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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Conference moved swiftly to suspend McBride

Here’s what Weber State football coach Ron McBride said after a 24-18 loss to Montana State last Saturday:

“I think the guy (official) just made a mistake,” McBride said to Jasen Asay of The Ogden Standard-Examiner. “I think it was an inadvertent whistle and I don’t know. It just baffled me because I’m watching the line of scrimmage and there ain’t nobody moving.”

Here’s what McBride will be doing Saturday:

Serving detention.

Armed with that comment, Big Sky Conference commissioner Doug Fullerton confirmed McBride had made the same or similar statements to other media members and suspended the Wildcats coach for the next game, which happens to be Eastern Washington’s visit to Weber State.

“The Big Sky Conference has no leeway,” Fullerton told Asay on Monday. “If you publicly comment criticizing the officials, you will be suspended.”

Fullerton wouldn’t tell Asay who he talked to or what was said, but he added it doesn’t matter if the words were printed or not, as long as they were said.

What had McBride upset was a false start penalty on the left tackle that wiped out a first down on a fake punt that gained 12 yards and fourth-and-1. The play came with about 8 minutes left and Weber State leading 18-16. The Wildcats punted and eventually the Bobcats came back to win.

Under the circumstances, it can be said that McBride’s comments hardly sounded like criticism. It was a critical play and he had to be asked about it. If McBride, who has 40 years experience as a coach, declined to comment or even alluded to the fact he can’t talk about officiating, it would have been much more damning of the official.

“I’m not criticizing him and saying he’s a lousy official,” McBride said at practice on Monday. “We all make mistakes.”

The conference moved swiftly with McBride, but as of Monday Fullerton had not seen film to review the call.

Wulff comments on suspension

How will McBride’s absence affect Eastern Washington?

“Kids can rally around those kinds of incidents,” Eagles coach Paul Wulff said. “I don’t know how it’s going to affect how they play.”

McBride won’t miss any practices or meeting. He can watch the game from the press box but can’t be in the coaches’ box.

“Some games there is a lot more that needs to be done by a head coach, some games there’s not,” Wulff said. “It depends how the game unfolds. You can’t predict (because) every game is different. It has some sort of impact – to what degree I can’t put a number on it.”

Wulff carefully chose his words when he was asked about his reaction to McBride’s comment.

“It’s unfortunate that things like this get brought out, that coaches have to get suspended over comments or anybody has to get suspended under negative circumstances,” he said.

Quick kicks

Eastern Washington defensive tackle Keith Grennan and Montana State offensive lineman Joe Hirst (East Valley HS) have accepted invitations to play in this year’s Magnolia Gridiron Classic on Dec. 23 in Jackson, Miss. … The game to watch this week is No. 6 Cal Poly at No. 2 Montana. The teams split two games in Missoula last year, with the Mustangs winning a first-round playoff game. … Only Montana or Montana State can win the Big Sky’s automatic berth in the playoffs. … Northern Arizona’s Jason Murrietta is 29 yards shy of becoming the ninth quarterback in conference history with 10,000 yards.