SPORTS FOLDEROL

  Trying to catch up … knowing we never will … Officiating (all sports) is at an all-time low … perhaps  reflecting widespread difficulty finding willing  participants on local level. Or is it simply a sign of the  times. Draw your own conclusions. *****  Boy, did Virginia Tech get the short end of what  ESPN’s  LOUIS RIDDICK   described as “a really bad  call” in  Saturday’s 34-17 loss to Miami, Fla.  Down by 17 points but showing some offensive spark in  the second half (after scoring three points total in the  first), the Hokies completed 17-yard pass-run play that  carried inside the Miami 40 ... nullified by an inadvertent  whistle. Get this: QB  KYRON DRONES , ignoring blitzing  BR Y CE  FITZGERALD,  who had him low, around the ankles,  launched a perfect toss to  AYDEN GREENE  … but,  with ball in the air, suddenly you heard the whistle.  ESPN’s crack crew didn’...

Headline seen on-line: Will Penn State live to regret  firing James Franklin? Better to ask: How Long Before Franklin Wears Out His Welcome at Virginia Tech? *****  YOU COULD almost feel sorry for  BILL  BELICHICK … except it is Belichick after all … so  what doesn’t seem fair gets a pass, nevertheless, when the  media goes out of their way to trash the six-time Super  Bowl winner for attending his 24 year old girl friend’s  cheerleading contest after his North Carolina football  team loses another game. Given a choice, it says here, every one of his critics  would do the same thing. Besides, his assistant coaches  had to be pleased, too, that is if rumors of Belichick’s  reaction to losses while coaching in the NFL are only half  true. We know one former aide who told horror stories of  Belichick unable to sleep which meant his staff had to  stay up all kinds of crazy hours and work, too. *****  WAS IT only...