Ohio State AD Gene Smith 'Livid' About Officiating in Fiesta Bowl
By Michael Luciano
Buckeye Nation is reeling this morning after they lost in heartbreaking fashion to Trevor Lawrence and Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl on Saturday night, with one of the major factors in the Tigers' win being some questionable officiating that has Ohio State AD Gene Smith furious.
According to FOX's Joel Klatt, Smith is "livid" with what he believed to be overzealous replay that ended up taking a few big plays away from the Buckeyes.
If you watch any of the games that I call you know that I feel CFB replay is broken and the lack of consistency is troubling at best
— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) December 29, 2019
Just spoke with @OhioStateFB Athletics Director Gene Smith and he is livid with what he feels like was clear overreach from replay tonight
The Buckeyes ended up getting hosed on two separate significant plays in this game, as slot cornerback Shaun Wade was ejected for targeting after a hit on Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence that was questionable to say the least.
Trevor Lawrence was slow to get up after this hit from Shaun Wade and Chase Young.
— ESPN (@espn) December 29, 2019
Wade was called for targeting and ejected. #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/YXJIqTnUqY
The more egregious miss came when cornerback Jeff Okudah clearly forced Justyn Ross to fumble the ball after the Clemson WR took six steps with the ball in his possession. After review, the officials decided to rule the pass incomplete and took a touchdown away from the Buckeyes.
Here’s what we got.
— Mr.CollegeFootball (@Noah_Leadore) December 29, 2019
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Ruled a catch then fumble.
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Ohio State recovered it, returned for TD.
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Refs overturned it. Called it incomplete.
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Agree, disagree?? pic.twitter.com/97GDdQ20vs
There is no possible way you can look at that and argue he didn't have possession.
Citing officiating as the main reason for a loss usually comes across as desperate, but Ohio State has some legitimate gripes here, as momentum swung clearly in Clemson's favor after both questionable calls went the way of the Tigers.