SEC made right call on Meyer
SEC Commissioner Mike Slive made his point Friday when he fined Urban Meyer $30,000 for comments the Florida head coach made about officiating on Wednesday. Was it the right decision or should Slive have suspended Meyer?
Last week Slive brought the hammer down on the coaches after a rash of public criticisms of officiating. He put everybody on notice that there would be no more reprimands. Future public criticisms of officials would be met with fines, suspensions or both. He had the full backing of the league’s coaches and athletics directors.
Let me give you some insight into how the decision was made.
Meyer did violate the letter of the law. On Wednesday’s coaches conference call he was specifically asked about a piece of video he sent to the conference office showing what he believed was a late hit on quarterback Tim Tebow by Georgia’s Nick Williams.
Meyer couched his words but this is what he said: “That should have been a penalty, in my opinion. Obviously, it should have been. You’ve got to protect quarterbacks. That’s the whole purpose. It’s right in front of the referee. I’m not sure how they’re going to handle that, but … that was one of the plays we did send in.”
But the SEC commissioner ultimately decided that Meyer’s comments did not rise to the level of a suspension, given the context. But the fine had to be large enough for the other coaches to understand that they don’t get a free shot.
“As I stated last week, I have great respect for Commissioner Slive and the Southeastern Conference and I respect his decision,” Meyer said in a statement. “There was no intent to criticize an official after being asked about a situation that occurred last Saturday and I apologize for my remarks.”
There ultimately was no reason to suspend Meyer. But a message needed to be sent that Slive intends to enforce the rule. The fine does that. It was the right call.
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283 comments Add your comment
SadDawg
November 6th, 2009
1:18 pm
3 days pay….
SimpleDawg
November 6th, 2009
1:18 pm
Urban’s having a bad week….and the Gators are still winning.
NewnanDawg
November 6th, 2009
1:21 pm
Wonder what Kiffin’s response will be? Because you know there will be a response.
Go Dawgs!
Steve Spurrier
November 6th, 2009
1:22 pm
I’ve got next.
Paul's Johnson
November 6th, 2009
1:22 pm
Mike Slive is an egotistical, blowhard who is trying to make a statement, first by stifing the coach’s freedom to comment on the terrible SEC officiating and then by following up it up by fining Meyer.
I will be the first to admit that I despise the classless Meyer but in this case, I can’t really see that he crossed the line
Slime will certainly damage the credibilty of the SEC. He just needs to shut his piehole.
WTH
November 6th, 2009
1:22 pm
I will bet you that the alumni are already collecting the money to pay the fine for him.
wyldbill
November 6th, 2009
1:23 pm
Good.
Inferiority Complex
November 6th, 2009
1:25 pm
$30,000 can buy a lot of eyeglasses.
Secondguesser
November 6th, 2009
1:25 pm
Of course you think that’s the right call Tony. I’d be shocked if any dawg said any different!
Savannah Jacket
November 6th, 2009
1:26 pm
I would like to know why the hell the First Amendment is ignored in these situations. Can’t a man even express an opinion? If they don’t want the feedback, why even accept the submitted video? Seems to me that the officials should get a little thick skin and grow a set!
JB
November 6th, 2009
1:26 pm
I guess Meyer will use the money he pays Slive with to pay for the penalty.
Uh…yeah…I’m sure he really learned a valuable lesson here.
Stinger
November 6th, 2009
1:27 pm
WOW !!!!
This news is just minutes old, and
UGA Homer Tony Bias is AAAAALLLLLLLLL over it.
Pitiful Tony. Just pitiful.
BTW, isnt it kind of funny that Kiffin’s been the one running his mouth so much, yet its Meyer that gets nailed with the fine. LOL !!
I guess the Right to Freedom of Speech doesnt apply to the SEC.
gator gator
November 6th, 2009
1:27 pm
Tony – you happy now?
bull-gator
November 6th, 2009
1:29 pm
$30k huh? Wonder how Slive arrived at that figure. Very interesting football season…never seen anything like it and I hope I never do again. The cheerleaders show more class and maturity than the players, coaches, officials, etc. I quit watching professional sports years ago because of the immaturity and boorish behavior exhibited by players, coaches, managers, and owners. Looks like college is headed in the same direction. I’m sure high schoolers are probably just as bad. Just anther sign of the times…
blazer
November 6th, 2009
1:29 pm
GET FINED FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH WHICH PROBABLY WAS CORRECT!
URBAN WILL HAVE TO FILE FOR SOME GOVERNMENT COMPENSATION NOW!!
Gator Growl
November 6th, 2009
1:29 pm
tony is just another typical ga fan.
act like complete pu$$ies when they lose.
gator gator
November 6th, 2009
1:29 pm
Tony – are you over the arse whipping UGA got last weekend?
Tony Barnhart
November 6th, 2009
1:30 pm
My point is that the SEC made the right call NOT to suspend him. Given the circumstances, I don’t think anyone thought the SEC office would do nothing.
gator gator
November 6th, 2009
1:31 pm
Tony – will you write about something else now?
Inferiority Complex
November 6th, 2009
1:31 pm
Lost in all of this is that it was a dirty hit on Tebow. How much will they fine the black helmuts? How long will of a suspension will Nick Williams serve?
Brew
November 6th, 2009
1:31 pm
Slive had to do it. He’s already completely lost the credibility of having unbiased officials, fair or not. At worst, he governs the worst set of officials in a major conference. His only solution then, is to fine or suspend coaches before he bothers to work on the officiating.
Slive is a terrible, terrible commissioner.
Kiffin’s first fine will be $60K…so sayeth Jeremy Foley, so sayeth Slive.
GMan
November 6th, 2009
1:32 pm
Tony, I guess you guys won’t be happy until coaches create a blog and ask for your opinions on what they should say or do.
Marc Richt
November 6th, 2009
1:32 pm
I guess I want say anything when Cox gets blasted by a cheap shot right in front of the ref.
But, I’ll count on tony to be my mouthpiece for it.
NewnanDawg
November 6th, 2009
1:32 pm
To those talking of free speech – uhhh, hello, if you have a job, the people you work for and any organizations they belong to can set up whatever rules they want. Meyer’s school president voted for this rule. If you are in sales and start publicly badmouthing your own company, you can get fired. This is not political speech, it’s job related.
cajdawg
November 6th, 2009
1:33 pm
Meyer should have had his eyes gouged out.
Dooley's Cardiologist
November 6th, 2009
1:34 pm
Pretty sure the University of Florida Athletic Dept. will pick up the tab (secretly, that is) for this here fine. They will give him some sort of $30,000 incentive bonus. Either way, Urbdiggler won’t have to pay a dime. He should counter fine them for $30,001. That will show them. Not sure they would pay up though.
gator gator
November 6th, 2009
1:35 pm
But really Tony – can you ever JUST GET OVER the domination by UF over UGA? I mean really – you are supposed to be a journalist – Mr. College Football is the name you have given yourself – you are just another disgruntled UGA fan that has a forum everyone can read. Get over yourself – you are not that good!!!!
Bryan G.
November 6th, 2009
1:36 pm
Those of you who call Tony a UGA homer are so unbelievably stupid. Do you think that Tony can’t unbiasedly talk about UGA or one of it’s rivals just because he went to UGA? Geez.
The point he was making is that Slive announced a policy and followed through with it (as he had to). He’s also saying that if the penalty for criticizing the officials is a fine or suspension, then Meyer’s comments warranted the former and not the latter.
Get a freaking life, people.
joe joe
November 6th, 2009
1:37 pm
Way to send that video in Urban. This guy isn’t the angel that the media thinks he is. He can go pretty low & also runs a program that has had many off field problems. Too bad more recruits haven’t seen videos like this one.
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/sports/School_Employees_Go_Above_Duty_to_Help_Student_Sign_at_LSU
Skram30082
November 6th, 2009
1:37 pm
NewnanDawg got it right.
The First Amendment protects you from the GOVERNMENT…not your place of employment, any civic or recreational organization you choose to join, your church or the jerk next door, and certainly not the majority of idiots posting on this blog.
BNAG8R
November 6th, 2009
1:39 pm
Wait a minute Tony……you specifically stated in a previous blog the Marc Richt told the AJC that “a flag should have been thrown on that play”…didn’t you? By the “letter of the law” – doesn’t that also constitute public criticism of the officials? Are you now going to call for a fine for Richt as well? Let’s see how the hypocrisy police handle this one…..
azcat225
November 6th, 2009
1:41 pm
NewnanDawg—concisely and correctly stated.
bull-gator—couldn’t agree more with you.
Paul's Johnson
November 6th, 2009
1:47 pm
gator gator:
Like most of your other GAYtor brethren, you’re an idiot.
“Get over yourself – you are not that good!!!!”
That’s why Tony collects a paycheck for sports journalism and you are getting ready for your shift at the Waffle House.
GT
November 6th, 2009
1:48 pm
I don’t even have a “dog” in this hunt, but Meyers was baited. First all by the Spikes thing and then by the interview on Wednesday. There was more ink spilled on the Spikes eye poking incident than was necessary and you were wondering where all this drama was coming from. It was a common event like a wreck on the interstate getting front page headlines, mainly because it happened to a writer’s favor college, and that writer controls the story. Then the ever news making sport’s writers knowing the probation was in effect on the refs ,baited Meyers on Wednesday and even before then were screaming foul like one of the Duke basketball players that flops on the court without anyone touching him. Then they start pushing the commissioner to do something that they actually created in the first place. It is a set up just like the national championship game they control. Tony get over the loss and move on, it is over Florida won.
Cruise Control
November 6th, 2009
1:49 pm
Hey Tony, has Mike Slive ever heard of Freedom of Speech? Meyer is fined for speaking his opinion? What kind of crap is that? Sounds like Slive is more of a dictator than commissioner.
McDawg
November 6th, 2009
1:49 pm
i thought Urban was infallible
Bryan G.
November 6th, 2009
1:51 pm
You guys have got to stop with the Freedom of Speech Crap.
The next person who says that this is a free speech issue officially proves that he or she is too stupid to comment on this issue.
TS
November 6th, 2009
1:51 pm
ESPN.com reports, “Urban was going to comment on the fine leveled by the SEC office but he didn’t want another $30,000 added on to the end of it.” Asked why he wanted to comment on not having a comment Meyer responded, “No.”
Joe's Sack-Shack
November 6th, 2009
1:54 pm
30K? Well worth it. 8-0, beat “rival” UGA 41-17, SEC East Title. Good week for the team, the defending National Champions.
Otto
November 6th, 2009
1:56 pm
The Gator have a Coach hate most of the SEC, run an offense unique to the league and is getting fine for running his mouth?
Is this the 90s? How many times was Spurrier fined?
UGA has a nice guy coach making excuses and will not come out against the refs.
Looks more like Goff vs. Spurrier by the day.
Billy
November 6th, 2009
1:57 pm
Bryan G. just hit the nail right on the head. Apparently, they’re teaching some watered-down version of the Bill of Rights in school these days.
gator gator
November 6th, 2009
1:59 pm
Paul’s Johnson – nice nick name – in other words you are a d k head
Nativebird
November 6th, 2009
1:59 pm
Wow. Coming from you that’s asstonishing. How about Slime..uh..er…Slive actually fining THE REFS and for H.S. calls they continue to make week after week. It is time, WAY past time, to start implementing INSTANT REPLAY ON ALL CALLS INCLUDING PENALTIES. That’s right, you heard it. Put their calls where their mouth is. If it’s a interference flag they want to throw, then throw it, put then it SHOULD hold up under scrutiny of a replay. And the booth officials manned by an outside firm, 3rd party, non-NCAA, non-Conference, non-interest official.
BNAG8R
November 6th, 2009
2:00 pm
Tony, please respond to whether Richt should be fined. To be clear, your blog from yesterday morning said, and I quote “Based on what those people told me, Meyer is right. Georgia Coach Mark Richt told the AJC yesterday that Williams should have been flagged on the hit.”
Lindsey
November 6th, 2009
2:02 pm
This news makes my Friday, Urban getting fined..SWEET!!! GO DAWGS!!
Paul's Johnson
November 6th, 2009
2:03 pm
tony,
since “IT” still hurts so bad, try MIDOL.
It works when my “IT” hurts.
gator gator
November 6th, 2009
2:03 pm
Tony,
Please answer BNAG8R – it deserves a response.
Paul's Johnson
November 6th, 2009
2:04 pm
GT:
“Then the ever news making sport’s writers knowing the probation was in effect on the refs ,baited Meyers on Wednesday”
Classless, yes, gullible, I doubt it.
DFWTX Dawg
November 6th, 2009
2:06 pm
I think the fine is reasonable. Meyer’s comments definitely were not as blatant or out of line as the ones Kiffin has made throughout the year. I’m sure Meyer could care less, but it has been great hearing all of the analysts, commentators, and reporters completely lambaste the way Meyer handled the “eye gouging.” This ridicule is well-deserved IMO. The way Meyer handled everything was completely classless and reflected a level of immaturity that borders on stupidity for a man his age. My opinion of Meyer keeps declining. The blind support that the UF fans have shown Meyer greatly reflects the classless, trashy lot they are.
There are certainly more trailer parks in the panhandle of Florida than there is in Alabama and GA combined.
BertramGator
November 6th, 2009
2:06 pm
Next time the officials miss a late hit like the one that resulted in Urban’s fine, then Slive should fine himself $30k