SEC Officiating

[volnal]

I think we can all agree that Alabama will get the majority of calls going their way. My question is this. Has Coach Jones pissed off every ref from the SEC Officiating crews, that they have a vendetta against him? He blows them up and while I agree with his reactions to most calls, have to ask yourself, as a person (which ref's are, for the most part (sic)) how would you respond?

The officiating crew we had Saturday, was the same crew that has screwed us in two other games this year. I love a coach that gets in a ref's ear and stays on him because the team knows the HC has their back and won't let the game be taken away from them by bad calls.

Which brings me to my point. The first man down on the punt against SC downed the ball at the half yard line. McDowell then came in and slid and covered the ball. Doesn't matter where your feet or body are in the endzone it matters where the ball is. (Doubt me, look the rule up). McDowell covered the ball and then a SC player came in and kicked the ball (not intentionally, MO) across the plain of the goal line. Now since the ball was already downed before McDowell got there, the ball should have been spotted at the half yard line and SC's ball. BUT, repeat.... by calling the ball a touch back and McDowell made the ball break the plain, was a horse $**** call which resulted in a touch back and SC gets the ball at the 20. Now if Bham, ( Like the office of officiating should be located there) makes the call it's a touch back then they totally missed the kicking of the ball crossing the plain of the goal line by a SC player which...... by their call should have resulted in a Tennessee touchdown.

My point is this crew has screwed us 3 different games. While I agree, we had 2 repeat 2 block in the back penalties on returns... we had two that were legit blocks.

The punt on the goal line was a momentum changer and a chance for a safety and the ball back and for UT to get going in THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I apologize for being long winded on this but, I'm tired of officiating crews taking our team out of the game with horrible calls. Maybe I'm wrong but watch the film.

 

[philberry31]

College football officiating is a total joke. It is either incompetence or making bad calls on purpose to facilitate an outcome. Even replay is a complete joke, a 8 year old kid can see the right call and they mess it up. If you have noticed even the comentators are reluctant to predict what the replay officals will come back with because they have been made to look foolish so many times this season.

 

[jblank]

I agree with both of you.

I think they need to go to a full-time referee system and take it more seriously.

 

[ru4real-really?]

AGREE.... What the eff does it take? They have the same replay just like we saw. How could they not get it right?...those fools in Birmingham must be blind and stupid.

INEXCUSABLE.

close down that facility and let those fools go to the Wing House and watch the games.

 

[allvol123]

I have yet to understand that call.

It was either down at the one or a fumble and a TD for us.

I have no idea how you get to the point USC ball at the 20.

 

[Roustabout]

I'd like to see the rule. I thought when the kicking team touched the ball it was down at that point. AnD a ball was live if touched by the receiving team. So, it should either be down on the 6 inch line, or a live baller covered for TD by UT.

 

[volinSmyrna]

I think we can all agree that Alabama will get the majority of calls going their way. My question is this. Has Coach Jones pissed off every ref from the SEC Officiating crews, that they have a vendetta against him? He blows them up and while I agree with his reactions to most calls, have to ask yourself, as a person (which ref's are, for the most part (sic)) how would you respond?

The officiating crew we had Saturday, was the same crew that has screwed us in two other games this year. I love a coach that gets in a ref's ear and stays on him because the team knows the HC has their back and won't let the game be taken away from them by bad calls.

Which brings me to my point. The first man down on the punt against SC downed the ball at the half yard line. McDowell then came in and slid and covered the ball. Doesn't matter where your feet or body are in the endzone it matters where the ball is. (Doubt me, look the rule up). McDowell covered the ball and then a SC player came in and kicked the ball (not intentionally, MO) across the plain of the goal line. Now since the ball was already downed before McDowell got there, the ball should have been spotted at the half yard line and SC's ball. BUT, repeat.... by calling the ball a touch back and McDowell made the ball break the plain, was a horse $**** call which resulted in a touch back and SC gets the ball at the 20. Now if Bham, ( Like the office of officiating should be located there) makes the call it's a touch back then they totally missed the kicking of the ball crossing the plain of the goal line by a SC player which...... by their call should have resulted in a Tennessee touchdown.

My point is this crew has screwed us 3 different games. While I agree, we had 2 repeat 2 block in the back penalties on returns... we had two that were legit blocks.

The punt on the goal line was a momentum changer and a chance for a safety and the ball back and for UT to get going in THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I apologize for being long winded on this but, I'm tired of officiating crews taking our team out of the game with horrible calls. Maybe I'm wrong but watch the film.

While I agree with your premise that SEC officiating is terrible, the downed punt was actually the right call.

Ut player runs by ball touching it at the 1....CM then (ridiculously)slides into the ball. Regardless of who or why they touched it, the ball ended up crossing the plain for a touchback. The only way it could have ended up as a touchdown is if the receiving team was the first one to touch it, resulting in a "muffed" situation. Since we touched it first, the receiving team has no penalty for touching.

For example. After the first UT player touched it, a SC player could have picked it up and tried to advance it. Let's say the SC player then fumbles at the 50 and UT recovers the fumble.....the ball would be SC's ball at the 1 where the UT player touched it. It was a touchback because the SC player never "possessed" the ball. Had he picked it up and then fumbled in the endzone, it would have gone back to the 1 in that instance.

 

[Remy]

I agree there is bias in officiating, no real doubt about it. That said good programs and teams can overcome it. Last season our team was much more disciplined and had fewer penalties than this season, so bias against UT and CBJ does not make sense. Bias for Bama whenever an SEC officiating crew is involved, absolutely, Stevie Wonder can see that. It can be overcome as Ole Miss can attest to in recent seasons.

 

[jps2194]

This year is the worst officiating I've ever seen and it's across the board - not just UT. I saw Bama not get some calls I felt like were warranted in the A&M game. It's just really pathetic this year for some reason. Maybe all of the good ones have retired and we have some hacks in there now?

 

[suplexcityVOL]

one word- SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bamawriter]

While I agree with your premise that SEC officiating is terrible, the downed punt was actually the right call.

Ut player runs by ball touching it at the 1....CM then (ridiculously)slides into the ball. Regardless of who or why they touched it, the ball ended up crossing the plain for a touchback. The only way it could have ended up as a touchdown is if the receiving team was the first one to touch it, resulting in a "muffed" situation. Since we touched it first, the receiving team has no penalty for touching.

For example. After the first UT player touched it, a SC player could have picked it up and tried to advance it. Let's say the SC player then fumbles at the 50 and UT recovers the fumble.....the ball would be SC's ball at the 1 where the UT player touched it. It was a touchback because the SC player never "possessed" the ball. Had he picked it up and then fumbled in the endzone, it would have gone back to the 1 in that instance.

This. The ball was touched, but not downed, by the kicking team. It was essentially a free play if SC could have done anything with it. Once the ball crossed the line it was a touchback. Refs didn't mess anything up on that one.

 

[JC61]

While I do believe some teams may get the benefit of doubt on 50/50 calls, I don't think there is a grand conspiracy either way. Plays happen fast and the refs on the field have to make snap judgments...maybe I have a little too much faith in the field refs to be unbiased and professional.

Replay officials get no pass....they should always, always get it right. If not, and there's a trend...they are either incompetent, biased or maybe both.

That punt downing was total BS....they definitely got that one wrong....but...

I would like to see a replay of the "non-fumble" on SC's first scoring drive. Ball popped out, but no review and the network didn't even show it, which they typically go to great lengths to show everyone whether it was a fumble or not. Maybe it wasn't, but I have nothing to go on to say either way.

 

[vol-un-tear]

SEC refs suck! Best football worst refs. Unbelievable how many game changing missed calls they have every week!

 

[Aerie Vol]

While I agree with your premise that SEC officiating is terrible, the downed punt was actually the right call.

Ut player runs by ball touching it at the 1....CM then (ridiculously)slides into the ball. Regardless of who or why they touched it, the ball ended up crossing the plain for a touchback. The only way it could have ended up as a touchdown is if the receiving team was the first one to touch it, resulting in a "muffed" situation. Since we touched it first, the receiving team has no penalty for touching.

For example. After the first UT player touched it, a SC player could have picked it up and tried to advance it. Let's say the SC player then fumbles at the 50 and UT recovers the fumble.....the ball would be SC's ball at the 1 where the UT player touched it. It was a touchback because the SC player never "possessed" the ball. Had he picked it up and then fumbled in the endzone, it would have gone back to the 1 in that instance.

So, you're saying we could bat a ball at the 10 yard line rather than risk it rolling into the endzone....and as it's laying there spinning at the 10, an opposing player could "wisely" kick it into the endzone to earn a touchback and take it at the 20? Because that's what you're saying.

You are correct about the fumbling at the 50 and for the same reason about it NOT being a touchdown for us. However, our Leon Lett impersonator did not take the ball into the endzone, it was kicked there by SC, who should have had the option of the result of the play (TD Tennessee) or reverting back to the place of first touched by kicking team (the 1.) Missed call with huge momentum implications on the game.

AV

 

[ru4real-really?]

more on the goal line missed call.

When downed by the first Vol, the ball had to be considered dead. It was not an inadvertent touch--it was deliberately downed!. It was DOWNED--it was a DEAD BALL!

If another Vol then touched the downed (DEAD) ball, big deal--no consequence!

If the Cock then kicked the DEAD ball--so what--nothing!

How could it have become that complicated?


I say it was downed--others say:crazy: it was touched. Therein lies the problem

 

[Aerie Vol]

It was essentially a free play if SC could have done anything with it.

Including kicking it into the endzone to gain a touchback?

AV

 

[volinSmyrna]

So, you're saying we could bat a ball at the 10 yard line rather than risk it rolling into the endzone....and as it's laying there spinning at the 10, an opposing player could "wisely" kick it into the endzone to earn a touchback and take it at the 20? Because that's what you're saying.

You are correct about the fumbling at the 50 and for the same reason about it NOT being a touchdown for us. However, our Leon Lett impersonator did not take the ball into the endzone, it was kicked there by SC, who should have had the option of the result of the play (TD Tennessee) or reverting back to the place of first touched by kicking team (the 1.) Missed call with huge momentum implications on the game.

AV

There are rules about "intentional batting", but an inadvertent touch of a toe does not meet that criteria. The ball was not "properly" downed until it had crossed the plain.

There is no "option" in what happened Saturday. There is no way that is a touchdown for us in any circumstance since we touched the ball first.

 

[volinSmyrna]

more on the goal line missed call.

When downed by the first Vol, the ball had to be considered dead. It was not an inadvertent touch--it was deliberately downed!. It was DOWNED--it was a DEAD BALL!

If another Vol then touched the downed (DEAD) ball, big deal--no consequence!

If the Cock then kicked the DEAD ball--so what--nothing!

How could it have become that complicated?

Simply touching a ball does not equal a dead ball "downing". That is the exact reason players are told to pick the ball up and hand it to an official. Plays like that one are tough when bodies are flying trying to keep it out of the endzone.

 

[bamawriter]

Including kicking it into the endzone to gain a touchback?

AV

Intentional kicking or batting isn't allowed. I don't think that kick was intentional.

 

[Volsick]

I wish hey would take officials out of the game. Let cameras do their job for them. Have a couple down there to blow whistles and such but once the play is over the replay crew (needs to be from a different conference) makes the call. The problem is, Alabama is the SEC cash cow and everyone is hell bent of Florida playing for the east.

 

[Aerie Vol]

There are rules about "intentional batting", but an inadvertent touch of a toe does not meet that criteria. The ball was not "properly" downed until it had crossed the plain.

There is no "option" in what happened Saturday. There is no way that is a touchdown for us in any circumstance since we touched the ball first.

So you're saying an "inadvertent touch of a toe" at the 10 yard line by the receiving team upon a ball first legally touched by the kicking team and causing said ball to careen into the endzone results in a touchback?

Bottom line: SC caused the ball to go into the endzone. They either get the result of that - recovered muff for a TD, or they get to use the "screw the result of this whole thing" rule because the kicking team touched the ball first and it goes back to where it was first touched by said kicking team. The 1.

AV

 

[volnal]

While I agree with your premise that SEC officiating is terrible, the downed punt was actually the right call.

Ut player runs by ball touching it at the 1....CM then (ridiculously)slides into the ball. Regardless of who or why they touched it, the ball ended up crossing the plain for a touchback. The only way it could have ended up as a touchdown is if the receiving team was the first one to touch it, resulting in a "muffed" situation. Since we touched it first, the receiving team has no penalty for touching.

For example. After the first UT player touched it, a SC player could have picked it up and tried to advance it. Let's say the SC player then fumbles at the 50 and UT recovers the fumble.....the ball would be SC's ball at the 1 where the UT player touched it. It was a touchback because the SC player never "possessed" the ball. Had he picked it up and then fumbled in the endzone, it would have gone back to the 1 in that instance.

lol, you haven't a clue! The ball was downed before McDowell ever touched it. Please go back and watch the play!!!!!!

 

[volinSmyrna]

So you're saying an "inadvertent touch of a toe" at the 10 yard line by the receiving team upon a ball first legally touched by the kicking team and causing said ball to careen into the endzone results in a touchback?

Bottom line: SC caused the ball to go into the endzone. They either get the result of that - recovered muff for a TD, or they get to use the "screw the result of this whole thing" rule because the kicking team touched the ball first and it goes back to where it was first touched by said kicking team. The 1.

AV

Yes that is what I am saying.

Bottom line: It was NOT a "muff" since we touched it first. The kicking team will not be penalized if they are not the first one to touch it. The rules get a little crazy since it crossed the goalline. If we back it up 10 yards....we touch it at the 10, they kick it and we down it at the 2.....the ball goes back to the 10 where we initially touched it.

The problem was we didn't properly "down" the punt. If the first player would have been able to stop and pick the ball up, none of this debate would be taking place.

 

[volfannbama]

Yeah well, if McDowell doesnt go sliding after the ball for no reason we dont even have to put it in the official's hands do we?

Pretty simple, stop playing stupid. Officials have not cost the Vols a single game

And by the way
Alabama is tied with UT and Miss st with 50 penalities

South Carolina, Arkansas, Vanderbilt,Ol Miss, LSU, Auburn, and Kentucky all have less... So the narrative that Alabama always gets the call might sound good, but its factually incorrect

 

[Aerie Vol]

lol, you haven't a clue! The ball was downed before McDowell ever touched it. Please go back and watch the play!!!!!!

I'm afraid the ball was still moving (even if just rocking back and forth) when McDowell touched it and was therefore not already downed. Still think the refs screwed up what happened next.

AV