Andy Villanueva
No excuse for having a column up last week. Traveling from Las Vegas to LA on the first flight is brutal. Especially when you stay up longer than you intend.
I am in a ranting mood this morning so bear with me.
Going back two weeks ago while at the St. Francis-Cathedral game is where I take you on part of the rant train.
Not because of the way the game was played or the parking. This is more along the lines of former players that just graduated within the last five years and feel the need to be a BMOC wannabe while sitting with a sideline pass.
First off, too many schools give sideline passes out like they were candy on Halloween. It makes attempting to maneuver through the mass of humanity impossible. Let alone trying to take photos.
Secondly, there is a reason you are on the sidelines and not a coach, scout, or playing football on Saturdays. If a player from the opposing side is being recruited to play NCAA football why talk him down to you level of bench warming?
Now I understand some of it is jealousy, but why not be happy that you are watching a possible Division 1 athlete?
This is rant one of a cloudy Friday morning.
I understand that time flies by quite a bit during our lives. I also understand that people are human.
I am also aware that referees make calls that have you scratching your head or throwing their laundry on the field at the most important time of the game. So Thursday night during the South Hills-Claremont game, there were a few calls they missed that really had no impact on the game except the clock situation.
In the fourth quarter with Claremont just scoring and lining up for a PAT, the clock operator began running the clock for additional six-seconds. Not a big deal, there were about four minutes remaining in the game. The most blatant misuse of clock came after the Huskies lost the lead with 1:32 remaining. The clock failed to begin when the kickoff return was brought out for a couple of seconds. Then on South Hills first play from scrimmage, a pass from Garrett Fonseca to Quinn Cotter was caught in bounds. The clock stopped three-seconds later. It wasn’t noticed for at least ten-seconds, and the referees only removed five-seconds. Those five-seconds might have just cost the Wolfpack their season.
Totally understand that people make mistakes but this was home cooking at its finest. Maybe they need to bring in an additional referee that runs the clock to avoid this type of situation.
Happy Halloween all! Be safe!
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