SEC permanently suspends Ken Williamson

[4Q Basket Case]

Did the on-field officials really err on the fumble/scoop&score? In those situations, they're trained to let the play proceed, and sort it out afterwards. It seems to me that if any mistake was made on that play (I have no opinion either way), it was by the replay booth.

The fumble / no fumble call was incredibly close. I think either call on the field would have been ruled as "stands" on replay. There's just no indisputable evidence either way. I don't fault the on-field refs. It was so close and happened so fast, I don't think anybody truly knew then or truly knows now.

The real official's mistake was the premature whistle.

If it was a fumble, it should have been TD Georgia. If it wasn't a fumble, it should have been TD barn.

But it it ended up being Georgia's ball on the 1. The only way that happens is an official's mistake.

 

[Cruloc]

Did the on-field officials really err on the fumble/scoop&score? In those situations, they're trained to let the play proceed, and sort it out afterwards. It seems to me that if any mistake was made on that play (I have no opinion either way), it was by the replay booth.

Correct call was either TD for Auburn or TD for Georgia.

The incorrect call was UGA ball on the one.

 

[HSV_1969]

Did the on-field officials really err on the fumble/scoop&score? In those situations, they're trained to let the play proceed, and sort it out afterwards. It seems to me that if any mistake was made on that play (I have no opinion either way), it was by the replay booth.

This point is what I've heard discussed on many broadcasts when there is a close play.

In some cases, it seems though when an official thinks a play is "likely" decided, but lets the "less likely" case play out so the review booth can sort it out, a "weight" to the "less likely" case is erroneously assigned by being the on-field call. The booth has to have "indisputable evidence" to overturn the call that the on-field officials thought was likely incorrect. In those cases, there needs to be a better system for the on-field refs to make it clear their opinion as to which option needs to be the "weighted" option to be overturned.

What often irritates me about replay is plays I've seen on review that I thought were relatively clear be called the opposite by the review booth. I do like the ACC broadcasts where the viewer can hear the audio from the review booth to hear the rationale for the decision. It has to be irritating for ESPN how many times their broadcast crew and/or rules expert's opinion differs from the ultimate ruling coming from the review booth.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

I’d like to see confirmation from a more mainline source than Yellowhammer.

But assuming for the moment that Williamson is in fact effectively fired and the rest of the crew are on double-secret probation:

The call on the fumble at the goal line was so close….literally one or two frames on the film, and not indisputable even then.

Whatever it had been called on the field (TD barn or fumble returned by UGA for a TD), I think would have stood, but not been confirmed.

The true officiating mistake on that play was the premature whistle. If the play was a fumble, UGA returned it for a TD. If it wasn’t a fumble, it was TD barn.

Under no circumstances (other than an officiating error) should it have been UGA ball on the one.

Buying Kirby’s plea that he wasn’t calling time out — rather he was saying that the barn’s D was clapping to make UGA’s OL jump — was beyond ridiculous.

To me, that was an abomination of refereeing.

Then there was inconsistency in calling roughing the passer and targeting. Neither problem is new or unique to Williamson’s crew.

But on top of more high-profile shortcomings in the same game, it does add up to a mountain of errors.

Do we have broader confirmation of the disciplinary actions yet?

The goal line call rests squarely on the replay officials in Birmingham...

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

I'll be honest. I DON'T like this. Penalize him, suspend him for a few games or even the rest of the season, but permanently???

I really don't care how bad the mistakes might have been. But it's not like he murdered someone.

And, the alleged "fumble" is in no way "clear." It was called a fumble on the field. As the rules state, "there was no clear evidence to overturn the original call."

Did they "fumble" the Kirby TO incident? Yeah, probably, but, again is this worthy of a lifetime suspension???

Auburn remains convinced they are getting hosed in these games, but there are so many instances of them playing like 8th graders in these games too. All teams get bad breaks. The good teams that play on despite them often still manage to win. AU is not a good team.

Yeah, being fired basically is saying that there was more than a mistake there...

 

[crimsonaudio]

Don't get CATFISHED fellows....this has gone on for 2 days and no solid reliable source is reporting this! Let the Barners take this bait

You are incorrect.

 

[uaintn]

Well, it wasn’t just the goal line call. They also gave Kirby a free timeout. Georgia had its own complaints. But this crew has had steady complaints for years. The Georgia Barn game may have just been the last, rather large, straw.

The problem for me is that JA’s crew is likely worse. With the next three weeks having byes scattered around, we can do without a crew, but come November 29th, there’s an issue. Maybe that’s when the KW crew suspension will end.

But SEC football is too big a business with too much at stake to have officials who are basically working hobby jobs on Saturdays.

 

[BamaNation]

Not accusing anyone of anything but given the MAJOR news in the NBA today with a head coach and player(s) getting arrested for charges related to gambling & organized crime, I think it is prudent and necessary to consider as suspect all crazy calls. It's (almost?) impossible to prove a negative. It may be even harder to regain trust across the entire system when the unexplainable in ridiculous rules interpretations, overturn/not overturning of bad on-field calls, enforcement of judgement calls (or not), etc etc etc.

 

[OconeeTide]

Not accusing anyone of anything but given the MAJOR news in the NBA today with a head coach and player(s) getting arrested for charges related to gambling & organized crime, I think it is prudent and necessary to consider as suspect all crazy calls. It's (almost?) impossible to prove a negative. It may be even harder to regain trust across the entire system when the unexplainable in ridiculous rules interpretations, overturn/not overturning of bad on-field calls, enforcement of judgement calls (or not), etc etc etc.

Everyone who was against Legalizing sport betting said this would happen. It really has put a dark cloud over every sport.

 

[Elefantman]

Good thing ESPN is all about the integrity of the sport.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1981382537625948430

 

[BamaNation]

ESPN finally confirming per their "sources"

Sources: SEC suspends Georgia-Auburn referee

The SEC has suspended longtime referee Ken Williamson for the remainder of the season in the wake of his crew's performance in Georgia's 20-10 victory at Auburn on Oct. 11, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.

www.espn.com

 

[BamaNation]

.... and NY Post

Longtime college football ref ‘permanently suspended’ after momentum-turning call during Auburn-Georgia game

A veteran college football referee has been “permanently suspended” from officiating games after making a series of controversial calls — one of which turned the momentum of a fie…

nypost.com

and CBS Sports

SEC suspends referee in aftermath of controversial calls in Georgia vs. Auburn game

SEC referee Ken Williamson has been suspended and is not expected to officiate another game another game in the league this year

www.cbssports.com

 

[CB4]

And the silence from Sankey and the SEC Office is deafening. If you are going to kick an official out of the league for his screw up(s), then have the “stones” to ADMIT the issue publicly that led to this decision AND what the what the conference plans to do to improve the overall quality of officiating.

Yeah Greg Sankey don’t lecture people about “transparency” ever again.

 

[December05]

Williamson should have lost his job the day he gave the Barn a free field goal with no time remaining in the 1st half. Yes, this actually happened in 2019…a game that we lost by 3 points…a game that kept us out of the playoffs. In case you can’t tell, I don’t have any sympathy for him. Jason Autry should be next for keeping us out of the playoffs in 2022.

Elephants have long memories when it comes to referee garbage. Tigers? Barely a memory at all until it starts to hurt them. At the time, I started referring to Jordan Hare Iron Bowls as the place where rules can be broken, bent or possibly created on the spot in order to preserve the gobbledygook. They literally had to clarify the NCAA rule book because of the incorrect way that was handled.

On a completely serious note, it really worries me given how irate they are about this year’s officiating, because you know if there’s one game they’ll pay a mint to get all the friendly calls, it’ll take place in five weeks.

 

[JDCrimson]

I think the fumble call was the right call but should have allowed the play to run it's course. I think the timeout call was the most egregious thing during the game.

What I am most fearful is with this crew suspension we just increased our odds of getting the Autrey crew over oyr remaining conference games...