiracy against MSU. I think the replay people are so incompetent they don't understand that deference is to be given to the call on the field. That's where we've seen the most egregious errors in replay. It's not so much that they are upholding awful calls as they are reversing the right ones. I still can't believe the pylon call. That is an incredible amount of incompetence.

[75alum]

Originally Posted by wingfanjim

A 1 to 2 hour meeting in Chicago isn't exactly going to eat up all her time. As far as the crisis, what else is she supposed to do? The state is hacking away funding.

Exactly. And if you're calling out the Conf. Executive then the horsepower is needed. I don't think Delany wants to piss off college presidents. I also concur that it would be a nice show of force if other college presidents did the same. I dare say MSU is not the only victim of subjective tilt on calls that were obviously bad and even worse effectively biased the course of the game. Go get 'em Ms. Simon!

[JoeSpartyFan]

Originally Posted by Giant Moose

Waste of time. The Big Ten doesn't care. Sorry, Lou Anna, you should be more focused on the university sitting in a wasteland state with programs being cut rather than sports officiating.

Originally Posted by HUT1HUT2

Agreed. Indiana's season has been ruined.

Um, but isn't this Mark H.'s job? What are the other AD's doing?

Originally Posted by Giant Moose

It seems petty from the president. Her football coach already fought the battle and lost. The Big Ten has already said they don't care, and it is a waste of time for the university president to do this.

I do not think Lou Anna is a great president of MSU and that is from personal experience. But let everyone attack me now for not following the sheep.

It is important to keep in mind that Delany answers only to the university presidents. He has admitted as much when asked about potential changes to the BCS/football playoffs. While the replay is a separate issue, the concept remains the same -- when presidents talk, he listens.

I think the LAKS meeting will carry a lot more water than many people think.

[Gotham_Spartan]

Originally Posted by Giant Moose

I do not think Lou Anna is a great president of MSU and that is from personal experience. But let everyone attack me now for not following the sheep.

First of all, she has broad and vocal support from a lot of people who could never, ever be classified as sheep. At the same time, that does not, of course, automatically mean they are all correct. Be all that as it may:

Just what do you think she should be doing differently?

Spartanly yours,

[T.C.O.B.]

Originally Posted by Just1Spartan

I am happy to hear that LAKS is doing this; it's geat to have this robust level of support from the administration.

Semirelated sidenote, just out of curiosity, how much does a referee stand to earn for working a BigTen game?

The official crew makes about $1,000 per game (each). The head referee makes about $1,100 per game.

Here is an article that gives you a little behind the scenes look at what officials do the night before, and day of a game. Incidentally, the crew that is the focus of this article is the crew that worked the UM v MSU game this year.

It's official: These zebras earn their stripes - Illinois Fighting Illini Sports Football News - IlliniHQ.com

[Voodoo76]

Originally Posted by INDIMSU

Agree 100%

and hopefully more will stand up. This isn't just an MSU issue. Replay has become a joke nationwide.

I also seems like with the rise of replay on the field officiating has gotten less competent. Not just B10 either. It seems like a lot more calls are pretty shakey to begin with, then the refs stand around waiting for replay. I really wonder what do some of the veteran officials think about this?

Question, are Big 10 officials graded? Since accountability often comes up in RCMB football discussions (a misused term on this board), anyone know how the process works for B10 officials? That would be a very valid discussion for a University Prez to have with the Conference.