The head of the SEC said Thursday that there are more important issues facing the league than officiating or its get-tough policy on coaches who criticize referees.
Defending the league's referees during a speech in Little Rock, Ark., SEC commissioner Mike Slive said the biggest question facing the league is how it can continue to balance academics and athletics.
"The important question for the conference is not about bylaw 10.5.4 and it's not about fines and it's not about officiating," Slive said, referring to a league bylaw prohibiting coaches from publicly criticizing referees. "The important questions for the conference is what can we do to make sure this legacy lives on, so our successors celebrate our centennial anniversary, they'll look back with pride and say we preserved the mission of the conference."
The SEC last week fined Florida coach Urban Meyer $30,000 for saying referees missed a late hit on quarterback Tim Tebow in the Georgia game. Meyer was the first coach punished under the league's stiffer penalties for publicly criticizing officiating.
The SEC suspended a crew that called two personal foul penalties in separate games that were not supported by video evidence, including one that helped Florida on a touchdown drive late in a 23-20 victory over Arkansas.
Before instituting the tougher penalties, Slive had reprimanded three coaches - Arkansas' Bobby Petrino, Tennessee's Lane Kiffin and Mississippi State's Dan Mullen - for public complaints about referees.
"I think officiating is a difficult, difficult endeavor. It's the only endeavor that we have that you need to be perfect when you start and then get better," Slive said. "You have seven officials, you have 22 athletes and you have the speed of the game. Officials are human and we're going to have mistakes. The question is, we need to deal with internally and make sure we continue to evaluate our officiating program, which we'll continue to do."
Slive also dismissed a suggestion by an audience member that the SEC's officiating crews were biased in favor of keeping Florida and Alabama undefeated.
"I think that takes these issues to a place that really doesn't make any sense," Slive said.
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Comments » 9
pdhuff#552644 writes:
The clock is ticking on Slive.
He is in way over his head.
marinevol writes:
A real act of desperation. Slive tries to deflect attention from his bias/incompetence by throwing out a red herring issue. This guy is in way over his head. When are we going to get rid of this clown?
oldvolsarge writes:
In my opinion it does make sense -- $$$$$$$$$$$$$.
richvol writes:
I don't believe in a conspiracy however,name schools definately get calls when playing at home. It's natural for the officials to get caught up in the home atmosphere or even intimidated by the crowd...especially ones without much experience. This is what needs focus but the replay official at the Alabama/LSU game should have been fired as well. It's been going on for years,see Kentucky basketball,etc.
Slive is a lawyer that looks at everything in a legal sense and is not tuned in to what the SEC fans or the athletic departments need from a commissioner. He,I would bet,was never an athlete at this level and cannot relate to football especially. In other words,he is in way over his head,as pdhuff suggests.
VOL03_NC writes:
That is because she is a troll...read some other posts. Suggest Removal!
The1 writes:
Sure...academics are very important. Officiating and maintaining the integrity of the game is important. So, deal with both Slive. Focusing on academics is no excuse for not addressing the officiating issues.
Psychovol writes:
Orville Reddenbacher, aka Slive, couldn't look dumber with this transparent attempt to defocus from the debacle his officials are inflicting on the field.
537081 writes:
Da Comacazr Fine them till they sutup. When you get into peoples pocket book they don't complain so much. No matter how the flags fall. Do somthing about your Refs. When the film shows the Refs got it wrong man up don't fine the man who had the courage to tell the truth.
tennezz writes:
Don`t forget to laugh when bama chokes in the next 2 games like they did last year!
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