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Leach (kind of) shares thoughts on Pac-12 officials

Pac-12 officiating has come under fire recently, for good reason too. We all know Mike Leach has strong opinions on this topic and he finally let loose on Tuesday... Ok... Not really...

By Jeff Collier
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Recently, WSU has been on the wrong end of some... Let's say... Questionable calls that everyone places squarely on the feet of Pac-12 officials. Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Almost certainly unrelated, A few days ago Tony Corrente, the coordinator of Pac-12 football officials, resigned. Pac-12 officials have always been maligned by fans and commentators alike. Despite this, the conference reportedly liked him and wanted to extend his contract, according to John Wilner's tweet embedded in the previously linked article.

The quality of officiating in the conference is something that can be debated until the end of time. Regardless of how much Corrente is to blame for the officiating, his resignation has opened up the floodgates for that endless debate. Seemingly everyone has put their 2 cents in on how to improve officiating. John Canzano of the Orgonian thinks the evaluation and training process is too hidden and needs to be more transparent to fans and media. Aaron Levine of Q13 Fox says that bad officiating is the noble force that unites all Pac-12 fans. Fox Sports commentator, former Pac-12 officiating coordinator and the man who picked Corrente to be his best man at his wedding, Mike Pereira, says that the conference doesn't do enough to support the coordinators or the officials. Bud Withers of the Seattle Times also checks in as a proponent of transparency.

The media is just looking for something to fill their column inches, but the people that the officiating impacts the most, the coaches, are banned from commenting on it. Mike Leach, however, commented on officiating as only Mike Leach could, as quoted in Withers' article:

"I’m not allowed to comment on officiating. Someday when I am allowed, I’ll have quite a bit to say on it."

We'll set an appointment to ask you the day after you retire, coach.

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