College Football

FSU Football: Did ACC Refs React To Jimbo Fisher's Criticism?

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 1:33 a.m. ET

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Oct 29, 2016; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher speaks with the referees during the game against the Clemson Tigers at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

FSU football caught the raw end of the deal on several calls in the NC State game? Where ACC referees proving a point to Jimbo Fisher for open criticism?

FSU football has always had a touchy relationship with ACC referees. For example, think of how many blatant horse collar tackles have gone UNCALLED in recent yrs against FSU.

That’s just one example of many. Well, there were a couple of calls last week that went against FSU in the Clemson game which arguably altered the outcome of the game.

Jimbo Fisher openly criticized the referees in his post-game press conference and was promptly fined $20,000 by the ACC.

However, it appears that fine wasn’t enough to get the point across as ACC referees again blatantly missed calls on Saturday night in FSU’s game against NC State.

Two calls in question involved NC State scoring touchdowns that never should have happened.

Nov 29, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher has some words with the referee during the game against the Florida Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Video Evidence

How can referees blantantly miss those calls? Neither of the plays took place in heavily trafficked areas of the field. There was nothing to obstruct the view of the referees.

These fouls simply went uncalled.

We are not even going to talk about the second targeting call in as many weeks. Both calls were bogus and not overturned even after being reviewed.

Starting safety Trey Marshall had to miss the first half of the NC State game because of a bogus targeting call. He ultimately would have missed the game anyway with concussion like symptoms apparently.

However, defensive end Brian Burns will now have to miss the first half of FSU’s next game for a bogus targeting call received against NC State Saturday night.

Sep 6, 2014; Clemson, SC, USA; A general view of a yard marker with the ACC logo during the first quarter against the South Carolina State Bulldogs at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Tigers won 73-7. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

More Evidence

NC State came into the FSU game as one of the most heavily penalized teams in the nation, averaging 7.4 penalties per game.

ACC officials only called THREE penalties on NC State during the ENTIRE game. How is that possible?

Did NC State became extra disciplined all of a sudden?

Nope, in fact, had the refs called the two plays they missed and any of the blatant holds their offensive line had on the night they would have been at or surpassed their penalty average per game.

What makes things even more fishy? Here are the number of penalties called on FSU opponents when playing FSU and their average:

Hmmmm.

Nov 5, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher watches his team during the first half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Conclusion

So out of six games, ACC officials called less penalties than opposing teams were averaging per game in half of them. One game was right at the team’s average.

The other two were more than that team’s average, but in one of those games (Miami) the penalty count should have been significantly higher.

ACC officials called more penalties than Clemson averaged on the season. However, after the Jimbo Fisher rant post-Clemson, it’s fair to say the referees learned how to swallow their whistles against NC State.

Now, they only called 6 penalties on FSU football(who is No. 127 in the nation in penalties averaging 8.6 per game). But, the penalties they missed against NC State were absolutely absurd.

What about that roughing the kicker penalty they missed?

What about the failed review on the ball they ruled  a fumble by Auden Tate? What about the failed review on the targeting call on Brian Burns?

The referees REVIEWED those plays and still got them wrong!

Were the referees out to prove a point against FSU football and Jimbo Fisher for openly criticizing them post-Clemson?

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