The SEC, its refs and the conspiracy theory: No sale, I say
You make the call: Was A.J. Green separating himself? (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Lane Kiffin is upset, not that it takes much to upset Lane Kiffin. Bobby Petrino is upset, not that Bobby Petrino is ever not upset. But Dan Mullen is likewise upset, and to date we’ve had no reason to lump him with the first two.
Mike Slive is upset because the highly compensated coaches in his highly compensated league are throwing a snit fit not seen since Duke and J.J. Redick were perceived to be getting all the calls in another sport in a different highly compensated league. The growing feeling around the South is that SEC refs are doing their part — more than their part, actually — to produce another conference championship game matching the nation’s top two teams. I have one problem with this line of thinking:
Football refs aren’t clever enough to pull off a conspiracy involving one team, let alone two. And I’m not speaking just of SEC refs; I’m speaking of refs in any and every conference.
It’s a little different in basketball, where there are only three officials on the court and the coaches are yelling in their ears all game. One cowed man in a gray shirt can make a huge impact on a basketball game.
But there are seven officials on a college football field, and some of them are stationed so far from the sideline they can’t hear anybody yelling anything. Are we to believe that a crew, which gathers only on weekends and then disperses for six days, is so well drilled that it can conjure up a decisive penalty out of thin air whenever the designated team needs a lift?
Penalties are judgments made at full speed. The personal foul against Arkansas’ Malcolm Sheppard in the Florida game was indeed a poor judgment, but I have to confess: I saw the replay of the sequence on a small TV in the Vanderbilt press box with the sound off and I thought Sheppard slammed into a Gator from behind. After viewing subsequent replays (see below), I realize I was clearly in error. But I can understand how a trailing official might have thought he saw the same thing — a gratuitous knockdown as opposed to a legitimate attempt to fend off a block — I thought I did.
OK, but now you’re asking: What about the celebration penalty on A.J. Green? First of all, I’m not sure how LSU fits into the get-Florida-and-Alabama-to-Atlanta scheme, but never mind. The TV replays showed nothing untoward, as the SEC has since conceded. But esteemed colleague Brant Sanderlin shot photos of the sequence (one is above) that indicated Green might — I said might – have been trying to pull away from his teammates and thereby “call attention to himself.”
I know, I know. It’s a goofy rule and it’s inconsistently applied, but it’s still a rule. And the ref in question, back judge Michael Watson, was standing closer to Green than any TV cameraman got.
About Kiffin’s beef: He has one. Alabama’s Terrence Cody blocked what would have been the game-winning field as time expired and tore off his helmet while the ball was still loose. Should have been a penalty. But would refs in the conference that chastised its men for penalizing Green dare to assess another excessive celebration in another high-profile game?
About Mullen’s: He has one, too. The ball appeared to have been stripped from Florida’s Dustin Doe before he crossed Mississippi State’s goal line with his interception. The replay official should have righted what the field officials failed to catch. But he didn’t. In my mind, that’s the worst of all the missed calls — one that was apparent after review but left in error.
But here’s the thing: The refs didn’t hand Doe the ball in the first place; he intercepted it. The refs didn’t guide the Tennessee kick into Cody’s hand; he blocked it. Refs are reacting to situations, not creating them. Sometimes they get it wrong. Most times they get it right. And one thing more:
SEC refs are better than ACC refs any day.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
254 comments Add your comment
Crybaby Dawg
October 28th, 2009
5:11 pm
Games are rigged so that Georgia can’t win the SEC.
Refs have it in for Georgia more than any other school.
There is a conspiracy against the Dawgs.
Never mind that we won 2 SEC titles in 4 years, as 2N4YEARS’s outdated moniker tells us.
Somehow the refs slipped up those 2 years.
Our collective amount of idiocy is beyond imagining.
I can only guess than none of these idiots actually went to UGA.
But then again, they probably did.
Prat
October 28th, 2009
5:12 pm
Why was there no flag on Cody? because a game can’t end on a defensive penalty. If they throw the flag, tenn gets another kick.
Robbie
October 28th, 2009
5:17 pm
The boys in strips certainly did Miss. State no favors in this one but hten again thta is two weeks in a row that Florida has benefitted from bad calls. Look around the league South Carolina, Florida, LSU and some would argue Alabama have all benifitted from poor officials. What do these teams have in common, the games with bad calls wewre all close ones and the SEC does not want the favored team to lose to an Arkansas, Vandy. MIss. State, or a down Georgia team this year. It would make the league look weak and they cannot have this with the ACC, Big Least, Pac-10, and Big Ten all having down years as well. It is still possible that an undefeated Alabama beats an undefeated Florida in the SEC Championship game and they they rematch for the BCS title. Not likely but it could happen and I think deep down that is what hte league wants and why some games are so one sided by the officials.
Scott
October 28th, 2009
5:19 pm
A couple of years ago (I believe 2006), Mississippi State had Georgia on the ropes. I forget the details of the play, but Miss. St. made a very long play that was going to go for a touchdown. Almost after the fact, an official who was more than 20 yards from the closest player through a flag that nullified the touchdown (I believe offensive pass interference). Replays could not find any foul, in fact they couldn’t find that the player in question came anywhere close to a Georgia player. They showed the official and where he was looking. It sure looked like he saw what was happening and through a flag. Now, I was watching that game and pulling for Georgia, but it was the most blatant call of a penalty just for the sake of protecting the highly ranked SEC team and its bowl considerations that I had ever seen. Who’s to say that the same thing didn’t happen in Georgia_LSU or Arkansas-Florida? But it’s not just an SEC problem. It’s not just a college problem. With all of the resources available, and the fact that penalties are often of great consequence to the outcome of games, there is really no good reason that these sould not be reviewable.
Goon
October 28th, 2009
5:22 pm
i just figured it out! the reason fla has been barely winning was done so tebow could break herschel’s record against ga. that’s the conspiracy!
ugaaccountant
October 28th, 2009
5:26 pm
Teague “1dawg fan you do know that dui, possession and battery are also misdeamnors too right?”
dui – serious
battery – serious
possession (of beer) – who cares? The only way you should get in trouble for this is if you do other crimes such as dui or battery.
Running a red light – not something good, but absolutely a misdemeanor that deserves a small fine. There is no way my tax dollars should pay to have someone arrested for this. This is a gross abuse of power by the Athens cops.
having a valid license – I don’t understand this, but it apparently is part of the culture. For whatever reason, every single uga news story that has broken on misdemeanor traffic violations has also failed to have a valid license. I don’t give a rip about this either, because it is nothing but a $20 tax. Anybody who can pass the vision test can get a license so whatever.
Mister T
October 28th, 2009
5:26 pm
185th and I didn’t even try!
But Mark, what’s up with throwing ACC officials under the buss? I haven’t heard of any of them involved in any of these little episodes?
As a Tech fan, I have even admitted that the Green celebration call was stupid.
The Arkansas one appears to be the most egregious.
Why is it that only celebration after a touchdown seems to get called? Why do defesive players get away with those dances after sacking a qb or throwing a back for a loss?
THWg!
LAdawg
October 28th, 2009
5:40 pm
Does anyone know if the officials are being paid during their “suspension”? If they are getting paid, it is not a supension; it is a paid vacation which smacks of cover-up rather than discipline.
where is Alt?
October 28th, 2009
5:43 pm
Has he given up on the dogs?
Mister T
October 28th, 2009
5:44 pm
My prediction for Jacksonville.
Game ends on a controversial call involving Tebow.
uga loses by 21.
But the difference is really the no call involving Tebow according to the dog fans.
PLEASE!
THWg!
ref conspiracy
October 28th, 2009
5:49 pm
Mister T,
You’re almost right. I say gators win by 35 but dog fans will complain about a controversial call with 30 seconds left that in their mind gave the gators the game
teddy
October 28th, 2009
5:52 pm
the websites that have the bowl projections should just state due to big money and tv contracts, the bcs has decided to make sure the NC game involves either fla or bama from the sec against either texas or usc. sorry iowa and tcu. there is too much $ involved for you to meddle in our affairs. have fun playing though in our other bcs bowls.
Mike Sleeze
October 28th, 2009
5:56 pm
Complain all you want, but nothing is going to change. My talent for negotiating billion dollar TV contracts is secondary to my genius for making sure the #1 and #2 teams are SEC. How many of these teams complain about officiating when they cash that SEC check? Too bad the ACC, Big 10, PAC 10, etc. haven’t figured it out….yet. It’s all about the money.
HappyDawg
October 28th, 2009
6:01 pm
Martinez is No 1 Defensvie Coordinator in the Nation! The Ref’s have stolen every game from us. Look for the “MARTINEZ WIZARDARY” to be on display in Jax this Saturday. His GREATNESS as a DC will lift the dogs to a shutout of the OVERRATED GATORS.
ugaaccountant
October 28th, 2009
6:03 pm
Putting all of your eggs in one basket = this helping FL retain it’s #1 rank.
A better strategy for the SEC would be to maintain the honor of the game and allow the games to be determined on the field. A bunch of top 10 and top 25 teams is better than 1 game with #1 vs. #2 in the long run.
Jefferson
October 28th, 2009
6:05 pm
I look for a cheap shot on T-Bowe this Sat.
GaCracker
October 28th, 2009
6:12 pm
So two wrongs make a right. What good is a replay official if doesn’t review EVERY play? The Alabama player was obvious about celebration, but would it be a dead ball foul or was the ball still live then? If a dead ball foul, the Bama only gets a 15 yarder and retains the ball. But good grief, don’t overcompensate one way because of a previous bad call the other way. I think the refs didn’t have the guts to go against the home team in Denny Stadium. I wish we’d just fire the entire crews of all these games.
RT
October 28th, 2009
6:17 pm
The rest of the country is corrupt, why couldn’t the SEC officials be just as corrupt. I think they are on the take.
Dawgs30814
October 28th, 2009
6:55 pm
SEC Officials = Corrupt
Mark you and the Media are wrong. How come you only see the bogus call in the big games.
Lee Roy Mercer
October 28th, 2009
7:18 pm
If them referees cost us this game, too. Me and my brother’ll be up there soon as he gets off work. When we get there somebody’s @$$’ll be whupped.
Hershall who?
October 28th, 2009
7:33 pm
What is the over/under on Mr Tebelow’s rushing TDs?
Another Dumbazz Dawg
October 28th, 2009
8:06 pm
SEC refs faked the lunar landing too. Dan Brown is working on a new book right now about how SEC refs secretly run the planet through their control of the U.N.
The sad part is that you backwoods imbeciles actually believe this junk.
Gwaltney
October 28th, 2009
8:43 pm
Mark Richt will keep complaining about the officials, Jan Kemp, the weather, whatever, until they run him out of Athens on a rail.
How long are Dawg fans going to put up with this guy?
Gwaltney
October 28th, 2009
8:44 pm
The lunar landing was faked?
Mike Rediker
October 28th, 2009
9:25 pm
The Cody helmet-removal flap would not in any way have changed or affected the outcome of the game. The SEC has already explained that: (1) Alabama recovered the blocked ball and thus had possession; (2) while a game cannot end on a foul by the defense, at the time relevant here, Alabama had recovered; thus, any penalty would be assessed against Alabama on its upcoming first down; but (3) there was no “next” down to play, as time had expired. So, the official could’ve called the foul, stepped off the penalty against Alabama, and Alabama wouldn’t even have had to snap the ball.
SOUTHGADAWG88
October 28th, 2009
9:40 pm
If there is a conspiracy to help FLA and Bama it’s all for naught..neither team is a good as they were last year and both will probably end up with two losses.One thing about the refs I don’t like though is ..IMO they should not be making spur of the moment type calls at critical junctures of ballgames.The ARK and Green call were the.. at 1st glance something didn’t look right type of flags that should have been waved off.Refs are human they can get caught up in the moment like everyone else.. but AFTER the flag has been thrown there should be at least a discussion amongst the officials to ensure they are not about to make a call that can impact the outcome of a game over some borderline judgment of a players intent.
Cautiously Optimistic
October 28th, 2009
9:50 pm
Mark, I dont think the refs are trying to set up games or pick on anyone in particular, but what I believe is that it has to do with reputation. We all know UGA has a bad rep. so I feel like we are under a microscope as compared to FLA. being the # 1 team so they on the other hand tend to get the calls to go there way. Tim Tebow is the perfect christian so he could never do any wrong……right? So he gets to flap his arms and draw attention to himself without penalty. It’s been that way in other sports too where the better teams tend to get the calls in there favor. Baseball in particular.
I
Cautiously Optimistic
October 28th, 2009
10:07 pm
Mark, I dont feel like the refs are trying to set up games but I do feel like reputation comes into play. We all know that UGA has a bad rep. for penalties, so I feel like we are under a microscope. Take the Gators on the other hand, the top teams seem to have the calls go there way, in any sport for that matter, that’s just the way it is. I think the rankings play into the refs heads sometimes. Like if a team is ranked highly, they must have gotten there without making mistakes. Again, reputation. One expample, watching the Braves over the years I’ve seen Bobby Cox get tossed for barking at a call from the dugout while other managers would run onto the field get in the umps face and argue about it for however long and return to the dugout. I always felt the umps were biased toward Bobby because he was known to argue calls.
To me this explains why Tim Tebow can flap his arms drawing attention to him self without penalty but when any of our players do the least little thing there are yellow hankies all over the field. We all know Tim is the perfect christian boy and could do no wrong…………….
As far as the Terrance Cody fowl, that’s a tough one. That wasn’t a judgment call, he did remove the helmet but on the other hand I guess they didn’t want to change the outcome with a flag for once?
Bob
October 28th, 2009
10:18 pm
Mark, I agree with you about the conspiracy piece.
But on the Arkansas penalty…are you drunk? It was nothing close to being a penalty and don’t give us that crap about a trailing official. Not remotely close to being a penalty. Even the ref admitted that he “thought” he saw it out of the corner of his eye.
And on the Green penalty, have you seen the complete ground video? Nothing close to a penalty. Nothing at all. Pure fiction by someone who wanted to throw a flag.
Finally, please spare us that ACC officials are worse than SEC officials. They are not nearly as bad.
Cautiously Optimistic
October 28th, 2009
10:30 pm
Sorry for the double posting, it didn’t show up the first time……….?
Roy Mullins
October 28th, 2009
10:47 pm
I’ll be right there with you Lee Roy
Saint Simon
October 28th, 2009
10:53 pm
i wants me a football man now…
Tom, Resident Georgia Fan
October 28th, 2009
11:18 pm
Mark, all it takes is this—a mindset going into the game. “Guys, in a threatening situation to the big team when everything is on the line, if you see a potential call, make it. And you know who to make it against.”
drbasic1
October 29th, 2009
12:01 am
For anyone saying but bama had 10 penalities for 113 yards…bla bla bla. They could have had 300 yards in penalities and the other team 400, it is one particular call near the end of the game that can change the outcome of a close game. In reality, did Tenn. kick the ball on 3rd or 4th down? That would make a difference or else if it were fourth down, the call or non call makes no difference as it would have been a dead ball foul.
HairyDawg
October 29th, 2009
12:26 am
Mike Slime is a crook who is responsables for riggering games to hurt UGA and helps them sorryest Gaytors.
Now that spot shine lights is on Slive’s reffs, then Dawgs can return to winning SEC and then get BCS champs likes we rightlyful deserving..
Freshman Tight end
October 29th, 2009
2:24 am
mark ,,, i agree about pulling away ddrom everyone with that chin in the air
Freshman Tight end
October 29th, 2009
2:25 am
” away from” thats the way i saw it….
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN
October 29th, 2009
5:38 am
Tebow’s “showmanship” is a tired act.
jerry
October 29th, 2009
7:06 am
To insinuate a fix is totally inane. I mean for crying out loud, some of these refs are lawyers, stock brokers, and used car salesmen.
stuck in macon
October 29th, 2009
7:44 am
Good one jerry.
Dawg Tired
October 29th, 2009
8:01 am
Mark – You get an “F” for analytical ability. First: You say you don’t get how LSU fits into the scheme with Alabama and Florida. Surely you jest! At that time, they too were undefeated and looked like a real possibility to represent the West in the SEC Championship. Losing to a poor UGA team would have been pretty devastating. Need I continue?
Second: There are 7 instead of 3 thing. Come on! It only takes one. Too easy.
Third: If this is simply the result of unbelievable incompetence, its worse than we think. Once again, I submit no one is that stupid, although your column is making me rethink this belief.
Fourth: Not only is the call at the TWO YARD line in the MSU – Florida game a terrible call, as you point out, it was actually reviewed! How could you review it and not see it? Obviously they saw it and stuck made the bad call. You think that was the result of being stupid? Well, I think that’s a stupid conclusion. In any event, it is one of two possibilities. Why do you think the “stupid” thing is the right one? I assume you have to pass some minimum competency test to be a SEC official. That call fails that test. If you fail that test, you don’t get the job. Surely you lose you job if you fail it during a game if lack of competency is the reason for the bad call. Yes, the Commissioner is in on this too. Seems obvious.
Fifth: Mount Cody removing helmet thing. You attribute the failure to call that as being the result of being criticized for the other terrible calls. Again, I must say, “Really?” That call is not a judgment call (unless you have to judge whether he actually took his helmet off)and would not have been a “bad call,” except for the fact that the rule is bad to start with. Obviously, he should not be penalized for celebrating the game winning play like he did, but under the current dumb rule taking your helmet off to celebrate is an automatic penalty. I suppose you believe that if a UGA, AK, or MSU player took his helmet off to celebrate no penalty would be called. Well, if you believe that, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn I will sell you – at a very good price by the way! It was not called because it would have given TN another shot at winning the game against the # 2 (# 1) in one poll) team in the country. How can you reach any other conclusion once you analyze it?
THINK! Really, it’s not that difficult.
Dawg Tired
October 29th, 2009
8:06 am
Mark – If you don’t like my analysis, I refer you to Jerry’s at 7:06. His reasoning is impeccable! He gets an “A.” (I assume you “get” his reasoning).
an SEC fan
October 29th, 2009
8:28 am
If Mark Bradley doesn’t think that SEC refs are on the take then that is proof in itself that SEC refs are truly dirty. I believe that SEC refs are under the influence of bigtime sports betting and use their flags in order to control the point spreads. It is obvious from watching any SEC games. The SEC refs are dirty! There needs to be a federal investigation into it.
Quit whining you cry baby Vols
October 29th, 2009
8:31 am
UT Vol fans are the whiniest in the SEC or the entire south for that matter. When Cody removed his helmet the game was over you stupid silly inbred hillbilly Tennessee fans! Now shut up Vols and go rinse your dentures, then sit back and relax in your trailer!
GeorgeC
October 29th, 2009
8:54 am
The refs are not incompetent, and there is no conspiracy. They’re human, and they made a mistake. And am I correct in thinking that Lane Kiffin has no beef, since Cody’s infraction was post-possession? Tennessee’s kick was blocked, and they did not recover it.
JaxDawg
October 29th, 2009
9:20 am
I think a lot of people are missing the point as to how the cheating could work.
Obviously the refs can’t completely control the outcome of any game, however if it’s a tight game and the other team is looking as though they are about to take control of the game or get back into a game, it only takes one well timed flag to change the course of the game.
Just think about WHEN some of the flags occured and the influence each had on it’s respective game. Again the teams have to do their part, but they seem to get a boost when needed.
Again amazing people don’t think there’s any possiblity of anything shady happening even with Millions and Millions of $$$$ at stake.
Suppose the “Black Sox Scandal”, Tim Donaghy, Pete Rose, the Arizona St point shaving scandal, are all just imaginary “grassy knoll” incidents too. These people cheated and during the time before they were exposed everything appeared to be on the up and up, and the money involved was a FRACTION of the money we’re talking about now.
You don’t think there’s pressure on the SEC powers that be to insure top ranked teams for big time exposure and ratings now that they’ve signed over a BILLION DOLLARS worth of contracts with CBS & ESPN??!
Dawg Tired
October 29th, 2009
12:51 pm
George C – Game can’t end on defensive foul. I think UT gets a do over. Of course, I could be wrong.
Sting 'em Buzz
October 29th, 2009
2:05 pm
FYI, there is ONLY ONE referee in a game, count them, 1. He is the one wearing the white hat. We each have different positions on the field and only one of us is a referee. We are all football officials.
thank you
Jill Miller
October 29th, 2009
2:47 pm
GO DAWGS!!!
Sting 'em Buzz
October 29th, 2009
2:56 pm
Biff Dawg, I believe the requirement is for 4 players on each side of the kicker in college.