Nothing spices up a heated rivalry like a few controversial officiating calls.

Just ask Florida fans who believe an erroneous clock stoppage was to blame for the Gators' 30-28 loss to Tennessee last season.

Or, you could ask Tennessee fans, most of whom swear Florida receiver Jabar Gafney dropped a touchdown pass in the final seconds of Florida's 27-23 win over the Vols in 2000.

Bobby Gaston, the SEC's supervisor of officials, said both calls were discussed earlier this week in relation to what effect new replay rules might have had on them.

As it turns out, Gaston said, the outcome of both games would have remained the same even had instant replay been in effect.

The clock situation that preceded James Wilhoit's game-winning field goal with 13 seconds remaining would not have been reviewable.

Remember the play? UT stopped tailback DeShawn Wynn on third-and-3 at the Florida 38 when Vols' corner Jonathan Wade and Gators' receiver Dallas Baker exchanged shoves. Baker was flagged for a personal foul, and the clock was stopped with 55 seconds left.

Gaston said the game clock should have been restarted after the yardage was marched off. Instead, following a Florida punt UT had the ball at its own 39 with 43 seconds remaining. The Vols drove, and Wilhoit hit the game winner.

"Things go around, sometimes,'' UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. "We complained loudly about a dropped ball up here a few years ago that was supposedly a catch.''

Gaston said that, by rule, at the time that game was played (2000), it was indeed a catch.

"At the time, by rule all he had to do was catch it for one millisecond,'' Gaston said. "They've since changed the wording. Now, it's 'make the catch with one foot on the ground and firmly control the ball.' By definition of the new rule, he did not firmly control it. But the way the rule was then, I doubt that catch would have been overturned.''

Gaston said that in the 17 games SEC officiating crews have worked this season, there have been seven instant-replay reviews. Of those plays reviewed, three have been overturned, and four have been sustained.

"I'd say that's pretty good,'' Gaston said. "The average time of the reviews has been one minute, 18 seconds. I think the replay has been a good tool.''

Gaston said he still has coaches send in plays that they would like the league office to look at.

Fulmer, however, doesn't send in too much compared with others, Gaston said.

"The stuff he (Fulmer) turns in is very fair and very brief and to the point,'' Gaston said. "If I had 12 (coaches) like him, my job would be a lot easier.''

Gaston said his load has gotten lighter the past two years with the retirement of veteran coaches Lou Holtz and Jackie Sherrill.

"Holtz would send in 30 to 35 a game,'' Gaston said. "He (Fulmer) sends in two or three.

"Between Holtz and Jackie, we spent all our time reviewing their games. It should be game impact calls or those that are critical.''

Chances are, no matter what the controversial call today, it would be hard to convince Florida or Tennessee fans that it isn't critical.