SEC official says decisions correct

http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/104323524.html?showAll=y&c=y

By SCOTT RABALAIS
Southeastern Conference coordinator of football officials Rogers Redding said Monday his crew properly handled the end of the LSU-Tennessee game, including not penalizing Tigers center T-Bob Hebert or a number of other players for removing their helmets.

Speaking on the Tim Brando Radio Show, Redding addressed a number of issues stemming from the wild and wacky end to Saturday’s game, which LSU won 16-14 on an untimed down.

The controversy began in the closing seconds when LSU, which was out of timeouts, ran a keeper with Jordan Jefferson for one yard to the Tennessee 1.

About 26 seconds remained after the players unpiled. As time ticked away, LSU sent in a new personnel grouping with three wide receivers. Tennessee countered by changing defensive personnel.

Two players who were originally being subbed out stayed in, giving the Volunteers 13 defenders.

With about :03 left, Hebert snapped the ball past Jefferson in desperation, and after a mad scramble near the UT 19, time expired. However, officials called the Vols for illegal participation, allowing the Tigers to run one untimed down and score on a 1-yard smash by Stevan Ridley.

Tennessee coach Derek Dooley originally complained that his team wasn’t given enough time to set its defense, though he told reporters Sunday he would not lodge a complaint with Redding.

Redding supported the way his officiating crew handled the situation.

“There were about 25 seconds left when he (Jefferson) was tackled,” Redding said. “With about 10 or 11 seconds left, LSU sent several players into the game. The umpire (Jeff Roberson) comes to the ball to prevent the ball being snapped to give the defense time to make adjustments.

“Now, the clock is down to about 6 seconds. The referee (Marc Curles) and the umpire make eye contact, and they see that the defense is making no effort to make more adjustments. So, he (Curles) signals to the umpire to back away, indicating that the ball is ready to be snapped.”

With Tennessee celebrating an apparent 14-10 upset victory, a flag lay in the north end zone at the feet of back judge Dale Keneipp, whose job was to count Tennessee’s defenders. After a quick conference, Curles went to the sideline to talk to replay official Mike McGinnis by headset.

“All he did was ask the replay official, was there time left on the clock when the ball was snapped?” Redding said. “He (McGinnis) said, ‘Yes,’ then he (Curles) indicated the penalty.”

After the Tigers scored, officials marked the ball at the Vols’ 3 for an extra point attempt. By rule, LSU was required to run a play because the game was still in the balance — Tennessee could have tied it by returning a botched extra point try for two points.

Instead, Dooley apparently indicated his team would not come out for the play, allowing officials to declare the game over.

“The extra point attempt is supposed to be made if the score matters,” Redding said. “But if the defensive team leaves the field &hellip then it’s over.”

There was one other matter to deal with, that of Hebert flinging his helmet after it appeared Tennessee had won.

A player is subject to a penalty by removing his helmet in the field of play. But Redding said his officials have been instructed to determine a player’s intent when doing so, and that if a player removes his helmet in anger or celebration a penalty should not be called.

“He did take off his helmet, but you can see several players taking their helmets off” on both sides, Redding said.

“The way we handle those is, we always have to interpret why (the helmet is removed). We always allow for the immediate burst of emotion. To penalize that at the end of the game is a very technical interpretation of the rule. It would be irresponsible to penalize either team because of that.”

Despite the non-call, Hebert was apologetic about his actions when questioned Monday.

“It was an immature act on my part,” Hebert said. “I got caught up in the emotions of the game.

“But that’s no excuse. I’ve definitely looked at it and I will never let that happen again.”

sherm03;505542 wrote:Ask and you shall receive...

[video=youtube;08T6J58-RIs][/video]

if this were a .gif i'd have it as my avatar.

I just noticed after watching the video again that #53 white rips his helmet off again after the LSU score this time to celebrate.

sherm03;505542 wrote:Ask and you shall receive...

[video=youtube;08T6J58-RIs][/video]

HAHAHA thank you for posting this. That's great.

Sonofanump;509255 wrote:I just noticed after watching the video again that #53 white rips his helmet off again after the LSU score this time to celebrate.

That was after the TD though so at worst it would have moved the PAT 15 yards back, right?

karen lotz;509264 wrote:That was after the TD though so at worst it would have moved the PAT 15 yards back, right?

Interesting question since we have a few factors. Yes it would normally be on the try or succeeding kickoff. We have time expired on the last down of a game where a score occurred. Now the team that has a try left is up by two points. By rule, the defense can score on this try and tie the game. But if the defense refuses to take the field, the game will be declared with a 2 point winner.

I'm kind of puzzled about this one. I know the SEC likes to protect its top teams so that they look better in the national picture, but I don't think they thought this one through. If they let Tenn beat LSU, LSU only drops 2-3 spots and Tenn would sky rocket to 1 spot higher than LSU(so like 13-14) giving the SEC more ranked schools.

Only in the SEC...

Sonofanump;507804 wrote:SEC official says decisions correct

http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/104323524.html?showAll=y&c=y

There was one other matter to deal with, that of Hebert flinging his helmet after it appeared Tennessee had won.

A player is subject to a penalty by removing his helmet in the field of play. But Redding said his officials have been instructed to determine a player’s intent when doing so, and that if a player removes his helmet in anger or celebration a penalty should not be called.

“He did take off his helmet, but you can see several players taking their helmets off” on both sides, Redding said.

“The way we handle those is, we always have to interpret why (the helmet is removed). We always allow for the immediate burst of emotion. To penalize that at the end of the game is a very technical interpretation of the rule. It would be irresponsible to penalize either team because of that.”

WRONG. It's called doing your job. A play with no time left on the clock in the fourth quarter is the same as a play with 7:53 left in the first quarter.

This is just the SEC trying to cover its flaws in officiating. We've seen instances of shoddy officiating several times in the last few years in the SEC.

Note the ref in the endzone on the far left of the screen counting players. He does not throw a flag while he is in frame, a full 2 seconds after the snap.

And to say that Tennessee left the field and refused to play for the PAT is downright asinine. Did anyone else see LSU's team rush the field with all kinds of media personnel? Several Tennessee players and coaches were still on the field for at least 30 seconds after the LSU touchdown. Excessive celebration much? By rule, you still have to attempt the PAT, even if they were to take a knee.

But yet the officials did no wrong? BULLSHIT!

Jughead;509302 wrote:WRONG. It's called doing your job. A play with no time left on the clock in the fourth quarter is the same as a play with 7:53 left in the first quarter.

This is just the SEC trying to cover its flaws in officiating. We've seen instances of shoddy officiating several times in the last few years in the SEC.

Note the ref in the endzone on the far left of the screen counting players. He does not throw a flag while he is in frame, a full 2 seconds after the snap.

And to say that Tennessee left the field and refused to play for the PAT is downright asinine. Did anyone else see LSU's team rush the field with all kinds of media personnel? Several Tennessee players and coaches were still on the field for at least 30 seconds after the LSU touchdown. Excessive celebration much? By rule, you still have to attempt the PAT, even if they were to take a knee.

But yet the officials did no wrong? BULLSHIT!

I only counted three mistakes in your rant. Maybe you'll do better next time.

karen lotz;509261 wrote:HAHAHA thank you for posting this. That's great.

LOL. No problem. I was bored Saturday night. The wife had gone to bed early because I was watching the ND game and I was just drinking in the living room. Someone said they wanted to see that to the Benny Hill theme and I was just bored/drunk enough to put it together and upload it.

Watching that video again...I realize that I hate the fact I didn't speed it up the first time.

Uploaded another one that just seems funnier thanks to speeding up the video.
[video=youtube;lPT8YmoH4pw][/video]

ok that one is gonna get passed around SEC country. Perfect fit with the music & video.

cats gone wild;507112 wrote:Ranked in the top 10, beat 2 teams that were ranked at the time, have played ZERO MAC type schools, have won every game, beat Tenn with 4 turnovers compared to 0 Tenn turnovers. Maybe we should schedule EMU, Ohio, and Marshall to start off our schedule instead of 2 ranked teams and 3 SEC teams.

And still not ranked ahead of Ohio State. Looks like those with the power also know who the better team is.

Sonofanump;509318 wrote:I only counted three mistakes in your rant. Maybe you'll do better next time.

Why not point them out for me?

Jughead;509302 wrote:WRONG. It's called doing your job. A play with no time left on the clock in the fourth quarter is the same as a play with 7:53 left in the first quarter.

This is not a fact?

Jughead;509302 wrote:This is just the SEC trying to cover its flaws in officiating. We've seen instances of shoddy officiating several times in the last few years in the SEC.

Very well then
[video=youtube;doKelJl0BCA][/video]
http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/SEC-suspends-Florida-Arkansas-officiating-crew
6 potential instances of shoddy officiating just last year.
[video=youtube;QtudplhEh1A][/video]
...among others.

Jughead;509302 wrote:Note the ref in the endzone on the far left of the screen counting players. He does not throw a flag while he is in frame, a full 2 seconds after the snap.

This is a fact. He starts counting at :33, the play starts at :34 and he's in frame as it goes to :35. We see nothing indicating a flag was thrown until the ref goes to put on the headset at 1:40. That was mainly on CBS, but the way I stated it above is fact.
[video=youtube;e3taXPSpx9Q][/video]

Jughead;509302 wrote:And to say that Tennessee left the field and refused to play for the PAT is downright asinine. Did anyone else see LSU's team rush the field with all kinds of media personnel? Several Tennessee players and coaches were still on the field for at least 30 seconds after the LSU touchdown. Excessive celebration much?

Touchdown occurs at 3:28. Tennessee players are in the background at 4:00, even if that is just to shake hands/post-game prayer. Tennessee's coach is seen running towards the locker room a few seconds later. Sure, the fact that the media people ran on the field when Tennessee stopped them on the previous play, but they cleared them off the field pretty easily.

Jughead;509302 wrote:By rule, you still have to attempt the PAT, even if they were to take a knee.

This is the one thing I'm not so sure of. I've seen games in OT end on walk-off TD's. Is the rule the same for regulation?

So where were the three mistakes? And most importantly, is this better?

Jughead;509302 wrote: A play with no time left on the clock in the fourth quarter is the same as a play with 7:53 left in the first quarter.

Incorrect, different set of timing rule on a play that time expires.

Jughead;509302 wrote: Excessive celebration much?

Does not matter if the game is over.

Jughead;509302 wrote:By rule, you still have to attempt the PAT

Incorrect, perhaps when you were reading the rule book so stopped mid-sentence and did not see that part where the team down by 2 does not have to take the field, their choice.

Jughead;509302 wrote:Note the ref in the endzone on the far left of the screen counting players. He does not throw a flag while he is in frame, a full 2 seconds after the snap.

Not sure what your point here is. I'm sure you know the difference between illegal substitution and illegal participation and which one is a live ball foul and which one is a dead ball foul or by exception which one can be called at the snap and ball is marked dead.

Jughead;510224 wrote: [video=youtube;QtudplhEh1A][/video]

Of the six plays, #2 was a correct call, #4 was marginal and #6 was reviewed and the video that was shown does not show the whole play.

Mistakes are going to be made, especially with the speed involved.
No mistakes were made at the end of the LSU-Tenn game.
I've love to see you on the field to try to get calls correct even at the junior high level.

I've never understood officials coming on sites like this and defending poor officiating. If they're interested in improving the game, they should do the opposite.

queencitybuckeye;510412 wrote:I've never understood officials coming on sites like this and defending poor officiating. If they're interested in improving the game, they should do the opposite.

I will admit when it is incorrect on the field. I will correct when someone posts something incorrect or misunderstood. The LSU-Tenn game ending had nothing to do with the officiating, they did a good job. I came back just this week to confirm to another poster about a call in the MSU-ND game was a missed call.

Sonofanump;510314 wrote:Of the six plays, #2 was a correct call, #4 was marginal and #6 was reviewed and the video that was shown does not show the whole play.

Mistakes are going to be made, especially with the speed involved.
No mistakes were made at the end of the LSU-Tenn game.
I've love to see you on the field to try to get calls correct even at the junior high level.

this is true. but it seems to be a pattern of SEC favorites that get the calls in these examples. you can't deny that. the 2 against arkansas in the florida game were eggregious. the LSU missed INT was pretty bad, but I can understand that call, if only because he switched the ball to his right arm so you could say there was a delay on when he "had possession". The Cody helmet one was ticky tack, but probably should've been called.

Bad calls happen all over the country. Remember how Michigan/Indiana ended last year?

The missed int that PP7 had vs. Bama was horrible. Very well could of changed the outcome of that game as LSU would of had good position and only down by 6. Of course on the LSU site they had pics showing close ups and he was clearly in bounds with both feet. The Arkansas game and the Georgia game were pretty pathetic too.

karen lotz;510681 wrote:Bad calls happen all over the country. Remember how Michigan/Indiana ended last year?

I remember lot thinking that a late interception was a simultaneous catch, but the interception was confirmed.

Anything happen beyond that?