(Photo by Icon Sports Media

SC 34 – ND 20. That is what the score should have read at the end of regulation last Saturday. After reviewing the game film the Pac-10’s coordinator of football officials, Dave Cutaia, said the Pac-10 crew working the game should have called a penalty against Notre Dame’s fake field-goal that led to an eventual score. Cutaia said:

“It appears a foul should have been called for using substitutions to deceive.”

If the officials followed the rules correctly, Notre Dame deserved a five-yard penalty for this illegal substitution.

Another call the refs mucked up last Saturday, Taylor Mays’ personal foul for crushing a ND player near the sideline. It was obvious to me and anyone with semi decent vision that the Notre Dame player was still in the field of play. Cutia noted that the ND player was inbounds when Mays hit him and he should not have been flagged for an out-of-bounds late-hit penalty.

Cutaia also questioned Mays’ penalty on Notre Dame’s last drive, the “defenseless” player flag. Cutaia said Mays “led with his shoulder, went over top of the receiver and did not contact the receiver above the shoulder.” In his eyes this was a very questionable call.

Refs need to recognize that Mays is bigger, stronger and faster than everybody on the field. When he hits people, bodies are going to get jacked up. Wake up officials! Get your learn on and read some Taylor Mays facts. News flash Pac-10 refs, Mays is big, fast and lights fools up.

Is it me or do officials call the game differently when the Trojans take the field?

Reversing some penalty calls [uscripsit]
Trojans are in recovery mode in practice [LAT]