Pac-10 Officials Penalized for Ruining Virginia-USC Game

Wahoo Nation knew it was the wrong call the second the ref blew the whistle. Mike London certainly knew it was the wrong call. It seems like everyone knew it was the wrong call -- except the zebras. Today's Pac-10 release acknowledges as such, and states that "reprimand and removal from a future assignment are appropriate." The release after the jump.

From the release:

The Pac-10 has disciplined the officials involved in last Saturday's Virginia-USC football game for failure to apply the playing rules correctly, Commissioner Larry Scott announced today. Those officials involved in making the call have been reprimanded and will be removed from a future game assignment.

The officials misapplied rules for blocking below the waist on a Virginia fake punt in the second quarter. According to the playing rules, blocking below the waist anywhere on the field by either team is illegal if the offense is lined up in a scrimmage kick formation, unless a kick is not made.

"The officials recognized the mistake after the fact and apologized to the Virginia coaching staff. We know mistakes are made in games, but we will not tolerate our officials misinterpreting the rules," Scott said.

"We believe the reprimand and removal from a future assignment are appropriate," Scott concluded.

Head coach Mike London was, of course, diplomatic after the game.

"I was told they blew the call (after halftime), by the guy who made the call and the referee. It's a shame, a crying shame. It happens some times in games. You get good calls and calls go against you."

That's after the game. Those of you who watched it know exactly what his reaction was.