In 'Any Given Sunday', Coach Tony D'Amato played by Al Pacino said that "football is a game of inches." Since Instant Replay has revolutionized the way all games, especially football, are officiated, the race has been on to make Instant Replay and officiating more efficient. Coaches and players are demanding, the integritiy of the league is on the line, as well as that of the official. Games and championships are both influenced and decided by officials. In another step by Head of Officiating, Tom Higgins has put in use the Command Centre.
Located at the CFL head offices in Toronto, its purpose is to speed up the time between a coach's challenge and the decision being handed down. The system is identical to the one used in the NHL but even with that in mind there's a chance the system's efficiency won't translate to meet football concerns. The Command Centre debut during the Argos-Ticats game had me feeling a bit apprehensive because in my mind, I was thinking that if a call is missed on a system like that, all hell can break loose. The response of outrage would have to double because the technology is supposed to help you get the clearest possible view and I don't mean in terms of a call a fan doesn't like because it goes against their team, I mean an actual wrong call. I'm not crazy enough to think that any replay system has the power or ability to make every viewer happy, but win or lose it should drastically cut down the number of those militant grouches and sore sports that live to blame a game outcome on the officiating.
It's a lot of pressure to put on a new system. I suppose it's no different than pressures put on any change in the league whether it be new coaches, players or general managers. In my opinion, the Command Centre hit the mark in week one. There weren't many challenges but the time between challenge issued and decision made seemed much quicker to me and I think the calls were right. It's likely for the best that the calls challenged weren't particularly difficult to come to a decision about but all the same, so far, it's seems like it's delivering on what it's meant to do. I can't help but admire the CFL's ambitions to assert an accurate and reliable officiating system. The technology is there, it would be silly not to use it. I think it would be safe to say that I won't be the only fan watching how this Command Centre pans out. I really am hoping the best for it.
Along with getting a better view of inches and quarterback throwing motions, I hope this new clarity given to officials will be able to better determine intention when objectionable conduct calls are concerned. Not challengeable by coaches, perhaps, in a better world, the extra views could curb unnecessary fines if not correcting when an official assigns a penalty to the wrong jersey number (which sometimes happens). It's a bit too soon to put that kind of pressure on this Command Centre, but I can dream of a CFL world in harmony can't I? What I wouldn't mind seeing as well are more former players, either CFL or CIS, encouraged to go through the officiating program to get an even more realistic interpretation on objectionable conduct and major foul penalties.
As for the new rule changes, the fan suggestions that were picked are good ones and I'm still looking forward to seeing how the changes develop. For week 1 though, I saw some fumbles in the "wildcat" formation attempts which was a bit amusing to me but I'm looking forward to seeing more creative approaches to the running game. I did enjoy the kick-offs after field goals (which I didn't think I would). It would've been nice to see Dominique Dorsey around with this rule switch. I can already tell the extra challenge will end up being pivotal on at least a couple of occasions and I am looking forward to it. Hard to improve on a good thing but so far (yes, week 1 is early but I stand by it) so good.
Whether there are eventual glitches to this system, I think that this is a step in the right direction for league officiating and pending a catastrophic missed call; I think it will do well. Let's keep it moving.