Syracuse Football: Officials missing FSU hold at game’s end was shameful

Syracuse football was hosed by the officials on Saturday toward the end of their first Atlantic Coast Conference contest in the 2021 campaign.

The Orange, seeking to win at Florida State for the first time ever, was stuck in a 30-30 tie in the encounter’s waning moments.

The Seminoles had the ball on the ‘Cuse 38 yard line, and it was 3rd and 7, according to information provided on the ESPN Web site. A Florida State player made an obvious hold on a Syracuse football defender that enabled FSU quarterback Jordan Travis to run for 25 yards to the Orange 13 yard line.

That long run allowed the Seminoles to wind the clock down and kick a manageable field goal as time expired. Florida State, 0-4 entering this ACC battle, would prevail over the ‘Cuse, 33-30.

Syracuse football came up just short at Florida State.

Now, I won’t go so far as to say that the officials cost the Orange this game outright. That’s because even if the holding penalty was called, Florida State still had the ball, with the score tied.

The Seminoles could have attempted something miraculous at the end of the fourth quarter and possibly emerged victorious regardless. Plus, if FSU didn’t score, the game would have gone into overtime, and the Seminoles could have won in the extra session, too.

As I was posting on social media for Inside The Loud House throughout this ACC meeting, numerous fans were expressing their frustrations with a lot of things, namely the play-calling by Syracuse football coaches, clock management, the lack of a consistent passing attack, and, yes, the officiating.

I really do my best to never accuse the officials or referees of costing a game for a Syracuse Orange sports team, whether that’s in football, basketball or other sports.

And I won’t do it here. But at the same time, the officials totally dropped the ball in not calling that hold on FSU at a pivotal moment for the Seminoles and the ‘Cuse in Tallahassee, Fla.

In the previous series, when Syracuse football had possession, on one play a case might have been made for both pass interference and roughing the passer, but both sequences were really close. I know that a lot of my fellow Orange fans were up in arms about these no-calls, too.

That being said, the ‘Cuse had its chances to defeat Florida State. The officials blew a call at an inopportune time, and it stings. Stuff happens.

As I mentioned earlier, though, Syracuse football still could have lost to FSU even if the holding penalty was called. It’s a frustrating way to go down.

With the win, the Seminoles improve to 1-4. The Orange falls to 3-2. Syracuse football next hosts undefeated and nationally ranked Wake Forest this coming Saturday on the Hill.