Any controversy stemming from the bizarre finish of last weekend’s Colorado at Iowa State football game apparently is a nonissue to the Big 12 Conference office.
Colorado coach Dan Hawkins said “well, yeah” when asked Monday if he was satisfied with the explanation from Big 12 coordinator of officials Walt Anderson regarding the rulings that nullified two field goals at the end of CU’s 31-28 loss at Iowa State.
Hawkins declined to elaborate on the conversation with Anderson.
“I’ll let the conference office say that,” Hawkins said during Monday’s Big 12 teleconference.
Anderson also declined comment except for a statement released through the Big 12: “I did speak with Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins today regarding the ending of their game Saturday at Iowa State. Communication with our coaches is a valuable component of our review process. However, those conversations continue to remain private.”
In a bizarre sequence of events during the final seconds, Colorado was called for a delay-of-game penalty that nullified a 50-yard field goal by Kevin Eberhart because, it was ruled, the ball was snapped before an official had marked it ready to play.
One second was put back on the clock and Eberhart split the uprights with a 55-yarder. But officials ruled that time had expired before the ball was snapped.
Hawkins was asked during the teleconference if it’s a good thing that the Big 12, like most leagues, has a gag order against any criticism of officiating.
“People make the rules, you’ve got to abide by the rules,” Hawkins said. “Having rules in place is a good thing. But it’s never easy when you’re on either side (among coaches and officials).
“The world is not perfect. And people are not perfect. Coaches and announcers and media guys and officials all try to do the best job they can. At some point, at the end of the day, we all just have to just take the upper hand a little bit and use discretion there.”
Asked if the Buffaloes’ loss to Iowa State was especially frustrating with the way it ended, Hawkins said that’s the way life goes sometimes.
“I’m always the Chinese philosopher on this thing,” he explained. “The highs and lows of life and football will never be experienced if you’re not willing to throw yourself into it.
“From that standpoint, those things are always extremely painful. But it’s part of the process. It’s part of the whole building and growth of a young man and a person and a team and a program.”
Colorado (5-6, 3-4 Big 12) has a losing record for the first time since standing 1-2 after a Sept. 15 loss to Florida State. To become bowl-eligible, the Buffaloes must beat Nebraska (5-6, 2-5) on Nov. 23 in Boulder, the regular-season finale for both teams.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
