It's highly improbable. The SEC takes great pains to safeguard the referees from improper approaches from anybody. The refs themselves are monitored and their patterns of penalties scrutinized. Nobody knows who the refs are going to be before the game. Refs cannot official a team from their home state or a school they are associated with. The problem ain't that the refs are crooked (taking money) or biased (want Auburn to win). The problem is that the refs make errors and are reluctant to admit it later. Another problem in the SEC is that the overall comptence level of referees just ain't what it used to be. We haven't had a season this century where there hasn't been a major controversial-call game by the SEC officials. Exactly.
Can the same be said of any conference? I thought I read some time ago that the SEC officials are paid the most and are the most highly regarded in the college ranks.
That part is incorrect. You can't have any connection to the school, but living in the same state is not a factor. The ref that called the LSU-Auburn game last year lives in Birmingham and is a Bama grad. If anything, that probably gave us an edge!:wink: Full Story
I agree, it's not likely the refs are bought, much more likely they are simply inept. In fact, I really question whether the conference will permit these crews to "let them play" again in the near future after what we all witnessed on Saturday. Allowing the teams to go at one another may have kept the game on schedule (television-wise), but it just resulted in an escalating level of contact as the game wore on. I enjoyed watching a physical, old-school type of game, but in hindsight, maybe it wasn't the best way to keep the game "on time." There were many bad calls in this game. Most were against LSU, a few were against Auburn. It's unfortunate that such tremendous efforts from the players on both teams are marred by events surrounding the officiating. It's not the first time it has happened, nor do I suspect it will be the last. JMO, but I wouldn't take a few unsportsmanlike remarks on an opponent's board as being the opinion that represents the entire fanbase, because that is rarely the reality. Trust me, Auburn fans have been on the receiving end of similar controversial outcomes, and most of us vividly remember how it feels to get screwed, so there is no joy in seeing others go through it, and that's the truth for the majority of AU fans. I won't lie, I'm happy that Auburn won the game, but I am displeased over the officiating. JMHO, but both teams got screwed over this and it cheapens AU's win. I don't necessarily hate that as a fan of AU, but I hate it as a fan of CFB, and I especially hate it for the players who gave their best efforts for our collective enjoyment. It's a shame, really.
and this, sports fans, ought to close the book.... great, candid post. must spread some rep around, so i thought i would say i appreciate your candor and assessment. :thumb:
You are wrong. Once the ball is tipped past the neutral zone it's every man for himself. The only prohibition is that the receiver cannot be impeded from catching the ball. If he is, it's interference. There is no defensive holding once the ball is beyond the neutral zone (LOS).
It's never every man for himself. You can never just tackle someone unless they are carrying the ball. In a loose ball situation, you can shove people from the back above the waste.
