re: My letter to the SEC re: offical review

Sent:

There is a problem in the SEC.

The players know it.

The coaches know it.

The fans know it.

The national sports media knows it and is getting increasingly more vocal about it.

It seems obvious that the only people that don't know there is a problem in the SEC is the upper hierarchy of the SEC.

What is this problem?

Consistently incompetent officiating that is so egregious it has become the headline for the 2009 season.

Officiating is difficult.  Things move fast and it is accepted that in the moment some infractions will be missed while others will be called when they did not occur.  This is simply part of the game.

However, there is a point when the expected becomes the inexplicable.  This occurs when incorrect calls or no calls on the field are numerous and consistently to the benefit of one team on the field.

This situation becomes even more unacceptable when bad calls on the field are backed up in the replay booth.  Millions of eyes see the obvious on television while the SEC replay official looks at 8 angles in high definition and somehow can't see the same.

Regarding the Alabama/LSU controversial replay call, I would like to see this issue fully addressed.  Rather than an ambiguous statement issued by Mike Slive that fails to address the concerns of those that question the integrity of game's officiating, I would prefer Commissioner Slive to procure a large, high definition TV and hold a press conference.  On this TV, I'd like for him to show the various angles of the controversial replay and point out how the correct call was made both on the field and in the replay booth.  This would be the most effective means by which Mr. Slive could restore confidence in SEC officiating and his willingness to legitimately address the very valid concerns of SEC football fans.

I predict that no such thing will occur.  As usual, Mr. Slive will gloss over the increasingly disturbing occurances with no regard for the teams, coaches and fans that are adversly affected by his inability to provide fair and competant officiating crews.  He might even fine someone for pointing out how this problem has become an epidemic in the SEC.


Sent from my iPhone

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I'm going to write one myself but a little less nice!

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I had to "bit my tongue" in a few instances, because make no mistake ... I am pissed. It was simply inexcusable IMO.

That said, helluva game between LSU and Alabama.

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Consistently incompetent officiating that is so egregious it has become the headline for the 2009 season.

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LSU football is my hobby.

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great letter. i am glad you are sending it. i believe they will read it and it is very factual and not a cry baby rant. in total, the SEC needs to get off their arse and communicate to the fans what they are doing with their officiating to improve it. it has reached epic proportions. and this year, most of the problems (not all) have involved bama and florida.

Great letters everybody. I plan to send one myself.

BTW, I would recommend sending a hardcopy to Slive at his SEC office as well. AND, something needs to be sent to whoever took over at the NCAA for Myles Brand.

Won't do any good to try and get ESPN involved, as Slive is in bed with them.

You do realize that the SEC gets letters like this every week from the fans of every SEC team that lost. There are blown calls in every game against every team, but the losing fans always dwell on what didn't get called their way and they think it's their job to correct all the world's wrongs and write the SEC office. I'm sure you also know that Slive and anyone else of any importance at the SEC offices don't read the dozens of letters that come in every week like yours. In fact, I'm betting they deleted it without even reading it. So congratulations on wasting about 30 minutes of your life writing a small thesis on a play that was inconclusive. I'm guessing you didn't write the SEC office with your moral disgust for bad officiating in 2004 when Cory Webster raped Keith Brown in the endzone in what would have made it a 13-0 Bama lead in the 3rd quarter. Funny how that works, huh?

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'm guessing you didn't write the SEC office with your moral disgust for bad officiating in 2004 when Cory Webster raped Keith Brown in the endzone in what would have made it a 13-0 Bama lead in the 3rd quarter. Funny how that works, huh?

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I wasn't aware that in 2004 LSU and Alabama were playing for a potential spot in the national title game.

With bigger games comes bigger expectations for the coaches, the players, as well as the officials.

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I'm guessing you didn't write the SEC office with your moral disgust for bad officiating in 2004 when Cory Webster raped Keith Brown in the endzone in what would have made it a 13-0 Bama lead in the 3rd quarter. Funny how that works, huh?

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First, if you're trying to find some moral contradiction in our thinking, so WHAT? We are concerned about OUR team - especially when they are the victim of incompetence. Just like you obviously are with your team..

Second, we aren't discussing subjective or missed calls like late hits, pass interference, or holding.

We are concerned with incompetence in the replay booth. The point in question is why even have replay if you still can't get the call right?

There is absolutely no question that teams benefit from missed calls every week (e.g., the non-call of Mount Cody throwing off his helmet during the decisive fg block vs. the Vols while the play was still active).

No one is assuming LSU would have won the game had the call been correct either. Again, actually READ the letter.

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FWIW, I did write a letter to the SEC earlier in the season about officiating.

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Then you are excused but the rest of people... I could only imagine some of letters, messages that LSU fans are leaving and I am sure it is making all rational LSU fans look bad.


The officials were bad, but as I asked last night. Do the SEC Replay Officials have an issue like NFL use too. Where they only have certain camera angles to view plays on field while those viewing from home have more views.
If that is case I could understand them missing the call as they may have not had a clear shot to see feet in bounds and possession of the ball.

While I would like too see what the SEC say's or does about the situation the game is over and time too look forward to Tech.