I didn’t think I’d have to write this blog today, but here we are. If you want to see how easy it is for media to shape a narrative in this country, just dial up “minnesota vs purdue pass interference” on the old “AOL” CD or rewatch the SportsCenter(s) that aired on ESPN this morning… or just keep reading this blog.

You’d think the Purdue Boilermakers had their virginity stolen by the referees last night at TCF Bank Stadium on this decisive offensive pass interference call late in the 4th quarter. You’ve all seen it by now.

Purdue gets this touchdown called back from a controversial OPI call and then get picked on the next play as Minnesota (+105 ML) holds on to win 34-31 @betthepigskin pic.twitter.com/772od8Meoh

— Barstool Sportsbook (@BSSportsbook) November 21, 2020

The OPI in Minnesota-Purdue might actually be the worst call made by an official in the history of football

— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) November 21, 2020

Purdue was flagged for offensive pass interference on a potential game-winning touchdown and threw an interception on the next play. Minnesota won 34-31.

HC Jeff Brohm, like those who took the Boilermakers at -2 on @BetMGM, was not happy with the call.pic.twitter.com/CmpQxFjRjv

— BroBible (@BroBible) November 21, 2020

What a garbage call against Purdue. Hard to blame Boilermaker fans for being upset about this one.https://t.co/MJiyKEzNNN

— OutKick (@Outkick) November 21, 2020

Court of Public Opinion: Fire Everyone Involved

There were a few people out there who saw this for what it was from the very beginning, myself included, and that’s a blatant offensive pass interference penalty. Sure, I didn’t see it right away either but there were holes in the original video evidence, from the beginning.

The only person that should be fired from this situation, is the Big Ten camera guys and/or gals who couldn’t find an original camera angle that could even keep the receiver and defensive back in the shot, let alone show an angle that explained the call.

Seriously, go back and check the replay again. All of the camera angles lose both players at the break of the tight-end’s corner route. But if you were paying close enough attention, which Twitter user @Scrappy937 was, then the offensive pass interference call easily becomes explainable, if not obvious.

Let’s take a look again, but with some better angles.

This is what pass interference looks like. pic.twitter.com/49Bf1PdRJZ

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) November 21, 2020

GIF: Here's a far-away look at call of offensive pass interference against #Boilermakers, which turned game for the #Gophers' win.

Purdue's Payne Durham technically did extend his arm to separate from Minnesota cornerback Philip Howard, but is it enough? pic.twitter.com/4C5WftrMpV

— Andy Greder (@andygreder) November 21, 2020

That’s it. That’s the blog. If you’re still dying on the, “the refs screwed Purdue out of a victory vs the Gophers” hill, that’s a “you” problem. The Boilermakers and their fanbase should worry more about the complete collapse they had right after this call didn’t go their way. They had over 50 seconds left to get at least 3 points so this game could go to overtime and were already in borderline FG range, even after the penalty.

Instead, the QB threw a game-ending interception on the very next play. Jeff Brohm shouldn’t spend anymore time crying about this call (like he was last night). Brohm is now 1-3 vs PJ Fleck in his career and ZERO of those losses can be blamed on the referees.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

On the surface, the NFL’s catch-rule is more broken than the recently sued Adrian Peterson. From the majority of fans’ perspectives, the announcement that the league is considering changes to what is (and what isn’t) a reception, is a positive.

via GIPHY

America’s most popular sports league is also flirting with the idea of limiting pass interference (“PI”) penalties, to a maximum of 15 yards. Unlike tweaking the catch rule, this potential game-changer is MUCH more controversial.

A lot of football fans are for the idea of mirroring the college rules. I’m just not one of them. If it wasn’t for the reason below, this proposal would have me a lot more pissed off:

This takes away 2 packers wins next year immediately

— Dane Mosher (@DaneMosher7) February 27, 2018

Touché. A quick shout-out to Dane Mosher (@DaneMosher7) for that one. On behalf of my blood-pressure levels, thank you.

To back up his statement, I peeled back the onion to the 2016 season.

If you’re wondering ‘why not 2017?’, TWO WORDS: Brett Hundley

“Obviously Aaron is Aaron, but I’m Brett, so let’s have some fun.”

Meet #Packers QB @bretthundley7. #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/bWxFpzbtdx

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 22, 2017

You were right, Brett. That shit was fun. #SKOL

Anywho, unlike last year, Aaron Rodgers played the entire 2016 campaign. During that season, the ten accepted defensive PI penalties against the Packers’ opponent, averaged 29.8 yards per flag. For comparison purposes, the Vikings, Lions, and Bears average gain in the same circumstances were 14.5, 20.15, and 20.0 respectively.

When I consider how much altering the PI rule would piss Rodgers and the rest of Wisconsin off, I’m not nearly as opposed to making the switch. With all the losses Green Bay has taken lately, any more defeats and they’ll need some help calming down.

via GIPHY

For proponents of the change, who aren’t part of SKOL Nation; taking game-changing plays out of the refs hands as much as possible, is one of their main pitches behind Tuesday’s announcement.

While that is true, there is one con that I can’t look past:

I dislike this a lot. If a DB gets burned why not just tackle the guy so he can’t catch it?

— Hunter Hanowski (@HunterHanowski) February 27, 2018

To double-down on the shout-outs, appreciated, Hunter Hanowski (@HunterHanowski).

In my opinion, a standard accidental PI where a CB gets his hands on a WR a split-second too early, should NOT have the same consequences as a CB who gets torched deep, only to tackle his man, avoiding a sure touchdown and only 15 yards worth of penalty. Despite its rarity, it bothers me when something similar to that happens in NCAA matchups. If the change is made, with the NFL being much more pass happy than the college game, it’s bound to be more common place at professional level.

I know it seems impossible, but the day the Packers’ don’t start a season with a future HOF QB under center is bound to come. Unless another NFC Championship gives all members of Minnesota Sports Fan a heart attack, we plan to be Vikings’ fans longer than Rodgers is the Packers QB. Pressing for the rule change now, just because it will spite our biggest foe, could come full circle and bite us in the ass, a handful of years down the road.

There has to be a more reasonable, meeting-in-the-middle type of solution. As for what that might be, that’s the type of stuff the league’s stiffs in suits get paid to mess up.

Johnny Minnesota @TheJohnnyMN
Minnesota Sports Fan MinnesotaSportsFan.com