One college football referee earns high praise for the oddest reason

Senior Editor
One college football referee earns high praise for the oddest reason image

For the first time in a very long time, a college football referee is in the headlines and on social media for doing a great job. Officials have a very difficult job. No matter what the outcome of the play or game is, one side is usually going the complain about the officiating.

Fans often claim the desired outcome was stolen by the officials or poor officiating is a problem. When college football fans unite online screaming kudos and praise for an official, it becomes breaking news.

Indiana vs Penn State was expected to fall somewhere between an easy Indiana win and an Indiana rout. No one told Penn State though. After firing James Franklin, the Penn State program had to push through.

A team that was already having a bad year, had to pick up the pieces and find ways to be productive. With 0:41 left in the game, Penn State fans were hoping for the upset of the season when Omar Cooper Jr. Shattered that dream.

On 3rd and goal with the game on the line, Fernando Mendoza drops back. With Nittany Lion defenders bearing down on him from both sides and less than a second to make a decision, Mendoza throws a high pass to Omar Cooper on a post route. Cooper climbs the ladder, secures the catch, and impossibly as he’s floating towards out of bounds, finds a way to get his foot down in bounds. However, that is not the story here.

Referee Josh Dasher should google himself today. Dasher is being spoken of in ways many officials don’t get to see. In glowing admiration of a job well done. The concept should not be this exciting or mentioned as often as it has. To most officials, Dashed just did his job. Like offensive lineman, if no one’s talking about you after the game, you likely did a good job. However, every now and then a play is deemed that important that if called not only well, but textbook well… chances are, people will talk about it.

As Cooper flew through the air during the live instant replay a few things are clearly visible. Dashers eyes follow the hands until such a time as Dasher has confirmed possession of the ball. Then his eyes immediately relocate to Cooper’s feet.

Positioned so well on the back line, Dasher had to quickly side step his position as to not interfere with Cooper. Cooper was able to get his one foot down in bounds with what looked like about a quarter of an inch from the back line. Dasher never broke eye contact with the foot or the line and after a split-second pause, called touchdown.

Many media outlets, sports personalities and even social media content creators have created posts and made videos discussing just how great the call was and suggesting that Dasher should be celebrated for the job he did.

Major sports outlets

College Football on Fox (@CFBONFOX), Bleacher Report, the Big Ten Network all have posted on socials the high-resolution, slow-motion clip of the play including Dasher’s focus following the play to its conclusion. A few specific individuals also took to social media to add commentary to the play.

Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler

Kirk Herbstreit on his official twitter and tik tok accounts posted a video of himself and Chris Fowler reacting to the catch in real time. These posts were not of the broadcast view. This was them not on camera reacting. Green screen backdrop and all. When the realization moment hit, both Fowler and Herbstreit reacted like proud fathers. Mouths open in disbelief. 

Brandon F Walker of Barstool

Brandon F Walker, proud Mississippi State fan and member of Barstool sports took to Tik Tok to give an almost minute long play by play breakdown of Dasher’s positioning, head’s up awareness, and ability to get the call right in the moment. Walker made a point to compare this to all the times the conversation goes the other way. 

“For all the bad, that we always talk about refs and officials when they’re bad. I thought in that moment, a fourth down, 100,000 people, Indiana’s undefeated season on the line, for that ref to calmly get that call exactly right, was very impressive.”

Social Media Content Creators

Content creators of plenty have lent some time to this officiating moment. Fanalyzesports, Jack Mac, Janky Rondo, and many others reacted to the miraculous catch with many giving credit to Dasher for a good job in a critical moment.

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Editorial Team