Let's get one thing straight. The play didn't decide the game. Yes, LSU would have gotten the ball...

Let's get one thing straight. The play didn't decide the game. Yes, LSU would have gotten the ball down six instead of down nine 2 minutes and 50 seconds later, but there's no guarantee backup quarterback Jarrett Lee, working with backup running back Stevan Ridley, would have led the Tigers down the field for the winning score against the ferocious Alabama defense.

But we should be comfortable in knowing that correct calls led to a result that will stand forever. A result, mind you, that allowed Alabama to clinch the SEC West title and set up a showdown with Florida in Atlanta on Dec. 5. That's the problem with all the SEC officiating hijinks this season: Now we don't know. Now we can't be sure the best team won, because we know both teams didn't get a fair shot. Saturday's disputed call was as unfair to Alabama as it was to LSU, because a tiny seed of doubt has now planted itself in the minds of all but the most fervent Alabama supporters.

Andy Staples, SI.com

3 months ago Billy Gomila 25 comments 0 recs |

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SEC officials

have been garbage this season.

You are banned from Music City Miracles.
Happy Now Tits?
You are banned from Blogging The Boys.

by CFHTim on Nov 8, 2009 10:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

where anyone gets the idea that THIS season is special for referees. It seems like every year people talk about a “new low” for officiating quality, but I haven’t seen many teams get five downs this year (I’m looking at you Colorado).

by HarveyBirdmanAAL on Nov 8, 2009 11:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

You do realize

SEC officials aren’t Big 8 officials and this isn’t 1990, correct?

by Billy Gomila on Nov 9, 2009 8:54 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Different verse

same as the first.

by HarveyBirdmanAAL on Nov 9, 2009 9:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually the point is

That SEC officials in 2009 are having a horrible season.

Of course naturally, Bama fans think its all good.

by Billy Gomila on Nov 9, 2009 9:42 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

because you guys were sooooo upset after the Georgia game…

What you're seeing is team spirit. It's like the Holy Spirit, but more powerful.

-Hank Hill

by Zoltar on Nov 9, 2009 9:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We at least admitted it was a horrible call

As was THE SAME EXACT CALL against LSU a minute later. We didn’t defend the terrible officiating. Hey, no school has benefited from the BCS more than LSU… it doesn’t mean I don’t think it’s a corrupt, horrible system. We try to see past our own nose around here.

Fake Pundit. Real Fan.
http://www.andthevalleyshook.com

by Poseur on Nov 9, 2009 10:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Geez

Why is this year any worse than any other year? Let me see – SEC official is quick to flag AJ Green / Charles Scott for a phantom celebration penalty that allegedly affects the outcome of the game (please talk to Jake Locker, circa 2008). Poor decision on late hit & pass interference call during Arkansas / Florida game (because that NEVER happens — please talk to Miami circa 2002). I’m still altogether baffled at why we’re bitching about that Mississippi State call (no camera angle showed me anything conclusive).

I say again: this year is no worse than any other for SEC officials or officials at large.

by HarveyBirdmanAAL on Nov 9, 2009 9:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

But you're pulling examples from different years

All of these things have happened in the same year, in successive weeks.

by Ianoka on Nov 9, 2009 5:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I understand

But, from my perspective, it doesn’t matter.

In all honesty, two of those three calls came from the same crew (same official?), so that would indicate that the problems aren’t as widespread as everyone makes them out to be.

by HarveyBirdmanAAL on Nov 9, 2009 8:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually we pointed out

That the horrible officiating in LSU-UGA was at least two-sided.

Are you saying the SEC will be giving us multiple makeup calls against Ole Miss and Arkansas?

by Billy Gomila on Nov 9, 2009 10:10 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't expect

any level of competence beyond which you’ve already experienced out of these refs.

by HarveyBirdmanAAL on Nov 9, 2009 10:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh so now you admit they're incompetent?

I thought we were just whining?

by Billy Gomila on Nov 9, 2009 10:59 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Assuming the INT was a bad call...

…then it was just a makeup call for the BS safety earlier in the game.

by rtr on Nov 9, 2009 1:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I've actually

called them incompetent in every post. Apparently, everyone else has considered the officiating top-notch until this year. I think many would agree with me that officiating has always been horrible, and will always be horrible.

by HarveyBirdmanAAL on Nov 9, 2009 11:07 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

re: I've actually

Yeah but just b/c they are horrible and have always been horrible doen’t mean it shouldn’t improve. If anything the SEC should have the best officials b/c we have the most money.

by amiznit on Nov 9, 2009 1:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you.

I think at this point the problems are systemic, and the system of selecting / compensating officials needs to change.

by HarveyBirdmanAAL on Nov 9, 2009 1:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well personally

I think the best conference in college football should give a shit that bad officiating is overshadowing on-field play this season. But that’s me.

by Billy Gomila on Nov 9, 2009 12:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The SEC cares that it's bad...

but their response has been to fine the coaches for complaining rather than fixing it.

‘Bama fans have been complaining about the 1983 Penn State loss for over 25 years, so I hope we’re more resigned to the obvious bad officiating than arguing that it doesn’t exist.

by 12NationalChampionships on Nov 9, 2009 12:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

On that point

I wholeheartedly agree, Billy.

by HarveyBirdmanAAL on Nov 9, 2009 12:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That was the whole point

Of the article above. Hence:

Let’s get one thing straight. The play didn’t decide the game.

Now we can’t be sure the best team won, because we know both teams didn’t get a fair shot. Saturday’s disputed call was as unfair to Alabama as it was to LSU, because a tiny seed of doubt has now planted itself in the minds of all but the most fervent Alabama supporters.

by Billy Gomila on Nov 9, 2009 2:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The article is a bit confounding

Either the play affected the outcome of the game or it didn’t. At first, Staples says the play “didn’t decide the game”. Then, he ostensibly says it did affect the game by saying LSU didn’t get a fair shot. Sounds like he’s just pulling a Finebaum by talking out of both sides of his mouth in order to get folks talking about his article. It seems that way to me, anyway.

by HarveyBirdmanAAL on Nov 9, 2009 2:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs