Was ECU Screwed? – Memphis Beat ECU 41-34 in OT on a VERY Controversial Non-Pass Interference Call in The End Zone

Pre-apologies for this mini first paragraph rant before I get into the play, but we truly are living in the golden age of being giant fucking bitches about refs. For example, I saw Ohio State fans tweeting yesterday about missed calls in the Indiana-Ohio State game. A game that happened 5 days ago. A game that Ohio State won. I know it's different nowadays, considering EVERY football game is televised in high definition. We have super slo-mo replay and multiple angles to review every play. It's hard not to complain about refs when everything is laid out for us like that. But there was a time when people took pride in not blaming the refs. You'd go into every game knowing you might get calls in your favor, or you might have to overcome some bullshit. It was just part of the game. It was more than part of the game. It was like... a lesson in life. Shit isn't always fair. Learn to deal with it. "Yeah, those refs had it out for us, but it's our job to not be in a position to let them screw us." – that was the attitude we were taught to have as kids. That attitude just no longer exists. Even when your team does shit like this.

That being said, when the controversial call happens on the final play of the game... I'm not sure there was a time when people wouldn't stay mad about it. Controversial calls/no-calls on the last play of a game have and will always sting A LOT more.

I think the ref probably should have thrown the flag. It would have been the safe thing to do. The Memphis player put a hand on his shoulder and extended his arm. If the ref calls pass interference, however the game ends, there are fewer Memphis fans complaining this morning than there are ECU fans.

On the other hand, if you're #7 on ECU, you've gotta be stronger than that man. To say he "flopped" would be too strong a word, but he sure didn't fight through the contact. He felt the contact and opted to go for the obvious flag rather than fighting through the defender, giving himself a chance to catch it, and hoping the ref sees the contact regardless. 

Sometimes fighting through the contact makes the contact even more obvious. I don't know what went through the referee's head in that moment. Maybe he thought he tripped over his own feet. Maybe he did trip over his own feet? Or got tangled up with #2 on Memphis? Either way, sometimes you gotta show the ref that you could have made the play, and that you didn't realize you were cooked and opted to sell the foul as a last-ditch effort. As a receiver, IF you're able to play through the whistle, you should probably do it. Just to be safe. 

It was a hell of a game too. ECU led 16-3 at halftime. Memphis crawled all the way back to take the lead late in the 4th quarter.

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Then ECU marched down the field and tied things up with a touchdown on 4th & 9. A touchdown by that same ECU receiver – #7 Landon Sides. Who had an amazing game overall (7 REC, 130 YDS, 1 TD). 

And it all came down to a controversial no-call on an interception in the end zone in overtime. You hate to see it. Maybe someday human refs will be replaced by AI, and we'll never have a controversial call again. But until then, that's college football, baby.