NCAA Division I Finals --- Officiating

[New2TheGameNYRef]

Dear All:

Let me preface by saying, I'm quite clueless about college rules....

A lot of tough calls for sure, but what I did notice throughout the weekend, I didn't see one challenge get reversed. Does the system work? What's your thoughts on the challenge system? What did you think of the officiating?

[Ray Brinzer]

I think a zero-cost challenge system is a bad idea.  If there's the least chance of getting something changed in your favor, or if your athlete simply needs a two-minute breather, you use it.  Initiating an unsuccessful challenge should carry some penalty, like giving the opponent choice of position.

[New2TheGameNYRef]

A great idea, Ray. This would prevent coaches from using it just because they have them even though the Fix match it didn't matter. I'm surprised Smith would challenge something like that at that given moment.

[Ray Brinzer]

The thing I dislike about it is that it undermines athlete agency.  People always assume that the athlete and his coach are in agreement... and, indeed, that's normally the case.  But if the rule were as I suggested, and the wrestler didn't want to give up position, I'd want him to be able to override the request for a review.

[RYou]

A great idea, Ray. This would prevent coaches from using it just because they have them even though the Fix match it didn't matter. I'm surprised Smith would challenge something like that at that given moment.

You should have seen Smith at the Rutgers dual meet causing a 20 minute delay in the Suriano Fix bout over a locked hands that was denied. His antics were pretty overt working to get Fix a breather. He then bricked Ashnault twice in the 3rd of the Gfeller bout for hands to the face, both being denied.   Suffice to say, the RU fans were on his case shouting his down and 6 RU PD escorted him off the floor.

Not surprising really since both Ashault and Surano snubbed his recruiting.

10 minutes into his visit with Ashnault he asked to use the bathroom, spent an hour in there on the phone, comes out and asks for a beer.  15 minutes after he left they called his cell and informed him no thanks....totally unimpressed.