In the spirit of transparency -- one of the year's priorities for Pac-12 vice president of officiating David Coleman -- we'll occasionally check in with him for clarification on specific rulings throughout the year.

Here's the first installment from last week's games.

1. Targeting call on Washington's Azeem Victor

Early in the fourth quarter of Washington's 17-12 win against USC, linebacker Azeem Victor was flagged for targeting and ejected from the game. As a result, he will miss the first half of the Huskies' game against Oregon this week.

Here's the play:

The call didn't sit well with Washington fans and when discussing it with local reporters this week, coach Chris Petersen didn't give the impression he agreed with the call, either.

On if was a teachable moment, Petersen said:

“Absolutely. That’s probably the most disappointing thing. Around the quarterback you’ve always got to be really, really cautious. That’s easy for me to sit here when for those kids the name of the ‘game is get to quarterback.’ The strike zone has changed completely. How we wrap-up and all those different things factor in. If we do what we’re coached to do we don’t put ourselves in a situation.”

Coleman, in an e-mail, confirmed the call on the field was correct:

"The call was roughing the passer with targeting. The targeting was called for the hit on the defenseless quarterback for forcible contact to the head or neck area. It was helmet to helmet contact. When the play was reviewed by instant replay, the call on the field stood. A defenseless player cannot be hit by an opponent with forcible contact in the head or neck area with the hand, fist, forearm, elbow, shoulder or helmet. The other form of targeting is that a player cannot make forcible contact with an opponent with the crown of his helmet."

2. Offensive pass interference versus Oregon reversed.

Late in the quarter of Washington State's 45-38 win against Oregon, the Ducks took a 24-21 lead on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Jeff Lockie to Royce Freeman. Initially, the officials flagged WSU for offsides and Oregon for offensive pass interference (the play can be viewed here), but the flag for pass interference was picked up, and official Land Clark explained: "There is no foul for offensive pass interference. The pass was thrown behind the line of scrimmage."

Except it wasn't. Replay clearly shows Freeman caught the pass beyond the line of scrimmage. Coleman admitted a mistake was made.

"The call was incorrect. The pass was caught beyond the line of scrimmage and the OPI should not have been picked up."

3. Oregon coach Mark Helfrich wasn't pleased with the officiating, either

As noted here in the Eugene Register-Guard, Mark Helfrich said he will be looking for clarification on a sequence at the end of regulation which preceded Washington State's game-tying touchdown with a second left. WSU quarterback Luke Falk spiked the ball on first down, but was then required to do it again. Helfrich reasoned that it was a breach of the rule that prohibits a team from putting the ball in play before it is ready (4-1-4 in the 2015 NCAA rules and interpretations book) and should have been a 5-yard penalty.

“If you snap the ball and the ready-for-play [whistle] is not blown, that’s traditionally enforced as a penalty,” said Helfrich, per the Register-Guard. “It’s a delay of game of snapping the ball before the ready for play, so we’ll discuss that.”

Coleman says the sequence was handled appropriately. Here's his full explanation:

"The handling of the snaps that took place prior to the ball being made ready for play were properly handled for the following reasons:

• The down box had not been set before the first spike. When that happens after a first down, play is stopped, the down box is set (chains if outside the 10 yard line), the ball is made ready for play and the clock is wound.

• There was miscommunication between the Center Judge and the QB and center. Standing next to the QB, the CJ said “snap the ball when I say ready”. When the CJ said it a second time, the QB spiked the ball and told the CJ, “you said ready”. The proper decision was made to reset.

It was best to reset due to that sequence of events and the miscommunication described."

4. Unsportsmanlike conduct against Cal receiver Darius Powe

Cal receiver Darius Powe was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after crossing his arms to form an X following a touchdown reception. Powe alleged on Twitter an official said the gesture was interpreted as a gang sign. Powe said it represented the Roman numeral for 10, his jersey number.

Coleman did not address Powe's allegation regarding it being called a gang sign, but confirmed, regardless, the call was correct.

"After the touchdown, the player turned towards the stands and crossed his arms in front of his chest. Rule 9-2-1-a states that a player cannot make an act that focuses attention on himself. This is unsportsmanlike conduct."