Kirby was correct about bad officiating precedent

[Brave Volunteer]

Glad that got attention, SEC officiating continues to get worse each season. They need to emphasis better training for next year. Perhaps the players are going to fast for the officials, not sure...

I do think College Football, in general, needs to review its rule book and tone down some of the more subjective penalties like holding. I am a fan of reducing Holding from 5 yard to 10 yard penalty unless there is some type of egregious holding like grabbing arms, legs, helmet, etc. which is safety issue. I also think grabbing Jerseys should NOT be holding.

I still don't quite understand some of these calls about illegal procedure or lining up. Not sure why they even exist.

Better clarity on what is defined as pass interference would help as well.

Lol you think holding is a subjective penalty? Holding is quite simple. If you use your hands to grab/clutch a defenders jersey or limbs, or wrap your arms around a defender, you're holding. If you don't, then you're not. What about that is subjective?

The truth of the matter is officials look the other way too much when it comes to holding. People always say "Well officials could call holding on every play if they wanted to." The question is why is that? Maybe they SHOULD start calling it on every play. The rampant holding would stop if the rule was enforced like it should be and eventually offensive players would stop doing it, or at least greatly reduce doing it. Holding, when enforced properly, is as clear cut as offsides.

 

[Visiting Dawg]

Did the officials even review the call on replay? I don't think they did.

Just to get it out of the way, it wasn't DPI but DPI isn't a reviewable penalty. Next, PI calls are blown all the time either by being called when there was no advantage gained or when there is a no call when a receiver is being mugged.

I don't think the issue was picking up the flag as much as it was there was a conference, the penalty was assessed and the ball was spotted and the call was overturned once the crowd started trashing the field. I'm glad the call had no effect on the outcome of the game but it did illustrate a need to professionalize the P5 officiating. The stakes are to high to allow inconsistent officiating to tarnish the game.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Good lord VN is full of tin foil hat wearing Alex Jones wannabes when it comes to officiating.

 

[AthensVol2007]

The SEC doesn’t want to p*ss off their new cash cow.

I don’t see them being the cash cow of the SEC. The SEC not only survived but thrived well before TX. The rest of our conference doesn’t consist of the likes of Iowa State, KU, Baylor etc. The Big 12 needed TX and OU; we don’t.

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

We see atrocious officiating so often that it becomes common, but reversing a PI call over a crowd throwing bottles and trash on the field is way too much. They not only reversed the call, but didn't penalize the Texas crowd for unsportsmanlike conduct. The games already last too long with commercial breaks and official reviews that stop play. But do you see where this is leading? If a home crowd is able to influence officials like in Austin last night, then the visiting teams are handicapped.

I believe the NCAA and the SEC officiating oversight needs to address this publicly now, admit the obvious error, and punish the head official responsible for this call. More than anything, they need to reassure all coaches and institutions that this was a one-time gaffe that will never be precedent going forward.

This isn’t what happened. The ref who threw the flag told the head ref it was offensive pass interference. The head ref said it was defensive pass interference over the PA. If you watch, the ref who threw the flag ran over to tell him he got it wrong. They had a conversation and changed it to a no call since it resulted in an interception. The throwing things happened while they were talking it over. The fans could’ve gotten a penalty, but the call was right.

 

[VFLBerg]

The Vols were hit with a huge fine, as well as an on field penalty, ridiculous that nothing was done at Tx.

 

[Vol1976]

Aggies and Nebraska left the conference to get away from the Steers…they are a cancer.

They used to call it the Texas Conference instead of the Big 12, cause they got all the bennies.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

I agree that it will be very difficult to get a win in Athens but Georgia does have to play at Ole Miss the week before so they won’t have the luxury of just zeroing in on our game like in recent years.

They played Top 10 Ole Miss the week before they played us last year. I think the better source of hope this year against them is that they don't have Brock Bowers or Ladd McConkey anymore.

 

[volbound1700]

Lol you think holding is a subjective penalty? Holding is quite simple. If you use your hands to grab/clutch a defenders jersey or limbs, or wrap your arms around a defender, you're holding. If you don't, then you're not. What about that is subjective?

The truth of the matter is officials look the other way too much when it comes to holding. People always say "Well officials could call holding on every play if they wanted to." The question is why is that? Maybe they SHOULD start calling it on every play. The rampant holding would stop if the rule was enforced like it should be and eventually offensive players would stop doing it, or at least greatly reduce doing it. Holding, when enforced properly, is as clear cut as offsides.

Holding is very subjective as it is near impossible to block without kind of grabbing a jersey. In fact, how we are taught to block is arguably holding if read strictly. It is the lamest call in CFB and it is a 10 yard penalty so it basically ends drives.

You sum it up, they look the other way (or call it on some teams and not others). Frankly, you would have flags for holding almost every play if it was called right. It needs to be toned down and fixed.

 

[ftsandersvol]

I don’t see them being the cash cow of the SEC. The SEC not only survived but thrived well before TX. The rest of our conference doesn’t consist of the likes of Iowa State, KU, Baylor etc. The Big 12 needed TX and OU; we don’t.

How many SEC teams have the money to start their own television network and buy players? Don’t be naive that Texas oil money is not seen as a big asset to the SEC. Bama was the darling of the conference due to all the money they were bringing in winning national championships.

 

[sami]

Did the officials even review the call on replay? I don't think they did.

There are no reviews on most penalties, including subjective ones like pass interference, holding, and false starts or offsides.

 

[mpfvol]

Lol you think holding is a subjective penalty? Holding is quite simple. If you use your hands to grab/clutch a defenders jersey or limbs, or wrap your arms around a defender, you're holding. If you don't, then you're not. What about that is subjective?

The truth of the matter is officials look the other way too much when it comes to holding. People always say "Well officials could call holding on every play if they wanted to." The question is why is that? Maybe they SHOULD start calling it on every play. The rampant holding would stop if the rule was enforced like it should be and eventually offensive players would stop doing it, or at least greatly reduce doing it. Holding, when enforced properly, is as clear cut as offsides.

This right here . Its a judgement call for officials . So they can change games by not calling them or calling them in a critical play for a team they are trying to make lose . And since its a judgment call takes any accountability away from the calls being made he / she can just say it looked that way to me . I HATE THIS SHIOT part of it . Look at how many no calls against TN since CJH has gotten to UT and how they get a few every game in big gain situations .

 

[dobre_shunka]

This isn’t what happened. The ref who threw the flag told the head ref it was offensive pass interference. The head ref said it was defensive pass interference over the PA. If you watch, the ref who threw the flag ran over to tell him he got it wrong. They had a conversation and changed it to a no call since it resulted in an interception. The throwing things happened while they were talking it over. The fans could’ve gotten a penalty, but the call was right.

That's not what the official SEC statement said.

Statement regarding officiating decision in Georgia-Texas football game - Southeastern Conference

 

[JRich]

Gonna turn into semi-pro soccer in a third world South American country. Can’t help but think that legalized sports betting may have an influence in the recent increase in poor officiating in both NCAA and NFL. Texas crowd was having none of it.

 

[VolArmy74]

They Play the EXACT same SEC schedule that we do except they play A&M and we got Bama. Otherwise, its completely identical

Not quite. They didn't have to play Oklahoma on the road, we did. They get Georgia at home, we have to go to Athens. Alabama >>> Texas A&M. Our road is tougher than theirs due to those factors.

 

[Jaxon_Vol2017]

Typical dumb VN fan using the refs excuse.

You always say this garbage. Are you really dense enough to think that refs can't impact the outcome of a game?

 

[BradstarVols]

If refs would get calls right in the first place, fans wouldn't be so inspired to throw crap on the field. Huge calls like a PI call that cancels out an interception need to be accurate and confirmed. If they are wrong, they need to be reversed. Refs blow games all the time by missing crucial calls. I'm glad the fans took action.

 

[Halph66]

Vols fan in Aggieland. Aggies were dead set about letting Texas into the SEC. After what happened in Austin last night, they may have a point.

This is exactly why teams from the old conference left and why they were so dead set on Texas not coming to the SEC. Many have said Texas won't have their way in the SEC, but here we are. This is just the beginning unless something is done.

 

[TNinSC]

Is there even a foul they can all on the crowd? If there is, then how do you know which fans threw the bottles? Seems like an easy rule to abuse. Instead, I think they should tell everyone that they are calling the game if it doesn't stop.

yes. i went to a ga southern vs app state game once and the ga southern fans started throwing cardboard signs that the school handed out before the game all over the field after a bad call. the announcer went over the pa system a few times asking the fans to stop, but they did not and eventually the refs gave ga southern an unsportsmanlike conduct call and pushed them back 15 yards. the fans stopped after the announcer explained that the crowd caused the call.

 

[sonofUT62]

Not quite. They didn't have to play Oklahoma on the road, we did. They get Georgia at home, we have to go to Athens. Alabama >>> Texas A&M. Our road is tougher than theirs due to those factors.

Its still 7/8 common teams. And it flips next year. Alabama has 2 SEC losses. A&M has zero.

 

[LadyVolette]

The Vols were hit with a huge fine, as well as an on field penalty, ridiculous that nothing was done at Tx.

In the 90s, the student section also got moved to the nosebleeds because of this, I don’t remember what exactly happened, but there was a fine involved, and then we were exiled ..student section is typically where stuff like this comes from (and I was a student).. so they might have to make a rule that the student sections can’t be a water bottle’s throw reach of the field or in the uppers

 

[LadyVolette]

I agree that it will be very difficult to get a win in Athens but Georgia does have to play at Ole Miss the week before so they won’t have the luxury of just zeroing in on our game like in recent years.

Bama and Georgia don’t get their typical easy schedules any longer, and it makes it more fair for everyone else, I love it, and it makes the season more exciting

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

That's not what the official SEC statement said.

Statement regarding officiating decision in Georgia-Texas football game - Southeastern Conference

I don’t see the

That's not what the official SEC statement said.

Statement regarding officiating decision in Georgia-Texas football game - Southeastern Conference

There’s no conflict between what I said, and that article. There have also been several other articles and TV stories. What you shared is a press release quote.

 

[sjt18]

We see atrocious officiating so often that it becomes common, but reversing a PI call over a crowd throwing bottles and trash on the field is way too much. They not only reversed the call, but didn't penalize the Texas crowd for unsportsmanlike conduct. The games already last too long with commercial breaks and official reviews that stop play. But do you see where this is leading? If a home crowd is able to influence officials like in Austin last night, then the visiting teams are handicapped.

I believe the NCAA and the SEC officiating oversight needs to address this publicly now, admit the obvious error, and punish the head official responsible for this call. More than anything, they need to reassure all coaches and institutions that this was a one-time gaffe that will never be precedent going forward.

I've thought about it and respectfully disagree. It is NEVER the "right precedent" to let an egregiously bad call go uncorrected if it can be corrected. That wasn't PI. It doesn't matter what the fans did, the coaches did, the media said, or fans feel. Kirby should have taken his gift and got on the plane. I hope he gets fined or suspended for calling officials out in the media. I suspect any other coach would.

A few years back the officials reacted to UT fans throwing things on the field and let some bad calls go uncorrected. That simply isn't the answer. That is the bad precedent.

That said, I wanted Texas to lose. I didn't particularly want UGA to win... but I am pleased that Texas lost. There was a whole narrative building around them coming in and dominating the SEC that I didn't personally care for. If OU hadn't sucked so bad... it would have been even worse.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

That's not what the official SEC statement said.

Statement regarding officiating decision in Georgia-Texas football game - Southeastern Conference

Big issue with that statement, significant contact happened, had to be a call one way or the other. MY VIEW after going over all the repays AGAIN, is that the defender slid over into the modified path of the receiver with the intent to create contact while the receiver was trying to avoid contact.

The defender has every right to make a play on the ball but not initiate contact with outreached arms on the receiver EVER. No way that you can watch frame by frame and not see that is what happened. He caught the ball after shedding the receiver. Had he used a defensive arm bar instead of the two hand shiver could be different.

Worst part was the talking head official saying the receiver did not attempt to alter his path while the replay showed him planting his right foot and attepting to avoid the defender by heading toward the sideline. Hate it when they cover up for their buds on the field. Had to be a call one way or the other. Partial correction not acceptable.