SEC forgoes warnings; skips to fines/suspensions

by TXinDC on Oct 30, 2009 12:01 PM CDT

Well after some high-profile, highly-subjective calls in two big games against the SEC's front-runner teams (Florida and Alabama), and some corresponding criticism from the coaches who got the short end of the stick, it seems like the SEC is just going to lock things down for now.

This seems like a really desperate move - something a despotic ruler would do when his corruption is exposed: "Well, I'll just prohibit any criticism or free speech!"

Even if the criticism isn't legitimate, the SEC can take a much more transparent and proactive approach to this. Show folks how you're planning on addressing refereeing. At least make it seem like you're doing something, even if you're not.

Bringing the hammer down like this makes it seem like you're trying to just put a lid on the problem.

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It's just easier

It’s easier to stop the bitchin’ and moanin’ during the season then it is to have competent referees. Call it the “path of least resistance.”

by TexasGarcia37 on Oct 30, 2009 12:33 PM CDT reply actions

I never understood this mentality

SEC to Coaches: “Support our referees, even when they are attrocious.”

How can I support something that sucks? Are the coaches just supposed to bend over and take it?

I would expect the conference’s response to be something along the lines of “just don’t criticize publicly.”

Then admonish the ref’s publicly. Fans have a right to know that the conference supports the best possible version of the game and to know that the conference is not hiding anything. When you “reprimand” the refs behind closed doors, nothing actually happened. It’s the whole tree-in-the-forrest-making-a-sound arguement.

by GoHorns on Oct 30, 2009 12:34 PM CDT reply actions

They want to have their cake and eat it, too

They don’t want anyone to start the conspiracy theory stuff, but they sure as hell aren’t in a hurry to do anything to fix the problem.

I understand the notion that you can’t have coaches running around publicly blaming officials after every loss. So you have to set a disciplinary standard that discourages that practice. At the same time, when it becomes obvious that your officials are either wholly incompetent or have a vested interest in who wins and loses, you can’t just deflect the problem back on the coaches with some “how dare you challenge our authority?” response.

If the SEC wants people to believe there is no conspiracy and that there is truly “a different culture now” in their conference, then they have to start taking this stuff much more seriously and stop pretending that the real problem is all the complaining from coaches.

by bassale47 on Oct 30, 2009 12:44 PM CDT reply actions

Of course...

This isn’t the first season there’s been questions about the refs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcdWdBgUBqw

by TXinDC on Oct 30, 2009 1:22 PM CDT reply actions

Something like that could start a riot.

Seriously, I would lose it if that happened against OSU.

by notsofst on Oct 30, 2009 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions

This seems like a really desperate move – something a despotic ruler would do when his corruption is exposed: “Well, I’ll just prohibit any criticism or free speech!”

Did Dan Snyder take over the SEC? Seems like a mirror image of what’s been going on with the Skins the last few days.

Formerly kjm017

by Hopkins Horn on Oct 30, 2009 4:45 PM CDT reply actions