Sour Seattle Seahawks Supporters

Over the last few days, I've had to put up with some whining from those who were cheering for the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. The most common complaint I have heard, is the referees were favoring the Steelers. To be fair.....ok, I'm bias, so to prove a point I want to look at three of the most commonly referred to "questionable calls".

1. Touchdown called back

In the first quarter Hassleback connected with Jackson in the end zone, however a flag was thrown for offensive pass interference. Offensive pass interference was the right call.
The play occurred right in front of the ref and no matter how many times you watch it in instant replay you clearly see Jackson's hand touch Taylor's (Steeler) chest, pushing him away from the play. The contact was minimal, however the sheer presence of his hand would impede the defender from being able to make the play. This play will most likely serve as a textbook example of offensive pass interference in training videos for years to come. Anyone who feels the need to "let the players play", would also have to contest the Hassleback fumble that was over turned in the 4th quarter. Foote (Steelers) briefly touched Hassleback before he went down. Although Foote most likely didn't contribute to Hassleback's stumble and fumble, according to the rule book Hassleback was ruled down by contact. Therefore the initial ruling on the field was over turned. While the referees were picky they were equally picky on both sides.

2. The Roethlisberger Touchdown

Many people, including myself, thought Big Ben's dive into End Zone came up short, while the referees called it a touch down. If one is to do a instant replay and slow down the dive frame by frame, they will clearly see the tip of the ball, parallel to a piece of white line of the End Zone. The rule is, "if ANY piece of the ball, breaks the plain of the goal line(meaning the white line) it is a touchdown". All of the ball does not have to cross all of the line, this isn't hockey, all you need is a piece of the ball to be parallel to a piece of the goal line. At the Superbowl party we rewound and played it in slow motion, and on the second time everyone, including Seattle fans could see the right call was made.

3. Hassleback Illegal Block
This is the only play of the three I would call touchy. After being intercepted, Hassleback lowered his shoulder in front of a Steeler blocker as he went down to tackle Ike Taylor behind the blocker. I'm not positive Hassleback actually made contact with the Steeler blocker, and perhaps they should not have been given the 15 yard penalty. Of course Seattle didn't get called for their illegal block when Roethlisberger was intercepted. Roethlisberger was pursuing a caravan of Seahawks down the field and was cutting in to try to make a tackle, when a block was made on him, where the player clearly hit him in back as their hand was placed directly on the 7 of the back of his jersey. So if Hassleback didn't make contact these to balance out.

In the end Seattle simply didn't play to win! With their constant clock mis-management, missed field goals, dropped balls and the disappearance of Jackson and Alexander, they failed to seize the opportunities they had. The game was Seattle's to win or lose and they lost.

Champions are formed in adversity.