Loss of poise, not officials' decision, cost Florida

Because it might've - and I repeat, MIGHT'VE - affected the outcome.

And because Florida fans now have someone else to blame for the Gators' bitter, 30-28 loss in Knoxville.

But the officials, who erred in their handling of the clock in the final minute, didn't lose the game.

Dallas Baker did.

The Florida receiver lost the game because he didn't possess the poise or discipline or maturity to walk away from trouble when it mattered most.

He lost the game because he put his misguided machismo ahead of his team's chances for a hard-fought victory on the road against a Southeastern Conference rival.

He lost the game because he lost his temper and retaliated against Tennessee's Jonathan Wade and forced the officials to make a call that helped the Vols win.

You think that's too harsh? Then think about this: Baker's actions had nothing to do with playing football.

This wasn't a dropped pass, or a missed block, or a wrong route. Those things happen, even in the NFL. They're forgivable.

This was stupid.

This was another nationally televised example of the deterioration of our society, which continues to grow more aggressive and less civilized, to a low-brow level where proving your manhood means more than being a man.

This was yet another case where too many people today demand respect rather than command it.

Clearly, Baker should've known better: He's a junior. He knew the situation. He knew how much was at stake.

And, yet, when Wade swung at him, Baker couldn't stop himself. He chose to swing back, prompting the nearest official to throw a flag.

Should there have been offsetting penalties? Maybe.

Should the official have kept the flag in his pocket, stepped between the two combatants and firmly told them to stop, that the clock was running? Probably.

The official doesn't get a pass here. Nor does Bobby Gaston, the SEC's supervisor of officials. Telling us a mistake was made and that the official in question will be reprimanded isn't enough.

Gaston also needs to share with us the official's explanation of the call.

What did he see? When did he see it? Why did he call it the way he did? Anything less leaves too much room for doubt.

If the official merely missed the call - if he was looking directly at both players but, somehow, didn't see Wade swing first - then Florida fans will have to live with it, just as Tennessee fans had to live with Jabar Gaffney's phantom game-winning touchdown catch on the same field four years ago.

If the official botched the call - if he saw both players swing and still decided to penalize only Baker - then his future employment with the SEC should be in jeopardy.

But it never should've come to that.

If Baker doesn't return fire - if he simply smiles at Wade, tells him to look at the scoreboard and turns away - there is no clock-stopping penalty, precious seconds continue to tick away and the officials don't get the chance to make a mistake.

The Gators, leading 28-27 with less than a minute to play, had the game won.

Until Baker lost it.

Ray_McNulty is a writer for the Scripps Treasure Coast (Fla.) Newspapers.