Craig Robinson Reprimanded

Oregon St. mens' basketball coach Craig Robinson has been reprimanded by the Pac-12 Conference for comments he made about the officiating following last Sunday's Civil War game against Oregon.

"That was big," Robinson said in reference to the double technical foul assessed to Jared Cunningham and Oregon's Garrett Sim after a bumping incident in front of the Oregon St. bench in the first half. "You guys know I never blame the refs for our game, but that was a poorly officiated game,'' Robinson said. "When is Jared Cunningham going to get treated like one of the best guys in the conference? I'm just waiting for that. I'm probably getting myself in trouble here, but Jared does not get treated like one of the best players. People are allowed to bait him constantly and to bump him constantly.''

Robinson also wondered aloud why the referees had admonished Mike Parker, Oregon St.'s radio play by play man during the course of the game, after Parker noted a missed traveling call on the air.

"The Pac-12 has specific rules that prohibit our coaches from making public comments about officiating, and this prohibition specifically includes comments that create doubts about the credibility of the Conference's officiating program," stated Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott. "The Conference expects each Pac-12 coach to adhere to our standards of conduct and to conduct himself or herself in a manner which will reflect credit on the institution and the Conference."

Scott continues to miss the point that nothing anyone said created any doubts about the credibility of the conference's officiating program; it is the continued conduct of some of their officials that has left no doubt that the conference's officiating program lacks any credibility.

Continuing to pretend otherwise only perpetuates the problem, and will create additional incidents.

Worse, self-serving statements and rules against stating the obvious erodes the conference's credibility in general.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com