One thing we hate here is when a referee is defended by saying “he had no choice” but to make a certain discretionary call.  The ref who flagged Washington quarterback Jake Locker for excessive celebration when he tossed the ball over his head against BYU had no choice but to flag him.  Because, God knows, we didn’t see one other play all season where a guy tossed the ball up in a similar fashion and was not penalized.  Actually, we saw plenty.  It’s up to the referee whether or not to throw the flag.  And he really shouldn’t after a game-tying score with 3 seconds left in the game.

And now, we have read about Michigan’s Manny Harris being ejected over the weekend for throwing an elbow.  Here’s the play from the best clip we could find.  It seems to us, he was pivoting with his elbow extended and clocked the guy.  A foul?  Certainly.  Ejection?  Absolutely no way.

According to Andy Katz’s article, here’s what John Adams, the NCAA coordinator of officials, had to say about [horrendously awful] ref Jim burr calling for the ejection:  “There was no intent to injure Kramer, but he makes contact.  The only option for Burr is to call a flagrant foul and to eject him. [Harris] makes contact.”

Adams went on to say: “As soon as there is an excessive use of the elbow, there is no option for the official — he must call a flagrant foul and eject the player by rule.  You can’t read intent. How would we read intent?”

Our question is this - how can he read excessive?  If there is an excessive use, then the ejection occurs.  Essentially, there is an option, and Adams is talking out of his behind.  Burr could decide that the elbow hit, was not excessive since it was just in the flow of play, and let the game continue without ejection.  Simple as that.

But to say there is no option is a total lie.  There’s always an option.  By rule, if a coach walks past a certain line on the sidelines, it shoudl be a technical foul.  If you watch a game for 30 minutes, you’ll see both coaches cross that line 5 or 6 times.  Yet no technical foul is ever called.  How does happen, Mr. Adams?  Do refs have some discretion there?  Or do they just decide not to make that mandatory call?

Just say that [horrendously awful] ref Jim Burr made a deicison.  In his incorrect opinion, the elbow was excessive.  Don’t feed us that same BS line about a ref having no other option.