The SEC is the Rolls-Royce of college football leagues with the last three national champions, two teams in the running for this season's title and huge TV contracts.
Boom times for sure. But troubled ones, too.
The league has been dealing with seemingly endless questions stemming from a string of controversial officiating calls in close games involving highly ranked teams. That followed a preseason run-in with national media outlets over a new SEC policy.
The in-season issues forced commissioner Mike Slive to make the unusual moves of publicly announcing the suspension of an officiating crew, increasing the penalties for coaches who criticize officials and fining Florida coach Urban Meyer $30,000 for less-than-inflammatory - though critical - remarks after the new policy was in place.
"Has it been difficult? Yes. Has it been painful? Yes," Slive said. "But this league has been a great league for 76 years. There have been different issues at different times. I fully understand the disappointment the fans feel when something happens that impacts their team.
"My job is to try to keep some perspective, to work for the best interest of the conference, at least as I see it. I've done that for eight years, and I'll do that as long as I'm here."
Slive said he, coordinator of officials Rogers Redding and others would meet after the season and assess the causes of officiating mistakes "and make sure that we have the best officiating in the country."
In other SEC news:
n Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline practiced and could be ready when the Wildcats play at Vanderbilt on Saturday. He has been out after injuring his knee in a loss to South Carolina on Oct. 10.
n South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier says there's a chance injured defensive end Cliff Matthews could return to face No. 1 Florida on Saturday. Matthews suffered a shoulder injury in a 31-13 loss at Tennessee and did not play last week.
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Comments » 7
marinevol writes:
Does this qualify as a criticism? He may need to suspend himself.
The1 writes:
Why wait until after the season to get started? I can imagine what would happen If I said something like that at my job.
steamboatticket#484773 writes:
Slive is going to make sure that we have the best offiating in the country...after the season is over. Is it just me, or is that a ridiculous thing to say?
Hacksaw57 writes:
Yeah, after the season is over and the SEC "powers to be" have their National Championship in place with Florida or Alabama, THEN they will pretend they are so concerned about the officiating.
They are not going to do anything until one of those teams is assured to be in the National Championship game.
Can you say, "CONSPIRACY!"
By the way, Rogers Redding, who is the supervisor of SEC officials, was never a first class official. Wana' guess what his last game was to referee in before he retired and who played in it? The 1999 SEC Championship Game - the teams that played - Alabama and Florida!
Makes you wonder, don't it!
stevefrommemphis writes:
I'd be happy if they would move the SEC headquarters to Atlanta, just to get it out of Alabama. In Atlanta, the SEC would be a small fish in a big pond - a big pond not located 80 miles from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
AtlantaTide writes:
Mr. Grassy Knoll, you must live for the NY times best seller fiction lists.
Southland writes:
well he better do some firing and hiring new guys and rid the ranks of Bama boys.
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