ICYMI: The Nebraska Huskers stunned unbeaten Michigan State with this controversial game-winning TD: https://t.co/8E95o3Ar3X
— ESPN (@espn) November 8, 2015
By now you’ve seen the controversial play that gave Michigan State their first loss of the season and ultimately eliminated them from the College Football Playoff. With 17 seconds left, Nebraska wide receiver Brandon O’Reilly caught a game-winning TD pass from Tommy Armstrong, Jr. after clearly running out of bounds. Two officials threw their hats on the play noting the infraction but a ref conference determined he was forced out by an MSU defender. The play was reviewed (even though it wasn’t reviewable) and it stood as called.
Almost everyone watching the play (including several officiating experts) believed the call was incorrect.
Mike Pereira:
Thoughts on MSU/NEB..I did not think that the defender forced the receiver out of bounds. There was some contact but not enough.
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) November 8, 2015
Replay can't judge on the force of the contact. All they could do at that point was to check the receiver being out of bounds.
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) November 8, 2015
In a season chock-full of atrocious and horrid officiating this call probably ranks in the top five, though no worse than what occurred at the end of Miami-Duke last week.
Moving on…
The Internet reaction to the call, especially from Spartan faithful, was angry to say the least. ESPN host Jemele Hill (an MSU alum) didn’t hold back with her thoughts.
I'm right here. We got fucked. Yeah I said it. https://t.co/XMyvECwNIV
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) November 8, 2015
I SAID WHAT I SAID.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) November 8, 2015
But it was former NFL WR and Michigan State great Plaxico Burress who, uh, stole the show with these NSFW tweets, several of them aimed at the NCAA and Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany.
WARNING: Colorful language.
Hey, everybody, @ncaa is hiring officials fresh off the kitchen table. Nobody is over qualified! Excepting all resumes!
— Plaxico Burress (@plaxicoburress) November 8, 2015
THE WR RAN OUT OF BOUNDS 3 STEPS CAME BACK IN BOUNDS AND CAUGHT A TD! WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON AROUND HERE? @NCAA REFS JUMP OF THE GWB
— Plaxico Burress (@plaxicoburress) November 8, 2015
THE MOTHERFUCKING OFFICIALS ARE DELIBERATELY CHEATING! @ncaa FUCKING COWARDS
— Plaxico Burress (@plaxicoburress) November 8, 2015
The officials need officials! @ncaa at the game to overrule calls when these crab cakes fuck the game up.
— Plaxico Burress (@plaxicoburress) November 8, 2015
Who would of thought the @NCAA Would be shaving points/games. Shame!
— Plaxico Burress (@plaxicoburress) November 8, 2015
@ncaa Officials! You sorry some-a-bitches! pic.twitter.com/xRH8QEBGkx
— Plaxico Burress (@plaxicoburress) November 8, 2015
And yes, if you’re wondering, Plax would love to share his thoughts on your radio show.
I'm open to all radio shows tomorrow. I'm ready.
— Plaxico Burress (@plaxicoburress) November 8, 2015