"Replaygate" Getting Worse, Not Better

So far, the only person remotely connected to the SDSU-BYU "Replaygate" scandal is Aztecs radio color commentator Chris Ello, for his anti-BYU rant on his talk show the other day. See a problem here?

You know the basics. San Diego State is down three to BYU in the second half last Saturday in Provo when Cougars RB JJ DiLuigi fumbles but is ruled down by contact. Aztecs coach Brady Hoke challenges the call, and even though video replays clearly show a fumble caused and recovered by DE BJ Williams, the ruling on the field was upheld. This was no simple judgment call, you look at the video and there is no way a logical, unbiased person can allow the official's call to stand. Since then, it was revealed that the three people in the video booth included a BYU employee, a BYU alumnus and a deli owner from Reno.

I heard only part of Ello's comments, nothing that appeared out of line.

I have not heard any apologies from BYU, the Mountain West Conference, anyone from the video booth, or the officials. I'm waiting.

The conference suspended the video booth personnel for one measly week and made policy changes against the involvement of school employees for anyone except the person making sure the equipment works. That's a start, but much more needs to be done.

1. We need a comprehensive, open and honest accounting into what took place in the booth and why the non-call was made. I am worried about future errors in judgment by officials, which happen, and what fan reaction will be. I am also concerned about the Viejas Arena atmosphere when the BYU men's basketball team comes to town. These things can be mitigated if the MWC opens up.

2. We need SDSU's football to be protected from the "loss." As the fumble non-call happened at a time the Aztecs were regaining momentum, odds are better than 50-50 they would have gone on to win. The steps listed in a prior post, protecting the team's bowl interests, need to be taken.

The MWC still is more looking out for its own interests that those of their member schools, and that is wrong. Now, onto football vs. Air Force. Get to 4-2 and worries about bowl games begin to evaporate. By the way, in my SDSU football preview before the start of the season, I mentioned that the defense would perform well until the MWC scheduled opened, then the games would resemble old WAC-style shootouts. That starts vs. the Falcons.