Just got this press release in my email inbox. Wow! A side note to this story: I spoke with UF offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert on Tuesday and he told me that the infamous personal foul call on Arkansas that led to UF's touchdown should not have been called. Guess Gilbert was right.
SEC FOOTBALL OFFICIATING CREW SUSPENDED
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (October 21, 2009) -- The officiating crew from Saturday’s Arkansas at Florida football game will be removed from its next scheduled assignment on Oct. 31 and will not be assigned to officiate as a crew until Nov. 14, Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive announced Wednesday.
“A series of calls that have occurred during the last several weeks have not been to the standard that we expect from our officiating crews,” said Slive. “I believe our officiating program is the best in the country, however, there are times when these actions must be taken.”
Following each weekend, the conference office reviews games from the previous week, using video replays as well as interviews with officials, coaches and administrators.
“While only a few calls have been identified, the entire crew shoulders responsibility for each play. I have taken this action because there must be accountability in our officiating program,” added Slive. “Our institutions expect the highest level of officiating in all of our sports and it is the duty of the conference office to uphold that expectation.”
In addition, there will be an impact on eligibility for post-season bowl assignments for the crew.
-jo-
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Illness
Injury
...now this...How about somemore controversy?
Posted by: Tommy Tubberville | October 21, 2009 at 06:03 PM
4 u delusional GAYtor fans. C, C, C. U barely beat a bad team with the worst defense in the SEC, let alone in the swamphole and it took a bad call 2 do it.
Please GAYtors shake the meth out of your heads and join reality, it's a wonderful thing..
Posted by: 'envy the past, fear the future' cane fan.. | October 21, 2009 at 06:39 PM
Ref Speaks.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4583062
If you don't see it then don't call it!
Posted by: MTX-Cane | October 21, 2009 at 06:55 PM
This was a necessary and correct decision by Slive. For all of those who want to pour it on the Gators, this officiating crew made horrible calls TWO WEEKS in a row. In addition to the B.S. PF penalty they called on Arkansas, they called the ridiculous excessive celebration penalty on Georgia and MISSED both a legitimate PF during the UF game that was not called earlier AND a tripping call on the Rainey fumble.
Horrible crew - deserve the suspension in every way.
Posted by: Adam S. | October 21, 2009 at 07:03 PM
They wouldn't have been suspended if SEC officials didn't feel that it affected the outcome of the game...
Those refs should be investigated!
It looked fixed to me...
Posted by: SEC Crooked Ref Patrol | October 21, 2009 at 07:16 PM
Of course it's fixed just like fox news. TV decides what it wants and it wants the GAYtors and Alabama in SEC championship game.
The second coming(teabag) against satan(nick saban)..
Posted by: 'envy the past, fear the future' cane fan.. | October 21, 2009 at 07:33 PM
Go win that god awful ACC conference jealous loser then check back.
Posted by: Beamer | October 21, 2009 at 07:40 PM
It's a shame that u have refs that are playing favorites with who they want to see win. In watching the last two Gators it's obivious the Gatorsgot plently of call in their favor, just as Notre Dame gets doesnt get called for excessive celebration in the game aganist Washington.
The right call was made is suspending these refs because of the obivious favortisim they showed towards the Gators.
Posted by: A fair fan | October 21, 2009 at 09:34 PM
Florida might have won without BOGUS CALLS...
But tomorrow when the BCS standings come out I doubt that the Gators fall to #2 or lower despite an obvious REF SCAM...
#1 doesn't stay on top after trailing all but 10 seconds of the game vs. an unranked opponent that was defeated by the ZEBRAS in a scandal.
Posted by: TexasHorns | October 21, 2009 at 10:39 PM
Suspended? What a joke! How about giving the victory to Arkansas? That would be just and fair. There is too much going on in college FB to say it's a credibly run sport. From ButtCrapShoot rankings that are based on "what people want to see" all the way to "We wanna help our favorite team" official crews, not to mention borderline recruiting ethics.
Posted by: Jacomo | October 22, 2009 at 03:57 AM
Wow!!!!! why couldn't I get some of those calls with my Florida Gayturds and then with the Washington Redskins, maybe then I wouldn't be considered the ultimate loser.
Posted by: The brother of Steve Spurrier | October 22, 2009 at 05:56 AM
We are a total failure as a conference...we depend on refs that lack morals and also depend on TV revenue to give the fans a fake sense of self.
Posted by: From the desk of the SEC Commissioners Office | October 22, 2009 at 06:00 AM
miami did well against v tech...
Posted by: richie | October 22, 2009 at 10:00 AM
I know from most of your posts, you don't really watch the games. The phantom PF penalty occurred on a 1st and 10 play at the Arkansas 20 yard line. Would have been 2nd and 9 from the Arky 19. Instead 1st and 10 on the Arky 10 and the very next play Demps runs it in to TIE the score at 20-20.
If you hinge everything on 9 yards you are pretty much a loser. Most likely Florida scores anyway. Then if Arkansas was going to win why didn't they stop Florida the next drive? Florida would have probably scored a touchdown on that drive too but they chose to run the clock out and set up for a FG.
If some of your facts were close to accurate it might not be as comical...
Posted by: koclassic | October 22, 2009 at 01:01 PM