Don’t get me wrong, I love that Iowa was the beneficiary of the mistake. It was just that there is no doubt in my mind that it was the wrong call. Indiana had every right to feel like they got jobbed on that one, and it very well may have affected the outcome of the game. Referees are human and they make mistakes. I’m not here to bust on the officiating.

My point is that if the referees in the booth aren’t given the best equipment to make the correct call, than that is an injustice. It is the conference’s responsibility to put their referees in position to make the correct call. In my mind it is inexcusable to say that the equipment is adequate when for $1000, it is possible to have ~6 times the resolution of a standard definition broadcast. In my mind that is a sound investment for a billion dollar entity to make to protect their credibility. While in the majority of cases the equipment may be “adequate”, there is no doubt there are times when it will come up short and it WILL affect the outcome of games. In my mind, that is unacceptable.

I don’t know what equipment is used by the Big Ten and perhaps they are already on top of their game, but in my mind it is a question that absolutely should be answered. The SEC has already admitted that they use inferior equipment and have no plans to change. They should be called out on this and if the Big Ten is in the same position, they should be as well. It is not fair to the fans, it is not fair to the teams and it is not fair to the referees.

It’s just a still shot. It’s like the shot going around after the Super Bowl last year, which showed Holmes’ foot off the ground. Except when expanded, that shot was from before the ball even got to his hands. I can’t buy either verifying or debunking the call based on a still-shot.

As for the SEC with Standard-Def TV’s… I really, REALLY hope that is a false report. Because if not that is a complete and utter joke by that conference.