CUSA Refs Choke after Penders Passes Out

Conference USA's assistant commissioner Chris Woolard issued a statement on Monday, January 23, 2006 admitting that the officiating crew handling the Houston-UAB men's basketball game on Saturday, January 21, 2006 "exercised poor judgment" by refusing to rescind a technical foul assessed to Cougars coach Tom Penders after Penders was rushed from the floor on a stretcher after collapsing on the UH sideline.

Penders fell face first onto the court after watching the Coogs' leading scorer, Oliver Lafayette, get whistled for a foul as UAB's Wen Mukubu drove to the basket late in the first half. Apparently believing that Penders was reacting to his disbelief with the foul call, an official issued a technical foul on Penders. Penders, who has a defibrillator in his chest as the result of a congenital heart defect, collapsed as a result of that heart condition and a bout with dehydration, Houston officials told the USA Today. However, even after Penders was wheeled out off of the court by medical personnel, the officials refused to rescind the technical foul assessed to him, apparently alleging either that he should have more appropriately collapsed away from the field of play or that they were not impressed by the lengths to which Penders was taking his theatrical play. Penders did return to coach the second half of the game without further incident, but the Cougars lost the game by three points (UAB made both technical free throws).

C-USA's statement alleges that "appropriate action will be taken" against the officiating crew in question, but no details were released. According to Michael Murphy of the Houston Chronicle, this bone-headed decision was not the only role that the zebras had in the outcome of the game. The officiating crew of Harrell Allen, Frankie Bordeaux and John Hampton called 45 fouls on the two teams, who shot a combined 59 free throws. Admittedly, I have seen only highlights of this game so I cannot comment on the effect that the incessant whistle-blowing and the Penders incident had on the flow of the game and its eventual final outcome, but at some point, should officials who are apparently this incompetent be required to face public questioning about their performance, just as Penders and his players are required to do after they have a terrible game?

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