Iowa State is tangled in close calls, controversy

AMES (AP) — Iowa State seems to have a knack of getting tangled up with close calls that generate frustration, controversy and, in the latest case, some sharp criticism by the athletic director.

The Cyclones have brought much of it upon themselves because they haven’t been able to overcome whatever has gone against them. In three recent games that included disputed calls, the Cyclones lost all three — two of them by less than a touchdown.

The latest flare-up occurred during and after Saturday’s 37-20 loss to No. 16 Oklahoma State.

With the score tied at 6, the officials ruled that Oklahoma State’s Desmond Roland was stopped short of the goal line at the end of the first half. The play was reviewed and the replay official reversed the call, giving the Cowboys a 13-6 lead.

Frustrated by that decision and some earlier calls, athletic director Jamie Pollard lashed out at Big 12 officiating after the game and said the Cyclones “have been on the short end of the stick” time and time again.

The Big 12 responded Monday with a public reprimand and a $25,000 fine for Pollard, with league commissioner Bob Bowlsby saying his rant was “irresponsible and completely baseless.”

Iowa State also has taken issue with a catch by Kansas State’s Tyler Lockett along the sideline earlier this year — the replay official and replay communicator were suspended for one game for failing to review the play — and a play in last year’s game with Texas when the Longhorns’ Johnathan Gray was ruled down while ISU linebacker Jeremiah George was running the other way with the ball. In both cases, the opponent scored on the next play.

“You can say whatever you want about the call on Saturday, whatever it is, it should or shouldn’t have been a touchdown, I don’t think it won or lost us the game by any means,” quarterback Sam Richardson said. “We shot ourselves in the foot too many times as an offense. We didn’t give ourselves a chance to win that game, honestly.”

Richardson said the Cyclones have to figure out a way to overcome such setbacks.

“You can’t fret about it, you can’t think about it at all,” he said. “You’ve just got to play the play in front of you.”

Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads declined to comment on the specifics of Pollard’s remarks. But he did welcome the support.

“I am privileged to have a boss that is that passionate about this athletic department and this university that he was willing to stand up and say the things that he did,” Rhoads said. “I benefit from that as the leader of this program and certainly our coaching staff does as well.”