Replay official from Oklahoma-Oregon game to take a leave of absence

Thursday, September 21st 2006, 4:57 am

By: News On 6

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (AP) The instant replay official whose failure to overturn a bad call helped Oregon beat Oklahoma has been granted a leave of absence for the remainder of the football season.

Officials say Gordon Riese, who's already been suspended for a game by the Pac-10, requested a leave of absence.

Because Pac-10 replay officials work in crews, replay assistant Roger Judd also will not work any more games this season.

In the final minutes of Oregon's 34-33 comeback victory over Oklahoma, the Ducks recovered an onside kick that set up what turned out to be the winning touchdown.

Oregon's recovery of the onside kick should have been disallowed because the Ducks touched the ball before it went the required ten yards.

The ongoing debate over The Call has brought renewed attention to instant replay in college football and the officials who consider it.

The Pac-10 has a rule that its league's officials work all games in its home stadiums. Following the blown call on an onside kick in Oregon's 34-33 victory over Oklahoma last Saturday, coach Bob Stoops is threatening to cancel a game against Washington in 2008 if the policy isn't changed.

Conference spokesman Jim Muldoon said the Pac-10 will put its policy of using league officials for non-conference games before its athletic directors at their next meeting on October 12th.

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr says that perhaps a pool of officials unaffiliated with any conference might be the best solution.