There is no end to the questions that keep coming this way. Leading off this week is Barry Siemens, who has a suggestion/question for the process of video replay.
Q: What would be if the CFL did what the NHL does and have the ref phone upstairs for review? This would take the onus off them in the heat of the game and I think prevent bias decisions because of history with the ref himself. What do you think?
Barry Siemens
A: I like the system as it exists now because it allows both the coaches and the video replay official to review contentious plays. I don’t believe there is a problem with bias. I think it’s more about making better calls on a routine basis. In the NHL, there aren’t nearly as many controversial calls and the area in which the game is played is not as wide or as long as a football field. With more players on a bigger playing surface and more officials, there is a possibility of more happening.
One other thing, the NHL has full-time officials and considerably more money is invested into the whole process of officiating and video replay.
Ed note: Lefko spent so much time on this he missed several calls.
Q: I was at the Riders vs. Eskimos game last Friday night and while the Eskimos had sufficient opportunities to win the game without letting it come down to a field goal in the fourth quarter, I’m not sure I remember ever seeing a holding penalty called on a field goal, much less a second one on the following Rider convert attempt. However, I do recall Saskatchewan calling a time out right before the Sean Fleming field-goal attempt and of course I assumed that this was an attempt to ice the kicker. But I’m wondering if Kent Austin pulled the officials aside and petitioned for them to keep an eye on Mike Maurer, who was called for the holding call, based on previous field goals in the game.
If the officials let the infraction go then they’ve ignored an infraction that’s been brought to their attention prior to it occurring and if they call it you get the situation like you had in which Eskimo fans feel like the referees have it in for them. Do you have any information on this?
While I’m on the topic of officiating, I’d like to make a few observations of Andre Proulx’s officiating style. It seems like all of the out-of-control fights and ejections this year have been on his watch and I can’t help but think he might have a part to play in these controversial called games.
First of all I’ve always felt a little bit uncomfortable with the way Proulx announces penalties on the PA system. I thought first of all that I was being a little bit biased based on his accent and told myself to be more objective. But I just couldn’t shake that uneasiness with his announcements. I think I’ve finally put my finger on it though: There seems to be some sort of self righteousness in assessing the penalty; some sort of attempt to assert authority. And it seems to be a little bit more evident when the crowd disagrees as he seems to try to talk louder than the crowd rather than just announcing the penalty in a calm level voice. It almost appears like some sort of power struggle going on that I don’t notice with officials such as Jake Ireland, for example.
I’m wondering if Andre is experiencing this sort of dynamic with the crowd, it would only seem logical that the same thing is happening with players and coaches. Even his conversations and explanations on the field that we can’t hear appear to be overly animated and confrontational. And if that’s the case, I can only imagine how tempers might flare up unnecessarily.
So if we go back to Friday night’s game, I’m wondering if Kent Austin possibly exploited this power struggle and what seems to be Andre’s tenuous self confidence and lack of game management to force him into calling the holding penalty.
I guess it all goes back to the fact that referees should never become the focal point of the game and in my opinion Andre Proulx far too often becomes the game story when he shouldn’t
Craig Nienaber
A: You have raised several points here. I do not believe Kent Austin asked Andre Proulx to specifically look for Maurer and holding. If he did and Proulx did that, it’s great coaching or intimidation by Austin. Let’s remember that the Roughriders were fined significantly for remarks about officiating, specifically Proulx’s, recently. I think the CFL should have changed the schedule to keep Proulx out of officiating Saskatchewan games for awhile.
As for Proulx, I think he has had a difficult season. Hey, it happens. I don’t know how he graded out annually in previous years, but he’s been at this a long time.
Being a Francophone should have no bearing on his ability to clearly announce infractions. If he is actually raising his inflection to make himself better understood that is one thing. If he is doing it for self-aggrandizement, that’s another thing. The less seen and heard of the officials in a game generally means they’ve done a good job.
Ed note: The way this season has gone, maybe this segment should be renamed Ask About Andre Proulx.
Q: With so many CFL quarterbacks being injured this year because they’re running off with ball to get a first down, why are they not sliding feet first to avoid injury? I know it shows how tough they are when they go head first, but it seems stupid because it hurts the team.
Allan Whittingham
A: All coaches would prefer their quarterbacks slide rather than expose themselves to possible injury by laying out or leading with their heads. But in the heat of the moment, things happen and quarterbacks see opportunities to make more yards. Sometimes by sliding they can elicit a 15-yard penalty the way the rules are set up.
Ed note: Thought about giving you a witty remark, but decided to let it slide.
Until next week, I’m Coach Lefko. And remember, if you ask, we answer.
