Originally posted by bballfan03
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That was actually one of the 'better' crews at the IUP/Gannon men's game. Take that for what it's worth, but compared to the other crews they aren't too bad. Historically they don't 'T' up many coaches, and, by PSAC standards, they let the players play.
IUP's 'favorite' official ... the one for years we've called 'GQ' ... actually got promoted this year. He's the head official of his group now. He worked the IUP/SRU game last week. In his younger days he had a very rough history with Joe Lombardi ... used to 'T' him up every game. Oddly, as he's now the head man, he kind of really let Joe work him last week -- as was pointed out by Ian Grady many times. Perhaps their years of badgering each other grew them closer.
It's sad to say but the difference in crews is amazing. I can tell from the moment they walk out what kind of game it will be. One trio in particular is by far the worst in the league. Two of them are just too old. They can't get up and down anymore. They call fouls from 30' away, etc. They are also the crew still basking in their old glory ... and think the crowd is actually there to see them. Any game they officiate has about double the fouls called of any other crew. It ruins the game. They also love to 'keep things even' and will make sure the calls are about 50/50. Drives me nuts. Call what's real.
While the topic is up ... I have absolutely no idea what a charge or a block is anymore. They don't, either. You could show the same charge to the same crew 10 times and half the time they call it on the offensive player and the other half they call it on the defender.
Over the years I've found watching the coaches interact with the officials to sometimes be more entertaining than the games. Lombardi is a master of the craft. Gary Manchel is very good. Danny Sancomb is great. They toe the line so well ... they push, push, push but know exactly when to back off. Kevin Reynolds, on the other hand, was the opposite. He'd come across so abrasive. John Reilly and his group of 19 assistants would scream for 40 straight minutes. All of them. At the same time. They screamed so much the officials didn't even know when they were being yelled at most of the time. LOL.
One of the funny moments of the IUP/SRU game (and you only saw this if you were there) was Ian Grady got so fed up with Joe working the officials that he actually told GQ he was getting worked. Grady is making progress but he has to get a little more savvy. It will come in time. Most fans don't realize it ... but in a close game ... the coach who works the crew the best typically wins the game. Not a coincidence.
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