Most know by now that I bleed garnet and gold. Most also know that my green backs don’t come with a team logo when making a football pick. From a neutral standpoint being a Seminoles fan, but also having a large vested interest with the Hurricanes plus the points, the 23-19 outcome was like having your girlfriend agree to eat box for your birthday.
With that said, officials did all they could to keep an inept Hurricanes squad in the game from the very outset. A fumble returned for touchdown by Florida State safety, Lamarcus Joyner on the opening offensive play for Miami was reversed after a five minute replay-review deemed it “conclusive” that the receiver didn’t have full control. Nothing “conclusive” in this world has ever taken five minutes to decide!
The Zebras followed this up by calling a phantom holding penalty when the sensational Seminole freshman, Karlos Williams returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown. Throughout the game huge scoring plays, and momentum shifting calls all went against Florida State. Personal fouls were not the exception. Specifically, one late in the third quarter when Greg Reid returned a punt to the Miami 27. Instead of setting up the FSU offense with prime real estate, a roughing the kicker on 4th and 6 was called. Sean Mcdonough was quoted as saying; “Oh boy, did he even make contact?”
The worst call of the evening was yet to come, though. With 1:49 remaining in a 23-13 game, Nigel Bradham, the man known around Tallahassee as “click clack,” decleated Miami Hurricanes tight end, Laron Byrd.
Bradham was ejected for his bone jarring hit (below), but after initial reactions from announcers it was clear as day that the FSU Linebacker didn’t launch himself. His feet remained intact with the ground, and clearly a legal shoulder-to-chest tackle was made.
You be the judge…