By Jessica Piazza

TWIF Featured Columnist

“A Girl’s Glimpse of the Game”

Football, as with most other sports, has the contentious aspect of the human element. 

The game relies largely on the referees or umpires to call the plays as they see them – regardless if the way they see them is actually the way they were played out. 

As a rule in college football, the coach’s booth is not equipped with monitors for instant replay – they can only view the game in real time. And such is the case in Ohio Stadium’s press box, where many of Ohio State’s assistant coaches monitor the game.

“The only way I would burn a challenge was if somebody that was out in that field knows for sure, because we have no playbacks in the booth,” OSU Coach Jim Tressel said during an Oct. 13 press conference. “We don’t have a monitor. So unless someone on the field or unless someone can tell you that they’ll stake their life on the fact…we probably won’t use a challenge.”

But with advancing technology available to minimize human error, wouldn’t it be logical to incorporate instant replay monitors into the coach’s booth? Especially in college football, where one play in one game can ruin a team’s chances to eventually play for the national championship?

After all, it is the coach who decides to throw the red flag and challenge the call. 

On the other hand, does removing the human element take all the fun out of the game? It’s integrity as well?

One recent example of why there should be monitors in the coach’s booth is the erroneous ruling of a touchdown in the USC at OSU game earlier this season. 

Although the officials awarded USC a touchdown during Stafon Johnson’s fourth-and-goal run early in the first quarter, further review showed that Johnson’s knee was clearly down before the ball crossed the goal line.

OSU lost 18-15.

But even worse, that one play might have alone cost the Buckeyes a shot at the BCS National Championship.

Further evidence of that TD being quite the questionable score is the fact that USC Coach Pete Carroll rushed his extra point team on the field to prevent the referees from getting a good look at the replay. Had the referees stopped play to review Johnson’s “TD,” the outcome of this epic game might have swayed into a Buckeye victory.

But nonetheless, the rest is history. 

Unfortunately, that was not an isolated incident in OSU football history.

Another instance where OSU was hampered by a bad call was in 2007 during a match-up with Illinois. The Fighting Illini knocked off No. 1 OSU, 28-21, in a game marred by a hideously obvious referee mistake. 

The referees gave Illinois possession of the ball, although it was obvious that Illini running back Daniel Dufrene fumbled the ball inside the OSU 5-yard line after a long run during the first quarter.

It was recovered by OSU safety Kurt Coleman in the end zone and the Buckeyes should have had the ball, first and 10, on their own 20. 

Well it never happened as it should, and Illinois scored a touchdown on the very next play. (Keep in mind, Illinois beat OSU by a touchdown).

“I heard that afterwards,” said Tressel of the fumble following the Illinois game. “We don’t have monitors in our coaching boxes, so we can’t get any feedback.”

Yes indeed, OSU suffered upsetting losses in each of these instances. The USC loss cost OSU a shot at this year’s national championship. The Illnois loss in 2007 ruined OSU’s perfect season.

But, neither of the controversial plays were challenged.

If Tressel had been able to instantly review the plays, would he have thrown the red flag? 

Then again, wouldn’t it have been more praiseworthy if he challenged the ruling by using his own discretion?

Seeing that one blown call can impact the outcome of a game, and potentially throw off a team’s entire season, affecting the prospect of making it into the national title game, there is a strong argument why the coach’s booth should have instant replay monitors. 

However, when a game-changing play is in question, the coach should utilize their red flag (regardless if they have seen a replay). They need to use their best judgment to decide whether or not it is a call worth challenging.

It is the risk head coaches should take when they have reason to believe an erroneous call was made. And it is part of the game. Yes, you may lose a timeout, but when a victory hangs in the balance, isn’t it worth the risk?

Furthermore, I think putting instant replay monitors in the coach’s booth ruins the integrity of the game – the human element is what makes the game interesting. 

As it is, football has been around for decades without this service, and integrating it now could open the door to other developments that could take away from the authenticity of it all. 

What’s next? Instant replay apps for your iPhone?

In my opinion, we should stick to old-fashioned ball playing. 

Spectators and fans are still as engrossed in the game as ever, and these indecisive calls give them something to debate about.  

If everything were cut and dry, then there would be no need to even have the option of a challenge. 

In that case, there would hardly be a need for referees. 

If it is truly a bad or controversial call, the coach and coaching staff should be able to make an educated decision as to whether or not it should be challenged.  No instant replay necessary.

But that’s just my two cents.