In the wake of Tennessee's 12-10 loss to Alabama,
Lane Kiffin expressed displeasure over the penalty disparity -- Alabama received one penalty for 10 yards while Tennessee received eight for 68 -- the lack of a penalty on Terrance Cody on the game's final play, and even suggested that the referees were the reason he chose to kick the field goal from 44 yards rather than run another play to move closer.
"You run another play and you throw an interception or they throw another flag on us," Kiffin said Sunday. "I wasn't going to let the refs lose the game for us there and some magical flag appear."
The SEC fired back today, reprimanding the Tennessee coach.
In a statement e-mailed to the media, Commissioner Mike Slive spoke out against Kiffin's criticism.
"Coach Kiffin has violated the Southeastern Conference Code of Ethics," Slive said. "SEC Bylaw 10.5.4 clearly states that coaches, players and support personnel shall refrain from all public criticism of officials.
"Coach Kiffin is on notice that for any further violations of SEC policies will subject him to additional penalties including suspension."
In February, Kiffin was reprimanded for faslely accusing Florida coach Urban Meyer of a recruiting violation.
Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen was also reprimanded by the league Monday. Mullen questioned the instant replay official in the Bulldogs' loss to Florida, who failed to overturn a touchdown by Florida linebacker Dustin Doe. Doe returned an intercepted pass to the end zone during the fourth quarter Saturday night, but appeared to drop the ball in celebration before it crossed the goal line.
"I don't even know why we have replay right now in the Southeastern Conference if they're not going to utilize it," Mullen said.
The public criticism of the officiating comes in the wake of notable officiating failures in earlier SEC games that have led to apologies from the league. The SEC admitted error in both the the "excessive celebration" penalty called against Georgia's
A.J. Green in the Bulldogs' narrow loss to LSU to the flags from nowhere against Arkansas in its near-upset of Florida. The SEC's public mea culpa as well as suspensions of officials has emboldened coaches to speak out publicly on the issue. After his team's loss to Florida,
Bobby Petrino ripped the officiating and received a letter of reprimand as well.
So evidently calling attention to bad calls is the sole province of the league. For now, Kiffin remains on thin ice with the commissioner. Although, to be fair, a second public reprimand is the rough equivalent of a teacher banging his ruler on the desk for the second time. Whether SEC Commissioner Mike Slive would be willing to actually suspend a coach for expressing his opinion on a football matter, remains to be seen.
Regardless, the SEC's letter comes as no surprise to Kiffin.
"I'm sure we'll get one of those letters that really means nothing as Bobby [Petrino] got last week, but Florida and Alabama live on," Kiffin said on Sunday.
Clay Travis is the author of three books. His latest, "On Rocky Top: A Front Row Seat to The End of an Era" chronicles the 2008 Tennessee football season and is on sale now.
http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=515420&pid=515419&uts=1256605379
http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf
Latest College Football Photos
Mississippi State quarterback Chris Relf (14) is stopped by Florida cornerback Joe Haden (5) in the second half of their NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009. No. 2 Florida won, 29-19. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
AP
AP
University of Connecticut teammates Kashif Moore (left) and Kijuan Dadney (right) speak at the funeral service of slain UConn cornerback Jasper Howard at New Birth Baptist Church in Miami, Florida, Monday, October 26, 2009. Howard was fatally stabbed outside a dance on the school's campus. (Lilly Echeverria/Miami Herald/MCT)
MCT
JoAngila Howard, mother, and Henry Williams, step-father, of UConn cornerback Jasper Howard touch the flowers and mausoleum of Howard at the cemetery in Miami, Monday, Oct. 26, 2009. Howard was a UConn football player fatally stabbed to death outside a dance on Connecticut's campus. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
AP
A horse carriage carrying the casket of UConn cornerback Jasper Howard arrives at the cemetery in Miami, Monday, Oct. 26, 2009. Howard was a UConn football player fatally stabbed to death outside a dance on Connecticut's campus. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
AP
An unidentified man views the body of Jasper Howard, at his funeral, Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, in Miami. Howard was a UConn football player fatally stabbed to death outside a dance on Connecticut's campus. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
AP
Daneisha Freeman, UConn cornerback Jasper Howard's girlfriend, watches as the mausoleum is prepared to receive the casket of Jasper Howard at the cemetery in Miami, Monday, Oct. 26, 2009. Howard was fatally stabbed outside a dance on Connecticut's campus. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
AP
Family members and friends of University of Connecticut cornerback Jasper Howard gathered for his funeral service at New Birth Baptist Church in Miami, Florida, Monday, October 26, 2009. Howard was fatally stabbed outside a dance on the school's campus. (Lilly Echeverria/Miami Herald/MCT)
MCT
Funeral services were held for slain University of Connecticut cornerback Jasper Howard at New Birth Baptist Church in Miami, Florida, Monday, October 26, 2009. Howard was fatally stabbed outside a dance on the school's campus. (Lilly Echeverria/Miami Herald/MCT)
MCT
University of Connecticut players arrive for the funeral services of UConn cornerback Jasper Howard at New Birth Baptist Church in Miami, Florida, Monday, October 26, 2009. Howard was fatally stabbed outside a dance on the school's campus. (Lilly Echeverria/Miami Herald/MCT)
MCT
University of Connecticut players arrive for the funeral services of UConn cornerback Jasper Howard at New Birth Baptist Church in Miami, Florida, Monday, October 26, 2009. Howard was fatally stabbed outside a dance on the school's campus. (Lilly Echeverria/Miami Herald/MCT)
MCT
Family members and friends of University of Connecticut cornerback Jasper Howard gathered for his funeral service at New Birth Baptist Church in Miami, Florida, Monday, October 26, 2009. Howard was fatally stabbed outside a dance on the school's campus. (Lilly Echeverria/Miami Herald/MCT)
MCT
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
10-26-2009 @ 3:38PM
blackopsg3 said...
Lane K. Has the Vols on the right track they are maybe two players away, the defense is good the offense needs some improvement but I think he has them play well enough to put a little fear in the SEC two powerhouses
Reply
10-27-2009 @ 9:58AM
hardrocknox said...
OK everybody , this what you do , if an opposing team is trying to kick a last second field goal , everybody on the defence just take off and throw your helmet towards the kicker and the holder , if he misses no big deal the game is over ,no time on the clock , you win , it will be your ball anyways ...wright ?
10-27-2009 @ 1:07PM
Ron said...
Ok NumbNuts Tennessee fans,
IF the referee called a penalty on Mount Cody for taking his headgear off, it would have been a dead ball foul, and it would have been accessed on the next play...and the game was over, there was no next play, unless of course you think it should be accessed on our kickoff against LSU.
Smart move, Kif. You are one dumb goober.
Man Up.
10-27-2009 @ 3:12PM
ashley said...
Ron is correct. Any unsportsmanlike penaly allegedly committed by Cody happened after time had expired. Watch the kick and the clock. Cody taking off his helmet occurred after the play and the game was over.
Under NCAA rules, if a team kicks a field goal with time expiring, the only way the kicking team can have the game period extended and be able to re-kick is if the opposing team is offsides or commits a penaly during the play. During, not after.
Even if the refs would be inclined to call an unsportsmanlike penalty on Cody, the game was over and nothing could be done. Cody taking off his helmet, in celebration of his game-winning block, did not in anyway affect that play.
Further, for Kiffin to set that example for his players is sad. The refs didn't miss the other field goal attempt or block either of the two kicks. To say the refs somehow stole that game away from UT just shows Kiffin's lack of maturity and responsibility, and once again, ignorance of the rules.
10-27-2009 @ 9:24PM
Ron said...
Let me guess... Those two players he is missing, might that be the place kicker and the center? Left guard? Right guard? The rest of the interior line? Look at the picture... how many Bama guys appear to be in position to block that kick? One had already passed the line of flight before the ball got there, two others level in penetration with Mount Cody, and Julio in DUNK position ready to take one in the chest for the Gipper......
Then there is your place kicker...
And, not to be forgotten, your head coach who is in way over his head...
Might just take one or two more than you are thinking....
Ron
10-26-2009 @ 3:41PM
gnmszanyi said...
i also watched these games and i agree that alabama and florida seem to dodge the referees flags. if the sec ref's would have keep this game fair and impartial both of these teams would have loses. they have played very poorly more than once against non ranked teams and are still 1&2 in bcs standings. usc falls in this catorgory as well but god forbid if texas loose they would drop out of the top 10. the favoritism that these 3 teams get and there conferences is ruining all the glamor of college football and soon people will loose intrest just like they have with the nfl.
Reply
10-29-2009 @ 5:53PM
chipperc01 said...
To ron and all the other bama idiots!! The ball was still live when fatboy took off his helmet and ran down the field, so that would mean the play was still going. This being so, the game can't end on a defensive penalty and Tennessee would have had another kick. Learn your rulebook, oh I forgot you don't have to read to graduate from bama!!
10-26-2009 @ 3:48PM
skipwedge said...
I am a Gator fan, but have to agree that there have been some really questionablre calls favoring the Gators and Tide,everyone in the SEC better get ready because the Vols are coming.
Reply
10-26-2009 @ 3:52PM
Glenn said...
Wow, you are a gator fan and admit these things? I didn't think that Florida OR Georgia fans had the capacity of thinking unbiasedly. You have just restored my faith in humanity....maybe you gator fans aren't all so bad.
10-26-2009 @ 5:21PM
redfldnparadise said...
Gator fan here also and trust me, I was embarressed sitting in the bar with my colors on with the refs pulling that crap.
10-26-2009 @ 5:23PM
rtcstreet said...
This guy is lying he is not a gator fan. He just trying to pump up the vols for thats his true team
10-27-2009 @ 7:31AM
jhisc9999 said...
Yeah, no Gator fan is going to say "the vols are coming". I've been watching CF for 30 years. Bad calls happen. Move on. I agree it was a bad call on the Gator interception return touchdown, but don't blame the refs. They had two bad angles to review, not a 3-D rendering that the network made. Gators would have still won anyway. They need to come down harder on these cry-baby coaches that break ethics rules. What kind of message do they send to their players?
10-28-2009 @ 11:02PM
jlcox65 said...
Okay,
This is the first I have heard about Bama getting calls from the refs this year. Last week Bama had 13 penalties for over 130 yards.
Besides, replay clearly shows his helmet being removed after time expired and Bama had already recovered the ball.
If a penalty was to be enforced it was going to be a dead ball foul after change of possession. Which means Bama ball, 1st down, backed up 15 yards from where they recovered the block.
Game freaking over. So go ahead and throw the flag. Bama takes a knee.
Let's face it... all we want are the refs, coaches and officials to own up to their errors and bad calls but there is not one in this case, just hype! You can't change the call or the win after the game anyway.
People...Learn the rules
10-26-2009 @ 3:53PM
Hey their Boski said...
Whether right or wrong, whatever happened to freedon of speech, I watched twelve games this weekend, and in each one, there was reason for someone to complain, I am an official, and if we make mistakes we should man up. The SEC, ACC, PAC10 and all the leagues should not be able to restrict anyone from speaking out. Just like the NCAA is supposed to keep the amateur is sports (what a joke)I guess the commissioners are supposed to be czars and restrict a basic freedom of every american. Enough of this crap, the college game is starting to lose its appeal.
Reply
10-26-2009 @ 7:58PM
budman said...
Freedom of speech is a limitation only on GOVERNMENT, not on athletic leagues. Lots of folks don't seem to understand this.
10-26-2009 @ 3:55PM
Dvdfrnzwbr said...
Its no secret that the SEC is corrupt. The Atheletes, I will not call them students, don't even go to class.
Reply
10-26-2009 @ 4:13PM
timat35 said...
Jealous
10-26-2009 @ 4:17PM
mnorris149 said...
Sorry dude, I work at UGA, take classes at UGA and I can tell you this, they are going to class because I take them with them.
10-26-2009 @ 5:52PM
budspete said...
check your facts and the % of these guys that graduate not only early, but with a GPA to be proud of. I understand not all athletes have great grades, but more do than don't. The NCAA has new rules to ensure GPA continue to increase and many coaches don't hesitate to bench the best football player if grades or class attendance is an issue.
11-01-2009 @ 1:00AM
cherryontop12 said...
This is totally biased...First of all I went to an SEC school and guess what our football players did go to class!! There are very strict guidelines on these players just from the coach not to mention the schools. It is so frustrating when people such as dvdfrnzwbr make statements like this without any basis for their opinions.