Sorry if this is a booth, but I haven't had time to either go through all the posts or watch the DVR of the game. But at the game, we were all very confused, how could there be a sideline interference call on us when the entire play was on the Furd side of the field?<br /><br />Had there been earlier warnings and another occurrence? Otherwise if someone stepped onto the field I would think in that case it would just be a sideline warning.

Agreed ... As bad as the blocking in the back call was, the sideline interference was just plain idiotic. If the officials had cared at all about appearing the least bit competent, they would have picked that flag up.

If I recall, Larry Scott hired a new Director of Officiating. If that is the case, he needs to replace him because as bad as the officiating has been in the past, it has gotten far worse this year.

<blockquote><div class="name-said">Valleyblue;631248 said:</div><hr>Sorry if this is a booth, but I haven't had time to either go through all the posts or watch the DVR of the game. But at the game, we were all very confused, how could there be a sideline interference call on us when the entire play was on the Furd side of the field?<br /><br />Had there been earlier warnings and another occurrence? Otherwise if someone stepped onto the field I would think in that case it would just be a sideline warning.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />I believe the official misspoke and the penalty for sideline interference was actually on Stanford. We started with the ball on the 19 and I believe the block in the back was called at the 14. So 10 yards back for that and then 5 yards forward for the sideline interference (although maybe they would offset in that situation).

<blockquote><div class="name-said">Valleyblue;631288 said:</div><hr>If I recall, Larry Scott hired a new Director of Officiating. If that is the case, he needs to replace him because as bad as the officiating has been in the past, it has gotten far worse this year.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />Much worse...they are calling every phantom penalty imaginable.

The 15 yarders near the sideline all year long are pathetic!!!!!!!!!!!<br />So are many of the "holding" calls. Conference officials continue to be the worst in the nation, even in the booth for replays.

I agree that the sideline interference penalty was ridiculous, but I actually think the blocking in the back penalty on that play was a good call. The TV announcers confused the situation by focusing on Andrew Luck not being blocked in the back at around the 10 yard line, and the refs added to the confusion by not giving the number of the offending Cal player. If you watch the replay, at around the 5 yard line there was a pretty clear foul. I think that was what was called, as we ended up with the ball at the 20 after the 10 yard spot-foul and the five yard sideline interference call.