USC over LMU 8-4

[Moderator]

http://lmulions.cstv.com/sports/m-wpolo ... 07aaa.html

[Trevor]

Here is my recap of USC-LMU. They should be posting Cal-Navy shortly. That was a GREAT game.

http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-wpolo/stor ... 07aaa.html

[thadius]

I agree with Trevor's assesment of the oficiating of this game. It seemed very heavy handed towards SC or should I say MPFS team. Goals disallowed, penalty shots not called, 2 to 1 kick out ratio were all obvious to all. SC was definetly the better team and would have won the game anyway but do the referee's have to do everything to help SC? The second game officials were much more evenly as these officials probably do less MPFS games are not as biased. Good turnout and good showing from all teams except the men in white in the first game.

[thadius]

I agree with Trevor's assesment of the oficiating of this game. It seemed very heavy handed towards SC or should I say MPFS team. Goals disallowed, penalty shots not called, 2 to 1 kick out ratio were all obvious to all. SC was definetly the better team and would have won the game anyway but do the referee's have to do everything to help SC? The second game officials were much more evenly as these officials probably do less MPFS games are not as biased. Good turnout and good showing from all teams except the men in white in the first game.

[Trevor]

It was really absurd with all the offensives that were called on LMU. When you consider their players are on average about 2-3 inches shorter and 15-20 pounds lighter, it makes it worse.

Andy Stevens was amazing in that game. Hopefully that came through in my recap. Best goalie in the tournament and that is saying something when you consider the company he keeps. He blocked two one on nobodys and a 5-Meter. Really kept LMU in the game.

[polopony]

[quote="Trevor"]It was really absurd with all the offensives that were called on LMU. When you consider their players are on average about 2-3 inches shorter and 15-20 pounds lighter, it makes it worse.

you totally loose credibility with statements like this.

[Trevor]

you totally loose credibility with statements like this.

I'd lose more credibility if I sat by and said nothing when it was obvious that the officiating was terrible. Coach Loughran was spot on in his post game press conference. The officiating was lousy in that game. The Cal-Navy game was a much better game for the officials as those referees did an outstanding job.

[Moderator]

I seem to recall that Bob Corb has taken over the job vacated by Brett Bernard as NCAA Technical director. Bob is pretty evenhanded.

What referees are doing NCAA's? I know that Alex Stankevitch is there from the CWPA. Who else is there from the MPSF? It has to be Chaney and Rotsart but who's the fourth?

[stickman]

Trevor-
Based on your comment it seems that since the LMU players are (on the average) smaller, they either aren't able to commit offensive infractions or simply should have been allowed to get away with them.

If the offensives were offensives it shouldn't matter how big or small the player was. If they weren't offensives, and the ref was imagining they were and making the calls to help USC then obviously thats poor officiating, but again how does the size of the players factor in to the allegedly poor officiating.

[Water-Polo-Fan]

It was really absurd with all the offensives that were called on LMU. When you consider their players are on average about 2-3 inches shorter and 15-20 pounds lighter, it makes it worse..

Interesting point of view. By your comments we're all supposed to assume that the smaller LMU players were unable to be guilty of an offensive foul simply because they're smaller than USC or the referees are to ignore the offensive fouls of LMU because they're smaller. Either way I would expect better commentary (and a better display of water polo knowledge) of someone placed in your position. Very disappointing.

I'd lose more credibility if I sat by and said nothing when it was obvious that the officiating was terrible. Coach Loughran was spot on in his post game press conference. The officiating was lousy in that game. The Cal-Navy game was a much better game for the officials as those referees did an outstanding job.

How was the officiating terrible outside of the offensive fouls you commented about? The offensives were called on LMU by both officials with the majority of them being called by the East Coast referee. As far as Loughran being "spot on in his post game conference" I'd simply chalk that up to a losing coach whining about a loss to a clearly superior team. Did you get any comments from Jovan as to his opinion of the offensives? None that appeared in your article from what I can tell. Something tells me he would agree with the offensives. But we would expect that too from the winning coach.

Instead of making a blanket statement about the calls being horrible, how about explaining YOUR statement as to why they were. Explain the fouls that were called and WHY you believed they were called incorrectly. Just because the losing coach agrees with you doesn't make you, or him, correct.

For the record, I had no horse in either of the races this weekend. I sat in the stands and enjoyed two good games played Saturday and two great games today as a simple fan of water polo. Nothing more, nothing less.

[NORCAL]

you totally loose credibility with statements like this.

I'd lose more credibility if I sat by and said nothing when it was obvious that the officiating was terrible. Coach Loughran was spot on in his post game press conference. The officiating was lousy in that game. The Cal-Navy game was a much better game for the officials as those referees did an outstanding job.

Trevor,

I need to pile on this one. I thought the referees did a fine job all weekend, in all the games including the lmu-usc game.

My recommendation to you - decide whether you want to be a journalist covering water polo or a cheerleader. I recommend you become a journalist, there are plenty of us cheerleaders already.

[fanofpolo]

By the way, who were the officials at the NCAA's? I wasn't able to attend this year.

[oldpoloplyr]

I knew there was a reason the officiating was better because they now have a head of officals the will instruct officals to follow the rulebook. Bernard tryed to get refs to call games the way he wanted called if Bernard was a football ref he would have the QBs in skirts and not let them be touched.