SEC officiating

[PacificTide]

It's always popular to “talk down” SEC officiating. But really, after many years of watching college & pro officiating, overall, it seems to me that the SEC has some really competent officiating crews working these days.

Maybe the old saying that familiarity breeds contempt applies here but I've watched a lot of football this year, (hey – the game is just more fun nowadays with CNS as our coach), and the SEC officials are the best in college football. Three or four crews are as good as it gets – which mirrors the caliber of football played in the conference. Folks, we got it good compared to most college or pro officiating.

It stands to reason – SEC football is the best – why not the officials...........

 

[BamaIMRice]

Agreed..even though there seem to have been alot of overturned calls in some games..overall the officiating this year has been good. The important thing to remember is that even though some plays are getting overturned..in the end they are still getting the play right in the end, and that's what officials are there for. The Pac 10 just had to suspend a whole replay crew for a week for getting a play wrong. There are a few crews who do outstanding jobs, and that is why you see them working top tier bowls.

 

[80UoAGrad]

7 watching 22 is never good odds. I believe the SEC officials are among the best in the nation. Rogers Redding (SEC Supervisor of Officials) is the consummate professional. If the average fan knew how difficult it is too actually officiate the college game at the speed that it happens then there would be less criticism. The officials in the SEC are highly trained at their vocation. Many apply but few actually get the opportunity to work on the field. Remember without officials, its only recess.

 

[Tennessee]

Agreed! ONe thing to keep in mind is that the only calls that fans remember are the 1-3 per game that maybe didn't go their way...They don't mention the other 150 plays that the officials got correct

 

[TIDE-HSV]

At least, they caught the bulldogging act on TG by TB in our MSU game, unlike the crew last night...

 

[alatider]

7 watching 22 is never good odds. .

And alot of plays occur in a split second. I would have a hard time officiating.

 

[CaliforniaTide]

Certainly a lot better than Pac-10 officiating.

 

[Tide n True]

Rocky...is that you?

 

[crimsonaudio]

 

[JDog]

TIDE-HSVRe: SEC officiating
At least, they caught the bulldogging act on TG by TB in our MSU game, unlike the crew last night...

Yeah i couldnt believe that the PAC 10 crew missed that one. The ref was right there and watched it happen and didn't throw the flag. It reminded me a lot of the Keith Brown - LSU incident in 1994.

I also thought that the first block on the punt return for a TD should have been called a block in the back.

 

[Ironhead Bret]

I really can't see where the officiating is "good". They've missed several calls this year that were blatant at best. The chop block on Dorsey and I can think of one or two pass interference calls against Bama that went unnoticed.

 

[QuadTailgater]

I disagree with everyone. The actual officiating is dreadful this year in the SEC, and that can be noted by the amount of review calls that have been overturned this year. The SEC has overturned more calls this year than they did last year, with 20+/- games to play. That says to me they are missing calls left and right and are leaving it up to the replay officials, who by the way, have not done so well themselves. On another note, since the game is not being televised how do they do instant replay?

 

[lostinNala]

Agreed..even though there seem to have been alot of overturned calls in some games..overall the officiating this year has been good. The important thing to remember is that even though some plays are getting overturned..in the end they are still getting the play right in the end, and that's what officials are there for. The Pac 10 just had to suspend a whole replay crew for a week for getting a play wrong. There are a few crews who do outstanding jobs, and that is why you see them working top tier bowls.

If you are referring to the replay overturns in the UA/LSU game, I watched the replay and agreeed with all of the calls, except one. Personally, I think the SEC officials are the best in the NCAA at calling the questionable calls such as to allow review. I have noticed three blatant instances in Big 10 and Pac 10 games this season where the call on the field was questioanble at best, but the officials blew the play dead, preventing a review.

 

[lostinNala]

I disagree with everyone. The actual officiating is dreadful this year in the SEC, and that can be noted by the amount of review calls that have been overturned this year. The SEC has overturned more calls this year than they did last year, with 20+/- games to play. That says to me they are missing calls left and right and are leaving it up to the replay officials, who by the way, have not done so well themselves. On another note, since the game is not being televised how do they do instant replay?

Again, look at the replay rules. A large amount of overturns can be directly caused by the officials making the call on the field that allows a replay on purpose, to insure the opportunity for the replay official to review the play.

For instance, if a receiver seemingly makes a catch and the ball is jarred loose, the official has to make the split decision to either rule the play a catch and fumble or an incompletion. If he calls incomplete pass, the play is dead and the resulting scramble for the ball and any resulting return is a nullity; however, if he simply throws a beanie and proceeds with the play as if a fumble, the players are allowed the opportunity to continue the play.

Once the play is under review, we usually get the correct call, but the resulting fumble recovery and return are not wiped out because the official made the call on the field that allows a full review of the play.

This also happens alot where a QB has the ball knocked out of his throwing hand, and it is questionable as to whether he was attempting a forward pass or it was a forced fumble. I like that the officials rather than blowing the play dead as an incompletion, will purposefully make the call that allows the defenders the opportunity to make a return of the fumble recovery, then let the replay official review to see if the play was actually a fumble or an incompletion.

 

[Bama 13-0]

I believe lostinNala has it right. The officials are trained to make the call so that the play can continue and be reviewed. As long as the process is quick and doesn't delay the game much then the review process is a good thing.

However, there does seem to be a contradiction between the field ref's mandate and the review judge's mandate. If the field ref is instructed to let the play continue, even if he believes the ball really wasn't fumbled, then the review judge should not need "irrefutable evidence" to overturn a call. Overall I think they strike a good balance and get it right most of the time.

On a side note, I believe Major League Base Ball a few years ago was toying with the idea of adding instant replay to the game to correct bad calls. When they actually started evaluating it they realized that the umpires got the call correct about 98% of the time.

 

[BamaIMRice]

Again, look at the replay rules. A large amount of overturns can be directly caused by the officials making the call on the field that allows a replay on purpose, to insure the opportunity for the replay official to review the play.

For instance, if a receiver seemingly makes a catch and the ball is jarred loose, the official has to make the split decision to either rule the play a catch and fumble or an incompletion. If he calls incomplete pass, the play is dead and the resulting scramble for the ball and any resulting return is a nullity; however, if he simply throws a beanie and proceeds with the play as if a fumble, the players are allowed the opportunity to continue the play.

Once the play is under review, we usually get the correct call, but the resulting fumble recovery and return are not wiped out because the official made the call on the field that allows a full review of the play.

This also happens alot where a QB has the ball knocked out of his throwing hand, and it is questionable as to whether he was attempting a forward pass or it was a forced fumble. I like that the officials rather than blowing the play dead as an incompletion, will purposefully make the call that allows the defenders the opportunity to make a return of the fumble recovery, then let the replay official review to see if the play was actually a fumble or an incompletion.

TOTALLY AGREE!! Let the play continue until there is an absolute end to the play, and then get the call correct..the offense doesn't gain any advantage cause the play would be incomplete if the call is overturned..and if the play stands, it allows the defense the right they had to recover the fumble. Good point!

 

[RT3413]

TOTALLY AGREE!! Let the play continue until there is an absolute end to the play, and then get the call correct..the offense doesn't gain any advantage cause the play would be incomplete if the call is overturned..and if the play stands, it allows the defense the right they had to recover the fumble. Good point!

Didn't the NFL advise it's officials a couple years ago specifically to allow plays to continue and then use replay to determine if the player was down or not?

Wouldn't a similar directive from the NCAA be advisable?

 

[crimsonaudio]

Didn't the NFL advise it's officials a couple years ago specifically to allow plays to continue and then use replay to determine if the player was down or not? ?

Dunno, but that Colts/Chargers game would have been quite diff if the ref hadn't prematurely blown the whistle on that INT in the end zone returned to the Chargers 6...

 

[red55]

The quality of the referee work in the SEC is questioned by too many to be dismissed. Perhaps it has lagged behind the rest of the league in improvement.

I think any group overseeing officials like the SEC referees should be trying to improve each season, not just keeping the same folks employed for decades. Each season they should reward the top 20% with more money and replace the bottom 20% with a new guy with potential. Sink or swim based on one's post-season evaluation.

The quality of officiating should improve significantly. The strongest would earn more money by being in the top tier and the weakest ones in the bottom tier would be replaced. The incentive to make the correct calls is there for the top referees. And a way to winnow out the laggers who just don't have the stuff is there too.

 

[dayhiker]

I think any group overseeing officials like the SEC referees should be trying to improve each season, not just keeping the same folks employed for decades. Each season they should reward the top 20% with more money and replace the bottom 20% with a new guy with potential. Sink or swim based on one's post-season evaluation.

Someone has been reading Jack Welch.