On Friday, SEC Commissioner Mike Slive fined Urban Meyer $30,000 for criticizing the officials in the wake of the Georgia-Florida game. When questioned by the media about a non-call on a late hit against Tim Tebow, Meyer responded, "That should have been a penalty, in my opinion. Obviously, it should have been. You've got to protect quarterbacks. That's the whole purpose. It's right in front of the referee." In announcing the penalty, Commissioner Slive stated as follows: "Coach Meyer has violated the Southeastern Conference code of ethics. SEC bylaw 10.5.4 clearly states that the coaches, players and support personnel shall refrain from public criticism of officials. The league's athletics directors and presidents and chancellors have made it clear that negative public comments on officiating are not acceptable."
Urban Meyer issued his own response: "As I stated last week, I have great respect for Commissioner Mike Slive and the Southeastern Conference and I respect this decision. There was no intent to criticize an official after being asked about a situation that occurred last Saturday and I apologize for my remarks."
Meyer's fine will be used to fund SEC postgraduate scholarships.
The fine comes in the wake of a recent change to SEC bylaws that ended all reprimand letters--Arkansas's Bobby Petrino, Tennessee's Lane Kiffin, and Mississippi State's Dan Mullen all received them for criticizing officials in the past few weeks -- and instituted a new policy of fines and suspensions.
While the fines are designed to represent a new, more stringent policy when it comes to commenting on officiating, they also raise their own questions. First among them, are fines, a penalty used by the NFL for decades, likely to curb coaching criticism of officiating? Particularly when SEC coaches make so much money as it is?
While $30,000 is a substantial sum to your average American, does it really put a dint in Meyer's wallet? Particularly when the donation is also tax deductible? In fact, this fine, even without the tax deduction, represents less than 1 percent of Meyer's overall salary this season. For an average American making, say $40,000, a year, that would be a hit of $300.
Isn't that a small price to pay for a coach being able to speak his mind?
Regardless, Slive had to act in the wake of announcing the new penalties. Slive's fine represents a new front in the SEC's attempt to reign in coaching commentary in the wake of several highly publicized officiating scandals. Whether it will be any more effective than the previous policy remains to be seen.
So long as the SEC office continues to suspend and berate officials while limiting the coaches' ability to do the same, consider this one vote for -- not likely.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
11-06-2009 @ 1:48PM
no1dolphin13 said...
This BS!! Meyes simply said a call should have been made. he did not say the ref missed the called or made a bad call he simply said a call shold have been made.In the end as usual the Gators are still NO 1!!!! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!!!!! All you Gators haters stuff it that goes for you to Mr Travis!!
!
Reply
11-06-2009 @ 4:01PM
James said...
Oh come on. That's less than they pay Tebow.
11-06-2009 @ 6:20PM
Dark Alley Demon said...
So let's turn the table: If any of the officials from any conferences, were to say to the media, "That coach should have called a certain play but it cost them the game... that player should have caught that ball.... that lineman couldn't block a Lego...", that would have been okay? Maybe you should try and be an official and see if you can handle the job. Start with Pop Warner division. I'll even venture to say that Meyers couldn't blow a whistle or know when to throw a flag if he tried. And by the way, officials are not allowed to talk about coaches, players, etc., in a negative format whatsoever - especially to the media.
11-07-2009 @ 3:14AM
Dvdfrnzwbr said...
Whats Meyer cry'n about. The SEC Oficials have handed him at least three wins this season.
11-06-2009 @ 2:33PM
ccshells said...
I agree it's BS but, AT LEAST Meyer had class and not the USUAL cocky attitude by some other coaches! He DID not whine about it after the game, he made a slight comment 4 days after the game. I'm sure he'll pay it, win more championships and make millions more. After all..how much does he get just for GOING to the SEC championship?? Look out cuz... there are some angry Gators getting ready to CHOMP ...run up the score...I hope they show no mercy after all the baby whiners we had to listen to the past few weeks..we thrive on the haters =) Go Gators!!
Reply
11-07-2009 @ 11:08AM
K V said...
Uh ... dude, you capitalized DID instead of not. Did you graduate from Florida, or did you just play football there?
Meyer is right, though, the officiating sucked; I mean, how did they miss the personal foul on the eye-gouge? And a one-half game suspension is bullshit. A player from another school was suspended for a year when he lied and said he didn't do something that he was permitted to do if he wanted. He lied and was suspended for the entire year, but not that eye-gouging punk from Florida, he just gets half a game.
11-06-2009 @ 2:45PM
tdtjm09 said...
I'm sorry did the SEC just rewrite the Constitution? There is no longer FREEDOM OF SPEECH??? When is this BULL going to end. Someone of authority needs to stand up and do SOMETHING. All these new rules are totally out of hand.
Reply
11-06-2009 @ 4:04PM
cqdeed said...
The "Freedom of Speach" you refer to appears to be in reference to the First Amendment to the Constitution which actually only pertains to government. The SEC is not part of the government and is allowed to make rules about what their members may or may not say. -- Edgar
11-06-2009 @ 11:05PM
mrbiscuit2 said...
Another scholar who doesn't understand freedom of speech. You are allowed to say whatever you want without GOVERNMENT interference or censorship. There is nothing in any law protecting you from the repercussion of what you might say. In fact, there ARE some things you can't say. You can yell fire in a crowded theater when there is one. And you can't threaten to kill the president (sorry, Fox). You can't spew hate speech.
Incidentially, I think the fine levied at the coach was totally inappropriate in this case. What he said was really mild.
11-07-2009 @ 10:29AM
dameem2 said...
Obviously, you have no idea of what the constitution actually says!
11-06-2009 @ 2:48PM
kmt1018 said...
What a ridiculously stupid rule! Look, I'm not even a Florida fan but I feel the need to ask how I can get my contribution in the hands of Urban Meyer - to offset such a stupid fine.
Reply
11-06-2009 @ 3:01PM
ultravol said...
Yes, ccshells, the Gators are definitely No 1 and have deserved that status. But don't continue the "run up the score" threats that you haven't been able to back up!
Reply
11-06-2009 @ 3:02PM
roryzsss said...
Ok gators enough patting each other on the back. Meyer has been whining about his star player getting hit all week....ya know this is the game of football so you can tackle the quarterback, it is allowed. Maybe they should just have him wear a flag in his belt and when they pull it out he will be considered tackled, would that make y'all and Meyer happier?
Reply
11-06-2009 @ 3:02PM
geetrls said...
All yew Gator fans...Alabama is going to break it off in your arrogant, pathetic little selves..
Then the Texas Longhorns will kick the sheeit out of Bama on their way to #1
Reply
11-06-2009 @ 3:04PM
NICK said...
Are you kidding. Anyone should have the right to speak their mind without being harrassed with fines, penalties and demaning remarks. This is America right? or is this now Obamaland
Reply
11-06-2009 @ 3:47PM
Steve said...
Nick, let's leave politics out of this. For your information, freedom of speech is freedom from the government censuring you. The SEC has its own rules and if you are a member you must obey them. Re: Meyer, his comments were tame in comparison but the SEC office had spoken and was in a position where it had to back it up.
11-06-2009 @ 6:41PM
Clayton H. Payne said...
Also Nick, this has nothing to do with Obama. David Sterns has been fining players and coaches for critisizing referees even before anybody hear of Obama. These organizations wants people to stay in line because they think if nobody critisizes the referees then the rest of us won't notice it. So while you want to blame everything on Obama I believe in personal responsibility and the SEC commissioner is the one who is responsible for this not the President of the United States. So Nick, place the blame where it belongs if you want the problem to be solved.
11-06-2009 @ 3:12PM
Krusty said...
WHY DOES THE PLAY NOT GET RE LOOKED AT BY OFFICALS IF MEYERS IS RIGHT ABOUT THE CALL HE SHOULD BE GIVEN 30,000 AND IF HES WRONG HE WILL PAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
11-06-2009 @ 3:14PM
michael mauck said...
The SEC and the NCAA need to allow justified critical analysis of these bullshit calls. Everyone knows FLorida beat Arkansas by three game changing missed calls. Game changing calls need to addressed and not behind closed doors.
Reply
11-06-2009 @ 8:05PM
mcd8009 said...
BS, Meyer just said what any coach would say, or should say, when late hits on the QB are not called. Don't let your bias let you run your mouth or the keyboard.