Burleson's official website vanishes after Fox8 contacts SEC

LSU-Alabama replay supervisor Dick Burleson's official website is no longer available after our post yesterday (11-11-09) exposing Burleson's ties to the University of Alabama. Burleson's website vanishes 11-12-09






I was ready to move on too, and I still don't buy into the "SEC conspiracy theory," but this is a little suspicious to say the least ... If there's nothing "to hide" then why does Burleson's official website mysteriously vanish off the face of the earth the day after we expose his ties to the University of Alabama and the same day that the media contacts the SEC office to confirm Burleson's presence in the replay booth for LSU-Alabama 2009?


Fox8 News: LSU fans upset with officiating

quote:

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Adding to the controversy - Dick Burleson's presence in the instant replay booth. Burleson is an SEC advisor with close ties to Alabama.

Burlseon often speaks to the Alabama booster club, according to his website and wrote about his friend bear Bryant in his book - You'd Better Be Right.

The SEC has this to say:

"The specific gentleman in the booth... served as the "communicator" in the ...game, Not the replay official...he is not a graduate of any sec school. Our officiating and replay rules are not for public dissemination."



Full Statement from the SEC:


1- The instant replay booth has three people inside, only one of which is the replay official and has any decision-making authority or role. This person makes the decision on any play under review. This position is not allowed to be a graduate of any of the participating schools in the game, just like the on-field officials. The instant replay official in this game was Gerald Hodges, who is not a graduate of either Alabama or LSU due to this policy.


2- The specific gentleman in the booth you inquired about served as the “communicator” in the Alabama-LSU game, not the replay official, which is clearly outlined on the flip card for the game. However, contrary to some false information out there, he is not a graduate of any SEC school. When he was an on-field official for many years, he was able to officiate any game in the SEC, including LSU and Alabama games, because of that fact.


3- Our officiating and replay rules and manuals are not for public dissemination, however, we do address things such as “the alma-mater” rule and where someone did or did not attend school when necessary to clear up any misunderstandings, which are quite common when an official’s name gets put out there and internet message board rumors begin.

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ETA: If you would like to contact the SEC office, the commissioner's email is commissioner@sec.org, the Media Relations director's email is cbloom@sec.org and the SEC fax number is (205)458-3031. The emails and fax number are all public.