Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire did something unusual on Thursday after a game. He thanked the referee crew. This happened after a loss to Oregon, where the Ducks won 23-0. The Atlantic Coast Conference’s crew called nine penalties during the game—six on Texas Tech and three on Oregon. McGuire praised the officiating, saying it was among the best he has experienced in college football. Oregon’s penalties all occurred in the first half, costing them 25 yards. Texas Tech’s penalties came later, totaling 36 yards, including a late unsportsmanlike conduct flag.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Texas Tech's Joey McGuire did something on Thursday that he doesn't think he ever previously did after a game.
He thanked the referee crew.
After a loss, no less.
The Atlantic Coast Conference's crew that worked the College Football Playoff at the Orange Bowl called nine penalties — six on Texas Tech, three on Oregon — during the Ducks' 23-0 victory, and no flags that came out during the game seemed to have any pronounced effect on the outcome.
“A lot of people don't say it and I don't know if I've ever said it in a press conference, but I thought the officiating was as good as I've been a part of in college football,” McGuire said. “So, hats off to that ACC crew today. They did a good job.”
Oregon's three penalties all came in the first half, costing the Ducks 25 yards. Texas Tech was called for three penalties in the third quarter and three more in the fourth for a total of 36 yards — 15 of them coming on an unsportsmanlike conduct flag thrown late in the game with the outcome already decided.
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