[BostonCard]

Garvin, the refs could accomplish the same thing by calling the player over and giving him a warning.  Just like if you're pulled over for speeding and you get a warning instead of a ticket.  Maybe he already had a warning, but that was a critical point in the game.  IMO, officials have to use some discretion because they could call penalties on virtually every play if they really wanted.

Yes, the refs could have issued a warning, and many times they do.  But certainly you cannot argue that the foul was unwarranted, just as if you are speeding and the cop could have given you a warning but issues you a ticket instead, it is not because the cop wrongly give you a ticket.  The bottom line is that it was an incredibly stupid thing for the Cal player to do.  Why give the ref an opportunity to throw in the flag for no reason?

The late hit out of bounds was a similar situation.  The ref could have given Holer a warning, but by throwing the receiver to the ground, Holder gave the ref a reason to throw the flag.  Was it a touch harsh?  Maybe, but f Holder had disengaged when he got to the OOB or heard the whistle, he doesn't incur the flag.

Holder's case was a little tougher than the PF, since Holder was already engaged with the receiver and pushing him out of bounds, so even though he has a responsibility to disengage once the play is done, it is at least not completely unnecessary.  The late hit was completely boneheaded and a cheap shot.  Not only was the play dead, but the Stanford player wasn't even involved in the play.  It's one thing to hit a ball carrier after the whistle, or continue a block past the whistle, but this was neither.

BC

[BostonCard]

Garvin, the refs could accomplish the same thing by calling the player over and giving him a warning.  Just like if you're pulled over for speeding and you get a warning instead of a ticket.  Maybe he already had a warning, but that was a critical point in the game.  IMO, officials have to use some discretion because they could call penalties on virtually every play if they really wanted.

Yes, the refs could have issued a warning, and many times they do.  But certainly you cannot argue that the foul was unwarranted, just as if you are speeding and the cop could have given you a warning but issues you a ticket instead, it is not because the cop wrongly give you a ticket.  The bottom line is that it was an incredibly stupid thing for the Cal player to do.  Why give the ref an opportunity to throw in the flag for no reason?

The late hit out of bounds was a similar situation.  The ref could have given Holer a warning, but by throwing the receiver to the ground, Holder gave the ref a reason to throw the flag.  Was it a touch harsh?  Maybe, but f Holder had disengaged when he got to the OOB or heard the whistle, he doesn't incur the flag.

Holder's case was a little tougher than the PF, since Holder was already engaged with the receiver and pushing him out of bounds, so even though he has a responsibility to disengage once the play is done, it is at least not completely unnecessary.  The late hit was completely boneheaded and a cheap shot.  Not only was the play dead, but the Stanford player wasn't even involved in the play.  It's one thing to hit a ball carrier after the whistle, or continue a block past the whistle, but this was neither.

BC