Let Them Play

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We saw it again tonight at the end of the Tennessee-Michigan game: The referee calls a charge in a crucial situation, and a bunch of people start complaining that the referee should just "let them play." The refs "should not be deciding the game."

I don't understand with the people who say this want: The referee should never make a call in the last few minutes of a close game? Then the game will be decided by whoever is willing to foul most viciously. The refs should suddenly change how they're calling the game in the last few minutes and only call very blatant fouls? Then, just how much they change may "decide the game."

How about this: how about the refs just call the game consistently throughout, using their best judgment? So, you know, if it was called a charge five minutes into the game, it is called a charge with five seconds left in the game.

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