Refs don't hold Fran's behavior against him? Think again

[tweeterhawk]

Fran was quoted after his January 2012 chair-slamming incident and the technicals he had received (five so far that season) that he didn't think officials would hold his behavior against him. "The good ones don't," he said.

I recently came across a quote in a sports magazine that might suggest otherwise. Granted, this was from John Cahill, Big East Conference coordinator of men's basketball officials and someone who I don't think does much, if any, work in the Big Ten, but I think it accurately sums up how most officials approach the game. Discussing behavior toward officials with the Creighton Bluejays after an October practice, Cahill said:

"There's nobody that likes the guys in striped shirts from November first to April first. Sometimes their wives like them, but not for the most part, they have no one else but each other. So don't get in the habit of being a whiner, a complainer or a guy that taunts guys. If you do, that's going to get around. It's human nature and it spreads. And you won't get the benefit of the doubt when something happens."

 

[HawkIPA]

I get the impression he was talking about players. How many coaches taunt guys?

This is a big reason why McCabe gets absolutely no calls.

He whines, he complains and he is often in the middle of every scrum with the other team.

 

[tweeterhawk]

I get the impression he was talking about players. How many coaches taunt guys?

This is a big reason why McCabe gets absolutely no calls.

He whines, he complains and he is often in the middle of every scrum with the other team.

I think that's true to the extent that he was talking to players and they are the ones on the floor whose conduct is most likely to cause problems, as happened in the fOSU-Northwestern game the other night. The point is that the refs talk, they have memories, they know who causes problems. Total BS to think refs approach each assignment as "new game, new slate," whether it's players or coaches.

 

[theboat]

If whining was a problem, Crean, Bo, and Izzo wouldn't get a call ever.

 

[hawkforlife9]

Don't think they're talking about Fran the Man. He is highly repected.

 

[22hawkeyes]

If whining was a problem, Crean, Bo, and Izzo wouldn't get a call ever.

also craft would foul out 2 1/2 minutes into every game he played

 

[ICHawk24]

Izzo and Coach K whine and complain more than any coach in the country, and they get more calls than any coach in the country.

 

[volhawk50]

The objective of the official is that an impartial, unbiased third party enforces the rules and keeps the game fair. If an official is letting his performance be affected by his personal vendettas, then he is not doing his job even close to satisfactorily. Fran is still right that the good ones don't.

 

[eveningnewsteam]

The "working officials" routine is completely out of control. What coaches get away with in this day is incredible. The whining, the ********, etc......is ridiculous. I understand a coach questioning once in awhile, but coaches today go WAY beyond that. The hand checking has been under control for the most part this year, maybe next year they take a look at what coaches are getting away with and how ridiculous it is.

 

[Hillcrest1981]

McCabe has a lot of fouls called on him because he fouls a lot. He is as some would say, a hammer!

 

[HawkIPA]

McCabe has a lot of fouls called on him because he fouls a lot. He is as some would say, a hammer!

But he rarely gets the call that could go either way, like a block/charge call.

 

[homes]

But he rarely gets the call that could go either way, like a block/charge call.

He's often leaning or moving, just like his screens when he gets called on those. Most of the blocking calls on him are good calls.

 

[tksirius]

The "working officials" routine is completely out of control. What coaches get away with in this day is incredible. The whining, the ********, etc......is ridiculous. I understand a coach questioning once in awhile, but coaches today go WAY beyond that. The hand checking has been under control for the most part this year, maybe next year they take a look at what coaches are getting away with and how ridiculous it is.

What games have you been watching?

 

[Tierney]

Fran was quoted after his January 2012 chair-slamming incident and the technicals he had received (five so far that season) that he didn't think officials would hold his behavior against him. "The good ones don't," he said.

I recently came across a quote in a sports magazine that might suggest otherwise. Granted, this was from John Cahill, Big East Conference coordinator of men's basketball officials and someone who I don't think does much, if any, work in the Big Ten, but I think it accurately sums up how most officials approach the game. Discussing behavior toward officials with the Creighton Bluejays after an October practice, Cahill said:

"There's nobody that likes the guys in striped shirts from November first to April first. Sometimes their wives like them, but not for the most part, they have no one else but each other. So don't get in the habit of being a whiner, a complainer or a guy that taunts guys. If you do, that's going to get around. It's human nature and it spreads. And you won't get the benefit of the doubt when something happens."

I'm sure there are procedures a coach can follow if their team isn't getting a fair break. The officials aren't doing their work for charity, and if they aren't adequate they can always find someone else to be the official. If a coach doesn't stand up for his team, I doubt the officials will really be worried about equity. I would want a referee to think about at least trying to be fair in their jobs. I'm not saying they aren't trying to be fair, but they are just men. A good coach needs to know how to work the officials.

 

[tksirius]

Most officials are trying to be fair in their jobs a majority of the time. A small majority.

 

[eveningnewsteam]

What games have you been watching?

What games have you been watching? See the Iowa ISU game by chance?

 

[DP5555]

On one hand, I understand it's incredibly difficult for officials to call things evenly. On the other hand, that is their job. I go back and forth between wondering what in the hell is wrong with officiating to reminding myself that they are going to make mistakes. I really have no idea if it's worse than it has ever been, but it sure does feel that way.

I feel like Fran has a reputation for flying off the handle so in many cases he gets teed up a little quicker than what many coaches do. For instance, last night in the NC vs Duke game there was a play towards the end of the game that made Roy Williams go ballistic. He absolutely should have received a technical, but the ref just swallowed his whistle. Dickie V. went on to praise the officials for "letting him speak his mind without affecting the game by calling a technical". However, if you're going "by the book" a technical absolutely should have been called. I have very little doubt that if the coach in that situation was Fran he would have received the T. It's situations like this that I find to be the most frustrating. Izzo, Ryan, and Matta fly off the handle and their leash is longer. Fran flies off the handle and it's an automatic T.

 

[LASBUR]

Lets win a BTT and go to a final four and maybe they will start giving Fran a little more slack

 

[NEIChawk]

We've all seen "the tale of two halves" damn near every game....There is no consistency, and there never will be, and that's why I think Fran has every right to question an injustice, although tomorrow I think Fran plays it cool....I don't have a problem w/a few bumps, or even a few hand checks, but be fair to both sides...I think officials try and keep it fair, I just wish they would curb the antics of the Head Coaches, I'm not "Bo" tryin' to "Izzo" name names "Matta", but you all get my drift......Too many sideline conferences going on, too much running on the court outside of the box....It's comical and kind of embarrassing. Just watch tomorrow, Wisconsin does a good job gaining separation by using their elbows, or shoulders w/out drawing very much attention...some of that I can maybe excuse, but sometimes there's a little more extension of the arm...those are things that need to be called offensive...All I need to say is "Glad it's not me"

 

[Stanzi]

I think that's true to the extent that he was talking to players and they are the ones on the floor whose conduct is most likely to cause problems, as happened in the fOSU-Northwestern game the other night. The point is that the refs talk, they have memories, they know who causes problems. Total BS to think refs approach each assignment as "new game, new slate," whether it's players or coaches.

I don't think BS is the right word for your last sentence. I think naive makes more sense. BS would be the refs holding grudges instead of being consummate professionals.