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.
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254 comments Add your comment
mmgtfan
October 28th, 2009
12:01 pm
First!!!
mmgtfan
October 28th, 2009
12:02 pm
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!! And Second!!
Mark Bradley
October 28th, 2009
12:05 pm
MMGTFAN, it’s been a long determined march for you to this pinnacle. Kudos on your achievement.
mmgtfan
October 28th, 2009
12:08 pm
Many thanks, Mark
Pissed off Bulldawg(2 years running)
October 28th, 2009
12:09 pm
4th Biatches!!!
MiltonDawg
October 28th, 2009
12:09 pm
Its all about the spreads and Vegas Baby!! The Mob has their hand in it. I think the refs need to take longer to review these questionable plays rather than throw the flag and move on. SEC games are always competitive and their needs to more analyzing rather than going by first look or judgement.
Pissed off Bulldawg(2 years running)
October 28th, 2009
12:09 pm
I am hungry, Mark, can I have some KUDOS?
BTW, who came up with that ridiculous word???
Tide Fan
October 28th, 2009
12:10 pm
Sorry Mark, but you’re just plain ign’ant on the Cody situation. Doesn’t matter if the ball was still live or not, helmet removal/celebration is treated as a dead ball foul, meaning it would be enforced after the play was over. In this case it would have been treated as a post-possession foul. From the rule book:
“(f) Removal of a player’s helmet before he is in the team area (Exceptions: Team, media or injury timeouts; equipment adjustment; through play; between periods; and during a measurement for a first down).
. . .If committed while the ball is alive, these fouls are treated as dead-ball fouls. “
poopdawg
October 28th, 2009
12:11 pm
No doubt in prior years the ACC officials were worst than SEC officials. I still believe the SEC has the best officials . But since the celebration penalty in 2007 against Florida, i’ve seen some serious bad attitudes towards GA(penn Wagers Auburn 2007.) Its makes me wonder ,what could be up?
Michael Scharff
October 28th, 2009
12:13 pm
Mark, I don’t know that there is a conspiracy per se. But, you have the two highest paid coaches in the league, along with the highest profile player in the league, combined with the numbers one ane two ranked teams in the country. I would think that all of those factors would combine to produce hesistance/resistance on the part of the officials going in to an Alabama or Florida game from the start.
Mark Bradley
October 28th, 2009
12:15 pm
OK, you asked.
From Wikipedia: “Kudos (pronounced /ˈkuːdɒs/, or often /ˈkuːdoʊz/), from the Greek κῦδος (not to be confused with κύδος “taunt”), kydos, (literally “that which is heard of”) means “fame” and “renown” resulting from an act or achievement. Extending “kudos” to another individual is often done as a praising remark. It entered English as British university slang in the early 1800s.
“In Standard British English, as it is in Greek, Kudos is a singular noun: Much kudos to you for pulling it off. However, some have been known to use it incorrectly, believing it to be plural: She received many kudos ['ku:doʊz] for her work.”
Whopper Dawg
October 28th, 2009
12:15 pm
What about the non-call on the Teebow celebration and exhorting the crowd in the Arkansas game – anything AJ did PALES in comparison to that.
Mark, I hear you, but I disagree that rigging the game would be difficult, in truth, I think it would be very easy. Too many call very bad calls going the way of the “favorites” in the SEC. I can’t explain it another way besides collusion.
umustbejoking
October 28th, 2009
12:17 pm
Huh? Refs were suspended for the first time in League history because of the horrendous calls they made and you say well maybe they weren’t so bad after all? They were pathetic, indefensible calls. To heck with the admission from Slive…how about a public apology to A.J. Green who has NEVER done anything on the field to draw attention to himself, besides make great play after great play, and he is given an UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT penalty? Classiest GREAT player on the field in the SEC since Herschel Walker. Why don’t you go talk to him if you think your out of context (he was pushed toward the stands) still photograph influences your opinion? He’s classy and honest and will tell you if he was out of line if you are in such need of confirmation.
Steve
October 28th, 2009
12:19 pm
Mark – not that I subscribe to it, but the LSU/UGA conspiracy theorists believe that the SEC wanted to preserve the next week’s Floriday/LSU Saturday night game as a game between undefeated teams. An LSU loss to UGA would have stripped that game of some of its luster.
Rob
October 28th, 2009
12:19 pm
I didn’t graduate from an SEC school, so I don’t follow. What exactly have the ACC refs to do with any of this, again?
Strange comment to end on, considering the premise and the argument. Oh well, I guess people take their shots where they can.
MiltonDawg
October 28th, 2009
12:24 pm
I agree with WhopperDawg- why can’t Tebow get a flag for pumping up the crowd or his team. Isn’t he drawing attention to himself? But i guess its just Tebow- God’s gift to college football.
PMC
October 28th, 2009
12:25 pm
Goofy rules inconsistantly applied are the basis for most frustrations in our society.
Kydawg
October 28th, 2009
12:26 pm
Tebow can do anything he wants…ESPN holds the record for “man-crushes” on this guy! SEC officials can’t help but follow along. He left the bench for cryin’ out loud in last years game to “show boat” and didn’t get anything called!
JB
October 28th, 2009
12:28 pm
No bias………………………….look at the call on AJ, then look at say half of Tebow’s TD celebrations.
I know you’ll say all is fair……………..Geez. I don’t think there is planned calls, but biased, yes.
Jim
October 28th, 2009
12:28 pm
Baby Kiffin complained that Alabama had messed with the headsets in order to give the Tide an advantage. However, Lame failed to realize that the Volunteers had overloaded the circuits and tripped a fuse. They plugged all their equipment into the same outlet (ignoring the many open outlets) and thus caused their own problem. Yet, he was so mad he crossed his arms and pouted to the refs while his Dad did all the talking. Poor guy. He can’t win so all he can do is complain.
Spike
October 28th, 2009
12:30 pm
Mark, that lame attempt to justify the call against AJ Green is about the most pathetic rationalization I have ever seen to make sense of something that simply did not happen. And no matter how much you or Slive or the officials try to justify it, will not make it so. I’m calling you out on this one. It is sad that you get paid to write this.
BugKiller
October 28th, 2009
12:33 pm
Mark, I have to agree wiu others here.
Why does Teblow NEVER get called for excessive celebration?
He’s an insufferable attention hog on and off the field (funny how ESPN’s cameras never find Mark Richt building school houses in Guatamala, but they can find Teblow performing unescessary, religiously motivated surgeries in the Philippines).
He is ALWAYS calling attention to himself after even the most innocuous of plays, yet NEVER gets penalized.
There IS a kind of conspiracy with SEC refs in that Florida and Alabama and LSU will always get the benefit of the doubt, while everyone else is called tighter.
Basically, it’s the NBA star rule of refereeing. Kobe and LeBron get all the calls, Al Horford doesn’t (yet).
There is favoritism at play here, Mark, especially with Teblow. At least acknowledge that.
Floyd
October 28th, 2009
12:34 pm
Every SEC ref should be given a full background check for ties to organized gambling. This has nothing to do with a conspiracy to put Bama or Florida atop the league….these clowns are making obvious blunders against every team in the league at one point or another. They influence the outcome of games almost every single weekend, most of which have no real bearing on who ends up atop league standings.
Nobody is this incompetent. Some of these guys are on the take.
Go ahead…say it can’t happen…say there’s no evidence for this sort of behavior by referees in other sports….I dare you…
BJohnDawg
October 28th, 2009
12:34 pm
I dont have a problem with a ref missing a call. A Call. But for three plus years it seems SEC refs miss the Tebow antics on a 2 yard run for a first down.Time and Time again. Guess he is just passionate, while anyone else doing the same is calling attention to themselves. Care to comment Mark? Guy on CBS sure did.
Actually, I will go so far as to say, I think racism is involved. Yes I said the R word. OOOH.
As to the Florida-Georgia game. Dawgs will have to play the cleanest game of their lives. No turnovers. And I predict—wait for it, wait for it, here it comes ” A questionable call by the Referees.”Against UGA. That will be no factor on the outcome. But fuel the debate.
George
October 28th, 2009
12:36 pm
All you media types “swear” there’s no conspiracy. Everybody thought the world was flat, leisure suits looked good, smoking was cool, banks were too big to fail… Just sayin’
Mean Dean
October 28th, 2009
12:38 pm
Excellent article, Mark. Here’s another thing to think about with regard to the whole conspiracy thing: if you were an official (or an SEC exec), would you willingly subject yourself to the crap they deal with on a blown call so that CBS’ ratings would improve? Would that be enough motivation for you to intentionally make a bad call, knowing that writers and bloggers will vilify you and that hundreds of crazy fans will call you at home and at work, threatening you and your family, saying unbelievably nasty things about you, and sending you hundreds of nasty and threatening emails?
Atlanta Sports Fan
October 28th, 2009
12:40 pm
If by the Grace of God Georgia is in a position to possibly win and somehow pulls off a major play at the end of the game to give them an opportunity to win, an SEC ref will pull out a flag and negate the play regardless of how controversial it may be so that Florida can win.
Mike Slive and Rogers redding want an undefeated number 1 Florida to play in the SEC CG against Alabama and then they want Florida to play in the BCS CG for the money and recognition for the SEC.
You don’t believe it? Just watch the game.
If the other conferences do not insist the NCAA step in and investigate then they are crazy because they are getting screwed by SEC refs too.
Just watch and see, Mark. The call may be borderline or it may be shamelessly obvious in it’s error, but it will happen.
SEC football is fixed this year.
Also watch Tebow and the rest of the Gators run towards the crowd with arms open or doing the Gator chomp after a score. You will not see a celebration penalty.
rico43
October 28th, 2009
12:42 pm
I agree that conspiracy theories are nuts.
But is it possible that there are individual officials who might carry a grudge or have a favorite? Sure.
Could there be corruption? Of course. There’s too much money involved.
Can the officiating be better? Hell yes.
This debate is healthy, and maybe some of the pathetic officials will be weeded out now where they would have skated by before.
Skipper
October 28th, 2009
12:44 pm
The idea that the SEC is looking out for Florida is LAUGHABLE. The Gators have ALWAYS been the redheaded step child of the conference (remember 1984?). In and Old South league, the Gators are not only “New Money,” we’re also not from the “real” South.
Yeah, so we got a break. I just find it hard to believe that it was a concerted effort to preserve an undefeated season. Maybe it’s more the same deal as the strikes Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz used to get? When you’re good, you get the breaks.
Maybe Georgia should consider winning their games and then maybe they would get a few breaks. Or maybe they should worry about penalties that have no affect on the outcome of their own games. Or maybe they should worry about what stadium they play Florida in (remeber 1995?). Or maybe they should worry about what color shirts they wear. Or maybe they should worry about a choreographed dance routine in the end zone. All those things seem to be working very well.
I know, worry about winning your own state championship before screaming about a conspiracy that’s keeping you from winning your conference. Losing to the ACC makes us all look bad.
FireUga7.net
October 28th, 2009
12:47 pm
The issue amongst most isn’t whether SEC refs are fixing games (can anyone link to even one blog alleging the refs are?), but rather whether the refs are competent. SEC football is a multi-billion dollar business, yet the referee system is still managed in the same manner as it was 50 years ago.
There is no place, given the money and stakes involved, for part-timers in today’s game. Like the multi-billion dollar NFL, officiating should be professionalized as a full time occupation.
Chris
October 28th, 2009
12:48 pm
Yeah and if you look real close, you’ll see wind blowing the flag on the moon where there is no wind…or is it the other way around?
The problem with conspiracy theorists is they fail to recognize a basic human fact…people can’t keep their mouth shut.
Oliver Stoner
October 28th, 2009
12:48 pm
The figures behind the wall past the grassy knoll — weren’t they wearing black & white stripes? Hmmm…
murfdawg
October 28th, 2009
12:48 pm
Mark,
1) CBS does not have the broadcast rights that ESPN does and therefore has to capitalize on their big games. For CBS and the SEC to have two undefeated teams ranked #1 and #2 would be bigger than all the other bowl games and the MNCBCS. What would advertising minutes cost during that game?
2)Two constants in all the controversial calls—Marc Curles and Penn Wagers. They are the Earl Strom and Mendy Rudolph of college football. If you don’t know who they are(were?), call Furman Bisher and he will give you all the details.
Bill
October 28th, 2009
12:48 pm
I don’t know about conspiracy theory, but anyone that watches SEC football or basketball can tell that some refs have it in for some teams. And they affect the outcome of games. Florida gets the most help. Why has the last two Head of SEC officials, Rogers Redding and Bobby Gaston been Ga. Tech graduates, . That’s a little too much of a coincidence for me.
FireUga7.net
October 28th, 2009
12:51 pm
Also, poor officiating overall increases the ease with which corruption could occur. The large number of true bad calls would make it much more difficult to detect corrupt bad calls (I’m not saying that has occurred already).
Thomas
October 28th, 2009
12:54 pm
MB: Regarding AJ – in this case, the photo lies, but the video doesn’t. Go back and watch the video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-qccCuL4nQ) and you’ll see that it was his teammates who pushed him backward toward the hedges. He didn’t try to separate himself. The photo doesn’t show the context of the event.
Sonny Clusters
October 28th, 2009
12:56 pm
We was in the playoffs and you-know-who was slipped into the backfield by Coach and Stinky snapped the ball to him and he run right up the back of the quarterback and jumped over the goal line and scored a winning touchdown. The referee looked over there at him grinning and strutting and shaking his hips and waving to his Momma in the stands and the referee just about threw that flag right in his lap. Boy, was Coach mad! Coach come running on the field and got jaw to jaw with that referee and was talking so fast he was spitting. You-know-who was over there by himself crying like a baby and he was heaving and sobbing and may have wet his pants. He said it was sweat. We was never sure. It turned out okay because we scored again and we was state championship but excessive celebration can never be a good thing. What do you think, Mark?
Island Dawg
October 28th, 2009
12:58 pm
Bradley, that is absurd and this is the worst article you’ve ever written which is saying a lot. How dare you defend these thug officials? There is a reason they were suspended and should be fired. There is an SEC conspiracy and unless you’re wearing blinders it is obvious. So UGA lost because maybe Green didn’t want to be mauled by his teammates?…Come on , mark and your DB colleague.
GeoffDawg
October 28th, 2009
1:00 pm
The “calling attention to oneself” rule being inconsistently applied is certainly an understatement. Lord Tebow can gator chomp until his arms fall off and will rarely, if ever, get called for that. That being said, I don’t think there’s a conspiracy to get Bama and Florida in the title game but I do think that the refs have been out to put Georgia in its place since the 2007 Jacksonville dancing scandal. Case in point was two weeks ago vs. Vandy. Rantavious Wooten catches a big first down pass and does a little two yard spike with the ball and gets called. A minute later, a Vandy player, celebrating a sack on Joe Cox, throws Cox’s towel about ten yards in the air. What did he get from that? Bupkis.
Nate
October 28th, 2009
1:00 pm
I don’t really know where to start. A lot I want to say but I’ll just start with a couple…may come back later with a few more.
First, LSU was undefeated and right around a top 5 team I believe when they played UGA. The very next week, I think, they were playing Florida. So while now the matchup everyone wants is UF-Ala, back LSU was also one of the blessed SEC undefeateds. And a Florida win over LSU looked much better when LSU was still undefeated at the time.
Second, I’m tired of all this(mainly coming from the “all-knowing” Tony Barnhart) talk about the officials just reacting to a play and that the losing team never should have been in that position…blah, blah, blah. If that’s the case then why have I always heard football is a “game of inches”. The truth is, sometimes games come down to mere inches(see: The greatest show on turf hold on to beat the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV)
Anyway, I know anyone who speaks up about something where there could be conspiring going on is immediately dubbed a fringe-surfing lunatic, so I won’t go on anymore.
But bottom line is college football is no longer an amatuer sport, while the players aren’t compensated, there is a lot of money to be made in NCAA football. I know at my job I get paid to bring in more money to my company. What does the SEC pay its officials to do? Just saying…
another John Grisham
October 28th, 2009
1:00 pm
Mark,
Here is the outline for my next book:
Failing financial advisor steals millions from clients on Ponzi scheme.
One client is mafia kingpin and old friend from engineering school.
Fiancial advisor is also football referee.
Mafia boss wants his money, makes deal with ref to deliver big game.
National tv network discovers plan and makes deal with ref to deliver big game.
Not sure how to end the story, but everything you need in an action novel is there.
Can you help me with some of my research?
T-Bone
October 28th, 2009
1:01 pm
MB, I agree with Rob (above). What’s with the ACC vs. SEC refs comment at the end? It had nothing to do with your otherwise good article. Besides, what is your argument here? Why make a statement like that without some kind of argument to defend it?
GaTech78
October 28th, 2009
1:01 pm
Mean Dean with the money involved, you could talk bad about my grandma. If that’s the worst thing they suffer……….so what. The ACC should take a lead from the SEC. As it is now, they have parity between 4-5 teams and the result is their conference is labeled as weak. What if Va. Tech and Miami had been protected as Fla. and Alabama have been. Would they be 3rd and 4th (depending on where you put Texas) with Miami having lost to Va. Tech? USC is up there with one loss and they didn’t play in the rain…….
Mark Bradley is a Genius
October 28th, 2009
1:07 pm
It is absolutely asinine to even suggest that A.J. Green might have been separating himself. The fact that you bring it here completely blows my mind. His touchdown reception was no different than probably THOUSANDS of others that have occurred with no flag thrown. The SEC admitted his actions didn’t constitute excessive celebration. End of story. But kudos (since that apparently is the word of the blog) on perpetuating the illusion that he was “separating himself from teammates” by using a misleading sequence of photos rather than complete videos from several different angles. Why does it matter how much closer this ref was to A.J. than the camera men (ever heard of the zoom feature?)? It doesn’t change the fact that he wasn’t doing anything wrong. If anything it proves that the call was that much MORE ridiculous since the ref was that close and still threw the flag over nothing. Watch the video, it was good enough for the SEC officials. Or you can just continue to fan the flames because you think it makes for a good read. It’s not like this was an example of where live footage could betray the eye or prove inconclusive (like not being able to tell if a runner beat the throw, or seeing if a ball hit the ground). Heavy analysis is not required here, but thanks anyways.
phoenix falcon
October 28th, 2009
1:08 pm
Mark, it sounds like you are in league with the ref’s, it only takes ONE to have a agenda, it only takes ONE to have a bet made, it only takes ONE to be an lsu grad standing in the back of the end zone to throw a flag for a celabration that NEVER happend.
BJohnDawg
October 28th, 2009
1:08 pm
Hey here is one for you. If the Gator chomp that Tebow and the rest of Florida does on a big play is not a penalty, not drawing attention to one’s self? Is it because that is what Gator’s do in nature? Chomp on things.
Well if that is the reason no penalty on the Gator players for the chomp, I guess the Georgia players could get on all fours after a big player and raise their hind leg, and simulate what a dog does, you know like what that soccer play did a few years back. Do you think the SEC referees would call a penalty and say ” the player was drawing attention to him self, or say ” no he was simulating what a Dog in nature does, you know p&%s on things.
Again, the media, does not want to talk about that. They LOVE Tebow ( and yes, I think he is a great football player and individual)
So the chomp will continue, unabated, and with no penalties on a 2 yard first down.
And another comment. Florida and Alabama are hands down best teams in the nation and in the SEC. But after what I have seen from both teams in the last couple of weeks, that is a sorry statement on this years college football team. Florida looked bad against Ark, Miss State. Alabama looked bad against Tenn.
Just bad football from good teams, that are the best college football has to offer. Reality is I wish this year’s Georgia team was just good enough to be competitive with these ” less than stellar teams”. Unfortunately that is not the case.
But I will drink my liquor and cheer for them just the same.
And thank god I am not a Tech fan.
DP
October 28th, 2009
1:09 pm
Mark, you hurt what is otherwise a great column by suggesting Lane Kiffin had a legitimate beef about Cody taking his helmet off. As has already been pointed out, unsportsmanlike conduct is enforced as a dead ball foul before the next play whether it occurred during or after the preceding play. Had a flag been thrown on Cody, Alabama would have been penalized 15 yards after the change of possession on the blocked kick. But there was no next play since the game is over.
Here’s what Stewart Mandel of cnnsi.com had to say about it:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/stewart_mandel/10/28/iowa-mailbag/1.html
I know you hate people whining about bad calls, but if Terrence Cody doesn’t get flagged for excessive celebration at the end of the ‘Bama-Vols game, shouldn’t the SEC retroactively award UGA the game I won against LSU? I mean, fair is fair. – A.J. Green, Athens
Hey A.J. Thanks for writing in. Glad to see you’re a Mailbag reader. Naming you to our Midseason All-America Team last week didn’t happen to prompt this e-mail, did it?
I regret to inform you, however, that the difference between your admittedly unwarranted flag and the non-call on Cody for removing his helmet is that there was no time left on the clock after the end of the play, therefore there was no “next play” onto which to tack a penalty. I can understand your confusion, however. Lane Kiffin didn’t seem to know or care about this technicality during his now-standard postgame gripe-fest. Maybe you read his comments. Some advice: don’t. Quite frankly, I’m not sure at this point whether he knows any football rules.
Nate
October 28th, 2009
1:11 pm
Good point Island Dawg!
I’m sure as a kid Green, like many of us with lesser abilities, dreamed of being mauled by his teammates after scoring a big touchdown.
But now, Green scores a lot. And it probably gets old after a while, especially when you have 300 pound linemen trying to jump alll over you.
I would be trying to excape too, or end up like Ted Ginn Jr in the title game a few years back…
Sonny Clusters
October 28th, 2009
1:14 pm
Celebrations is as celebrations does. We was always low-key celebrators. A little walk over to the referee and toss him the ball and wink a little out of the left eye. Then, turn slowly and run off the field to the adoring shouts of the fans in the stands. We was always able to do that because we was disciplined ball players disciplined by Coach. Ol’ Coach was never one to let us celebrate ugly on the field. He told us to keep it in the locker room. When we’d get in there we’d let loose and call that other team names and talk about they Mommas. On the field, though, we was perfect gentlemen except for you-know-who, that was a crybaby always wanting attention.
Yellow=Pee
October 28th, 2009
1:14 pm
You obviously havn’t seen Teebow acting like a Baboon every time he runs the ball six yards.
Joe
October 28th, 2009
1:15 pm
The real problem is that Gtu graduates are running the SEC officials.
What would an Alabama fan do if an Auburn grad was head of officials? How about a South Carolina if a Clemson man was head of officials? How about Florida if an FSU alum was head of officials? It is absolute lunacy to have a Gtu grad as head of SEC officials.
The guy who made the call on AJ Green went to Gtu. Al Ford was the Instant Replay official in that game.How does Al Ford have a job? Did Bobby Dodd give him a job for life for giving Gtu the game in 1999? The head of refs before Rogers Redding also went to Gtu. Is there some sort of good-ole-boy thing working here or what?
The problem that the SEC has, is that the refs are so bad that any conspiracy theory really does not sound that outlandish. SEC football is the closest thing to the NFL there is in every way, with one notable exception-the officials.
We are talking about a billion dollar business here. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the the refs could get a bonus from the league if an SEC team goes to the BCS game.
Why not do away with any semblance of impropriety and hire a full-time, professional force of highly trained, athletic and and highly compensated officials.
There should be no officials affiliated with any SEC school or any SEC rival school.
Saint Richt
October 28th, 2009
1:16 pm
Vince Vance arrested last night but Mark Richt says it will not affect his status for Saturday’s game. Of course it won’t! Richt is such a wuss its not even funny. Way to step up and let all your other players know that you can get arrested and still continue to play! What a role model he is.
“Just don’t let it happen again, Vince. Now get in that locker room and get ready to beat the Gators Saturday.” yep, Slap em on the Wrist Richt strikes again.
JaxDawg
October 28th, 2009
1:18 pm
Mark I’m tired of hearing all the media guys try to make everyone think that there is NO POSSIBLE way there is a fix on regarding Bama and Florida! I’m not a conspiracy theorist but let’s look at some cold hard facts and the significance of each:
1. UF and Bama are ranked 1 & 2 – them meeting in the SECC in tact means 2 things: HUGE ratings ($$$) for the game and a guarnteed spot in the NC game, possibly both teams. In a close game say one that’s won by a FG or less, how far would the team w/1 loss really drop? a day or two of the right lobbying could set up a rematch in the NC game. Don’t think it could happen look at UF/FSU 96.
2. Look at the amount of $$$$ at stake! We’ve seen what corporate big wigs are willing to do protect and hoard $$$$, you don’t think it’s POSSIBLE officiating crews are instructed particularly in close games with these two to call any and everything that they can and if it’s a close call it should favor the “protected” team.
3. Is it simply mere coincidence that the controversial calls have come against these “protected” teams?
-UGA/LSU – celebration call – sets up top 5 match up following week w/Florida
-Florida/Arkansas – several bad calls- main one the personal foul, but what about two even more signifigant ones everyone’s forgotten- the no calls against R.Cooper when he sling shoted himself to get open for his TD catch & the offensive pass interference no call when he rode the defender’s back in the endzone.
Florida/MSU- Clearly video evidence shows the ball was fumbled by D.Doe BEFORE he crossed the goal line and recovered by MSU, several chippy calls as well.
Bama/Tenn- how about when tenn is 1st and goal and all of sudden get “phantom” holding calls. Redding backs up the no call on Cody citing that it would have no affect as Bama takes over, but Tenn kicked on 3rd down not 4th! disparity in calls as well tenn 8 to bama’s 1.
Bama/SC- nothing even mentioned after he said it and sent video in, but Spurrier sent video in that shows Bama using tape to spot the ball on FG trys which is illegal.
4. Not only are the calls blatant, but they all in varrying degrees GAME CHANGING!!!
But you, Barnhart, and the rest of the media keep on selling that we’re fools for thinking there could possibly be some kind of conspiracy! After all we’re only talking about MILLIONS of dollars, I’m sure the integrity of the SEC front office is well above insuring and protecting their interest in that piece of the pie in the interest of fair play! Not to mention they have NO interest in protecting CBS & ESPNs BILLION dollar interest by insuring top team match ups and top rated games by keeping Bama & Florida undefeated.
hmmmmm, then again, maybe you and the other media talking heads are right, WHY ON EARTH would they risk a bit of weekly ridicule and scrutiny for the sake of SEVERAL MILLION $$$ how silly of ANY of us to think any kind of fix is in just to protect that kind of money over fair play and actually doing what’s right OVER money!!!
DP
October 28th, 2009
1:20 pm
Jim, is that conjecture about UT tripping the circuits and knocking out the headsets, or do you have a source for it? I haven’t seen that anywhere.
jennifer
October 28th, 2009
1:20 pm
Mark, you responded to the “kudos” comment. Aren’t you going to respond to Tide Fan’s correct recitation of the rules and correct your faulty analysis?
You said “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.”
This is absolutely incorrect. This is not a subjective call or an expression of opinion. This is a situation that is clearly governed by the rules Tide Fan (and Slive) recited.
I think your initial publication of this false information was just a mistake, but it would be completely dishonest for you to not correct your article. It’s people like you who spread misinformation who are fanning the fires of this conspiracy theory.
Addison Steele
October 28th, 2009
1:21 pm
Mark, I may be raising something that’s already been chewed over, but the actual conspiracy theory to check is UGA’s rate of penalization since the Jax endzone dance (following the Nashville stomp). It might be worth checking the numbers when it comes to penalties-per-game since that dance, versus the penalties-per-game in the same number of games before CMR decided to show everyone he had an edge to him. If the numbers do reveal a noticeable uptick — particularly in unnecessary roughness or unsportsmanlike infractions — it still is not likely to be the product of a conspiracy. Instead, it’s probably the collective result of individual refs making calls with one thing in the back of their minds — the Dawgs and their coach not afraid to blatantly violate the rules, and need to be kept in check.
WTH
October 28th, 2009
1:22 pm
Wow, this is great. I want have to watch any comedy shows on TV tonight. This is hilarious. By the way, I think I saw a flag thrown from the grassy knoll. Why don’t you mistreated schools leave the SEC?
Mark Bradley
October 28th, 2009
1:23 pm
I did not say Tennessee should have gotten to kick again. I said Cody should have been penalized.
kurula
October 28th, 2009
1:23 pm
i haven’t heard anything about conspiracy or anything like…and i understand they are making real-time full-speed judgment calls as it happens but these men are paid to do this. it’s not just a couple of guys they round up 20 minutes before the game and say ‘call it like you see it’. they also have to know all of the rules forwards and backwards. the only complaint i have is the tendency to throw a flag on borderline calls. i say just keep the flag in the pocket on iffy calls. the reason being this: when an official flags a play, it is replayed over and over and scrutinized highly. chances are, most no calls will go unnoticed.
DP
October 28th, 2009
1:24 pm
To the conspiracy theory crackpots, could you explain the mechanics of how it would work, i.e. who initiates it, how many officials are brought into the loop, how the officials can react fast enough to make the right bad call at the right time, what happens if the officials miss an opportunity to make a bad call and the wrong team wins, how no official approached to participate in the conspiracy ever says no and talks to the press, etc.?
GWJ
October 28th, 2009
1:24 pm
The SEC has the BEST players, the BEST facilities, the MOST money, the MOST passionate fans and absolute WORST officials in the country! Sadly, this has been the case for the last several years.
BAMAGator
October 28th, 2009
1:25 pm
Wow, this is great. I want have to watch any comedy on TV tonight. This is hilarious. By the way, I think I saw a flag thrown from the grassy knoll. Why don’t you mistreated SEC schools leave the conference and form your own conference?
SEC powerhouse
October 28th, 2009
1:26 pm
Let’s see, just an observation, Florida has Troy, Charleston Souther and FIU on their schedule…Bama has FIU, North Texas and Chattanooga…you call this national caliber teams that truly deserve number 1 and 2 rankings? Con artist needs to play somebody before I would give them that respect.
jennifer
October 28th, 2009
1:27 pm
You’re saying they should have called a penalty after the game was over? It’s not as though there were another play forthcoming on which it could be assessed. I think you’re playing with semantics to avoid answering for a misleading article.
DP
October 28th, 2009
1:30 pm
Mark, you said Kiffin has a legitimate beef. Why? Is there some sense of satisfaction in watching an official throw a flag and then pick it up to explain why it won’t be enforced because the game is over? Kiffin complained because he said Alabama would have been penalized 15 yards and Tennessee would have had another play to try the field goal again.
Yellow=Pee
October 28th, 2009
1:31 pm
It’s easy DP. Call more penalties on one team rather than the other. i.e. Tennessee Bama
FBI
October 28th, 2009
1:32 pm
The reason why nobody in the media wants to admit to cheating officials because it could totally destroy the image of sports in this country. Lots of money is on the line in all of these leagues and you have to be pretty ignorant to think that officials have never tried to fix the outcome of games. We are supposed to believe that Tim Donaghy (the NBA referee that got arrested for fixing games) was acting alone. They act like the public is so stupid. Donaghy said it was going on with other referees throughout the league. The SEC is walking on a slippery slope and they need to do a better job of disguising their true agenda.
TD
October 28th, 2009
1:35 pm
Bad calls? yes. Conspiracy Theory? No. Let’s see. There are approximately 6 officials on the field for each game. The GA-LSU and FL-ARK crew was suspended. We know that the FL-MS ST crew was different than the AL-UT crew. Who knows who the crews were for the other games that you all are crying about? I understand that there is a lot of money in football and the SEC would financially benefit from a UF-AL championship game but if you actually believe that the SEC told at least 18 guys to favor these two teams your an idiot. The official who outed this scheme (even if it was subtly implied) could write a book and make millions.
Bill
October 28th, 2009
1:37 pm
” I finally did listen to the Roger Redding on Finebaum audio and was struck by his comment about the follow on call on LSU after the AJ Green call….. which he stated was probably worse. “Do I believe that flag would have been thrown if the first one had not? No.”
Those are his words, not mine. And those words clearly explained to me that even at the highest level of collegiate football officials are allowed to have “make up calls”? Sure he was dancing around his words but what was so troubling to me was the official word out of the SEC was the call against LSU was “justified” (along with the call on Orson Charles). So the make up call which Redding said was worse was justified? Ooooooooo Kkkkkkkkk…. you just made the official SEC explanation look like page 4 from The Book of Lies.
The other comment I found troubling was Redding, a GT grad, in explaining the bad call against AJ Green (his words) went on to “remind” Finebaum’s audience what happened after both penalties and further suggest had UGA taken care of business “we wouldn’t be talking about (the AJ Green call)”. Oh really, so if UGA had won the bad call wouldn’t be important? If I had the ability I would love to tell Mr Redding that the limit of the referees’ opinion needs to be the flags thrown or lack thereof, not subtle slights at one of the playing teams that perhaps suggests a hint of move the blame rationalization, the SODDIT (some other dude did it) defense. I would remind Roger he was on the Finebaum show because the call was so ridiculous and arguably MIGHT have cost a SEC team a win, not to provide self serving commentary on the game itself. ” Roe Dawg
Pi$$onaDawg
October 28th, 2009
1:38 pm
V. VANCE can’t you get a driver license? STUPID DAWG brakes the law a few days before the Gator game. HAHAHAHAH. CMR it will be handled internally. Of course he will play it is UGA/ Clarke County Jail vs the Gators. Marke grow a PAIR. Fire BOBO, Willie, and Kick players of the team. Vince get out of the Rose garden and voice your discust with the State of UGA FOOTBALL.
Other Bulldog
October 28th, 2009
1:38 pm
Watch the replay of the Dustin Doe non-TD against Ms State. The only way that is not overturned is by sheer incompetence or fraud. Take your pick, the is no way to justify the call.
Having said that, it’s not about whether that game changed the outcome etc… Coach Mullen had to run 30 yards onto the field and nearly tackle the Ref to force them to even review the call. They did not even want to review it! Add that to the seriously blown call against Houston (a top 25 team) that was never even reviewed. Or how about the refs not reviewing Anthony Dixon’s 2nd down run at the end of the LSU game. Coach Mullen was right, why have it if your either not going to use it or seemingly can’t see what is plain as day in the review.
Everyone who watched the UF-MSU game knows that Doe had the ball stripped, for Rogers Redding to adamantly state that the review call was correct makes folks think there is a conspiracy. Especially when it happened the week after the phantom calls against Arkansas. Why would you not be suspicious?
wmatlanta
October 28th, 2009
1:40 pm
I agree with BugKiller.
Not only does Tebow not get called for excessive celebration, he’s also immune to personal fouls.
He stiff armed the Miss. State defender in the face mask on his TD run in a picture shown round the nation, but didn’t get called for it. It should have negated the TD with a 15-yard penalty from the spot of the foul.
Tide Fan
October 28th, 2009
1:40 pm
Bama also has Virginia Tech on the schedule, who would likely kick the crap out of Okie St. Additionally, they gave up 33 total points in five consecutive SEC games (UK, Arky, Miss, SC, UT). How many did Arky put up on UGA again? More than 33 in just ONE game? That’s what I thought.
TD
October 28th, 2009
1:41 pm
And to the best of my knowledge Donaghy (NBA ref) fixed a variety of games not just for one team. Attention is the last thing that the mob wants. By the way, if the mob paid off the refs in the last couple of Florida and Alabama games, you may find those refs in concrete as they haven’t come close to beating the spread.
gator gator
October 28th, 2009
1:42 pm
GET A LIFE PEOPLE!!!
If UGA is getting screwed so bad then just make a statement WIN.
Or can they?
Or do they really want to – sounds like the UGA fans would rather lie in self pity.
Jason
October 28th, 2009
1:48 pm
Actually, Mark according to Tony Barnhart and the SEC you’re wrong on the following point…
You said: “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?”
Tony’s article from yesterday: “The other call came at the end of the Tennessee-Alabama game. Alabama’s Terrence Cody blocked a Tennessee field goal as time expired and in the wild celebration that followed the big guy took off his helmet. Gary Danielson, who covered the game for CBS, wondered if it should have been an unsportsmanlike violation because it happened while the ball was still live. Kiffin was convinced that it was and said publicly that the refs had missed it.
Well, the refs didn’t miss it. The way the rule is written, even if a penalty had been called (which it shouldn’t be in that situation), it would have been marked off on the next play and not the previous play. The ball belonged to Alabama after the blocked kick.
“That’s a case where the rule is pretty clear,” said Redding. “Even if there had been time left on the clock, the ball would have belonged to Alabama. And if a penalty had been called, it would still be Alabama’s ball after the penalty was enforced.”’
Look at that the AJC is about as consistent as our (UGA) defense has been this year.
Intergalatic Hitchhiker
October 28th, 2009
1:48 pm
MB:
So, on YOUR planet,
Stock Markets can be “rigged”
Elections can be “rigged”
MLB can be “rigged” (Anyone else remember the Chicago “Black Sox”)
NBA can be “rigged” (Didnt a ref just go to prison for this)
etc.
etc.
Everyhting, but College Football, especially SEC football…with tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars involved…
And you dont think efforts (by one or more) cant be made to “fix”
a game, or dictate the outcome of a game or games???
So, MB, just exactly how long have you lived on this…PLANET??
However long, it aint been long enough. How naive.
One tin soldier rides away
October 28th, 2009
1:50 pm
The call on Mt Cody would have been after the game was over and would not have resulted in an additonal attempt.
The call on MSU made a difference in the game
The call on Arkansas made a difference in the game
The call on AJ Green made a dfifference in a game.
That is why they were suspended.
After watching the Rogers Redding on Tony Barnhardts show, It is apparent why the SEC ref’s are under such fire. If you want to see incompetence, just keep watching the SEC refs.
My father now deceased was an SEC ref, and thye had one rule back then that should go into play now. Unless it is pesonal foul, and it is not in the play and does not affect the play, don’t call it. Maybe we should go towards that now.
The SEC refs’ have lowered themselves to below big East refs. If a replay official can’t turn over an obvious replay call, then there is a problem, and there is something to this”conspiracy”. It has seemed obvious for years to most of us, and at least for four years one player has gotten away with excessive celebrations, and I’m sure he will again on Saturday.
GeoffDawg
October 28th, 2009
1:52 pm
Pisser – you think kicking someone off the team for a misdemeanor traffic violation is more appropriate than say, running stadium steps?
Nate
October 28th, 2009
1:53 pm
Saint Richt,
Did I miss something…was Vince Vance wielding a fire arm or abusing his girlfriend? No…he had a suspended license. Get real, in Knoxville Eric Barry could drive a Bull Dozzer down main street without a license anywhere on him and the local law enforcement would be blocking off intersections for him.
This whole thing is a joke, and it only happens in Athens.
SEC powerhouse
October 28th, 2009
1:53 pm
hey tide fan, good for you bama played va tech, how bout scheduling 3 more div 1 games outside the conference..I’m not a fan of any SEC team but I’m stating the obvious..and the only reason you played VT by the way is that the Kickoff Classic committee invited you, no one from Bama called VT I promise you that
ugaaccountant
October 28th, 2009
1:54 pm
Why would you expect Vince to be suspended from the game? He ran a red light, so what? Would you be suspended or fired from your job for that?
Area 51
October 28th, 2009
1:55 pm
Okay if there is no conspiracy then why is the SEC CG referred to as “The Race to Witch Mountain” at the home office with a gator and an elephant pinned to the bulletin board.
volsgo30
October 28th, 2009
1:59 pm
I wear no tin foil hat, therefore I do not believe the conspiracy theory stated. Bama won fair and square and I am proud of my Vols for giving Bama hell right to the end. With a depleted, less talented roster, I think they did quite well for themselves.
One question: Could we start a fundraiser so that Bama could afford a groundskeeper or at least some green paint? Your field looked like an overused urban high school football field. You are Division IA, right?
m
October 28th, 2009
2:00 pm
Acc officials are way worse than sec officials. The difference is that ACC officials are just inept and usually inept for everybody. The sec officials are also inept but they are biased…especially if it is a non-conference game.
If the sec officials, who will call the ugag/TECH game….if they made all the same bad calls that they made against uga (in the lsu game) and all the same bad calls that they made against arkansas and miss st (in the florida games)…if they made all of the against TECH in the ugag game…is there anyone that thinks the sec would suspend them??????
Heck no…the sec is such a crybaby league with such crybaby fans that they try to appease them by suspending the officials.
There are just as many bad calls in any other league than there are in the sec but the sec is just a bunch of crybabies.
Bottom line…the sec officials and the sec teams and the sec fans are PATHETIC.
PDawg
October 28th, 2009
2:01 pm
Does anybody on our football team have a valid drivers license?
Jefferson
October 28th, 2009
2:01 pm
At least UT are good losers, UGA are bad losers.
RAMBLE ON!!!
October 28th, 2009
2:02 pm
Mark thank you for being the only voice of reason on this Newspaper.
Ted Striker
October 28th, 2009
2:07 pm
No conspiracy by SEC refs although it’s possible an individual ref or ump can have bias, one way or the other. It’s just human nature.
John
October 28th, 2009
2:09 pm
Mark,
You fail to mention that Alabama recovered the ball, so even if a flag is thrown, it only moves Alabama back 15 yards and there was not even any time for another play. Also, I believe that the ball crossed the line of scrimmage, so Tennessee cannot advance the ball. Also, there are pictures that show that Cody had his helmet on when the clock hit zero.
Nate
October 28th, 2009
2:11 pm
TD,
I don’t want to waste too much time humoring you, but I do find it quite ironic that while you were questioning the intelligence of others you wrote “your an idiot”. Wow that’s good stuff…I think you were looking for “you’re an idiot”. Hahaha, you can’t make this stuff up.
Second, why is 18 the magic number of people willing to collude together to do something outrageous. How many people were in on the Enron scandal? Or the Black Sox scandal?…”Eight Men Out” makes me think it must have been 8… But that’s still a far cry from 18, right? Anyone remember Hale-Bop comet and the Heaven’s Gate Cult? 39 people were all persuaded to kill themselves or be vaporized by the comet.
I know I am going to an extreme to make a point…but if 39 people cam be convinced to do something like that, why is it so hard to believe that 18 people couldn’t be persuaded with money to make one or two bad calls or look the other way?
…Just sayin.
Steve
October 28th, 2009
2:11 pm
Mark, you pick UGA to lose Saturday, which I agree with. However, does Florida cover the 16 1/2 point spread or does UGA keep it close?
RAMBLE ON!!!
October 28th, 2009
2:11 pm
Mark I bet Tony Barnhart just took you off his xmas card list.
robert
October 28th, 2009
2:12 pm
Enter your comments here
Mark,
Your response to Jennifer would make Bill Clinton proud. Can’t you man-up and admit you were wrong??
Mike Sleeze
October 28th, 2009
2:13 pm
Ya’ll quit talking about my officials…they call ‘em like they were told to see ‘em. Ya’ll have to realize that it’s not the game, nor sportsmanship, nor even about school spirit. It’s all about the money, and guess why we have those huge TV contracts? Ratings…top 1 and 2 teams in the polls attract viewers like flies to honey. You don’t hear any gripes about officiating when UGA, Ark, Miss State, Tenn, et al, cash those SEC checks.
Delbert D.
October 28th, 2009
2:13 pm
Incompetent conpirators! In the LSU-Georgia game those boobs waited to call a game-winning penalty (for themselves) that resulted in a kickoff from the 15 yard line? That’s cutting it a bit close, don’t you think? There would have been a mob shootout in the refs’ motel rooms after the game.
PTC DAWG
October 28th, 2009
2:14 pm
I just can’t quit laughing at some of these comments.
timthebrave
October 28th, 2009
2:15 pm
If you run a red light in athens you get arrested. You get a ticket anywhere else. You get arrested for possession of alcohol by minor in athens. You get your parents called or a ticket anywhere else. The Athens police(in general) are the worse I have ever seen anywhere in the US. There are some that are good guys just trying to do their jobs, but the majority are looking to arrest you for anything
Tom
October 28th, 2009
2:15 pm
I wonder if FSU fans ever gripe about the head of SEC officiating being a UF grad?
And no, Joe, the back judge who threw the flag on AJ Green is not a Tech grad. The umpire who threw the PF flag on Arkansas is, however.
Joe
October 28th, 2009
2:15 pm
The big problem, if there is no conspiracy going on, is that the refs are absolutely incompetent.
Which is worse?