But is that true accountability? What does it take to get suspended?
Poor officials getting demoted doesn't help teams like ISU, who, due to our history, are probably getting the lower graded crews more often than not.
There needs to be true accountability. The kind that doesn't simply mean they don't get to officiate games for the big dogs.
Are there things that can be done to improve it? Sure. I was responding to a poster who said there is "zero accountability," which is obviously not correct.
I do think there are systemic problems in officiating. Probably one of the biggest ones is that fans and coaches at the lowest levels (Jr. High, High School) treat officials like you-know-what. Rude, profane, threatening. You want to get paid $55 to go be treated like crap for 3 hours? (More like $30 after expenses). Because of this, young people either never start officiating, or drop out after a couple seasons. Less of a talent pool at that level, a smaller pool at the D3 level, smaller pool at the D2 level ... well, you get the idea. Fewer officials overall = fewer good officials. There is a nationwide shortage of officials. I'm seeing it first hand here in Iowa.
I don't know what it takes to get suspended, but it can happen.
Here is an example.
Here is a good article from CBS sports about what can be done to improve officiating at the D1 level. The biggest suggestion is to make it a full-time profession with corresponding pay. College football is a multi-million dollar business, so that should be possible.
NOTE: I'm not saying the refs on Saturday didn't mess up -- I think the waived off Pass interference close to the end of the game was clearly the wrong call. The first hold of the game looked like a bad call. I'm just trying to provide some insight.