Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott addresses controversial targeting ruling
By Keith Farner
Published:
The Pac-12 has faced the backlash of a controversial targeting call since Yahoo Sports this week reported that the call was overturned by a third party after officials in the replay booth and command center both agreed with the call. At a basketball media press conference on Thursday, the league’s commissioner addressed the issue.
A call in the Washington State-Southern Cal game on Sept. 21 that was ruled targeting, and appeared convincing to in-stadium replay officials and the Pac-12 command center in San Francisco was overturned by an untrained third party.
That came from Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports in a report that said an internal replay report that was obtained that said “unfortunately a third party did not agree.” The report added that the third party was Pac-12 general counsel and senior vice president of business affairs Woodie Dixon, Yahoo Sports sources confirmed.
Commissioner Larry Scott not only addressed the situation on Thursday, but he admitted that there was a mistake in the replay review process.
“The first will be the elimination of any influence during the in-game replay review process for both the director of officiating, David Coleman, and senior vice president of business affairs, Woodie Dixon,” Scottt said.
He added that it was important to eliminate even the perception that any conference staff could be involved in driving a decision in real time.
Scott says conference leadership will have no involvement with real-time decision making re: replay reviews. Effective this weekend. Will have a longer term review.
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) October 11, 2018
Scott on Woodie Dixon, who involved himself in the replay review noted in the @PeteThamel story: "He has been involved in support for our replay officials and discussion about replay decisions. … Upon reflection, I think that was a mistake."
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) October 11, 2018
"I've come to the conclusion we made a mistake in terms of our procedures with replay review. We mixed administrative oversight and leadership with real-time replay reviews. Moreover, we allowed for ambiguity about who makes the final call…"
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) October 11, 2018
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
