LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Southeastern Conference says there’s no video evidence to support the personal foul call against Arkansas’ Malcolm Sheppard in the fourth quarter of the Razorbacks’ 23-20 loss to Florida.
The penalty gave the Gators the ball on the Arkansas 10-yard line, and they scored on the next play to tie the game at 20. Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long said Monday the school had expressed its concerns to the league.
The league said schools can send in plays after each game for review. The SEC said it told Arkansas “there was no evidence on the video to support the personal foul penalty.”
It was the same group of officials that called the LSU-Georgia game earlier this month, which included a late unsportsmanlike conduct penalty the league said shouldn’t have been called.
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Comments » 73
imw8n4u writes:
no kidding - so what now?
teufel_hunden writes:
so LSU and UF gets favorable calls to help them win. What is the SEC going to do to rectify it? Nothing of course.
chad_t31 writes:
this particular group of officials need to be suspended for the rest of the year, if not longer. With that being said, ark HAS GOT to take advantage of 4 turnovers...that's on the team, not the refs.
VolunteerLifer writes:
Precisely. Is anyone going to be accountable for this? How many times is this going to happen before someone is held accountable? Is the league going to do nothing but give a negative critique to this official's performance? Where and how does the league show us they care that this kind of thing shouldn't happen? so far, it appears they DON'T care. And that should be unacceptable to the member schools and sportswriters in every SEC town. The fact that the SEC local sportswriters aren't raising absolute holy hell about this is revealing - and very disapointing - to me.
Raynoch writes:
This crew needs to be disciplined. These aren't just missed calls. They are game-changing personal fouls. Which crew is going to be in Tuscaloosa? Hopefully not these guys. They apparently like the favorites.
volsgirl writes:
I was wacth the game ,yes it is a bad call been make by SEC officials on Akansas 10 yard line they are helping the Gator to win of course!!!!!!!!!!!
Denvervol4life writes:
Them calls against Arkansas not just the personal foul but the pass interference call was horrible. It really makes me wonder if the games are rigged. The SEC and everyone else wants Florida to be in it till the end and that's how it's going to be. Money is what it all boils down too.
CRFVols writes:
I'm glad to know it.....but it doesn't matter....nothing will be done.
RoadTrip writes:
College FB fans across the nation make fun of SEC officials. Many are incompetent or allow their personal bias to influence their calls. Good ole boys playing by good ole rules. I can hear the Dukes of Hazard theme song in the background.
Suspend the offenders for a game(s) for a major offense or for several minor offenses. These include the obvious calls that they don't make that should have been made. Progress until they are terminated on the third offense in any given season. Hitting them in the pocket is the only way to get their attention. You have video catching most of the action from many angles at every game due to the play review process. That is all you need to clean this stuff up.
But Slive has to get serious first and quit putting lipstick on the pig (pun intended).
kman29 writes:
Is this really what Vol fans are still complaining about. You truely believe an 8 yard penalty won the game for UF? Yes 8 yards. The call was made during a Demps run for 2 yards to the 18 yard line from the 20. The penalty made it half the distance to the goal placing it at the 10. So instead of 2nd and 8 from the 18 its 1st and 10 from the 10. lol! Wow! must have been some magical 8 yards that Florida would have never found a way of getting over 2 more plays on a drive that wasn't even the final drive. But you all continue to think those 8 yards won it. Hilarious!
volball7222 writes:
The biggest blown call was in the UT vs UF...Florida wide receiver had the ball hit him in the chest and fell to the ground...they signaled touchdown. Wow!!!!!! You didnt even need special angles to review it...he was facing the camera. Naturally it cost us the game....
Halls3 writes:
So if Bama gets called for a bs personal foul call & UT ends up beating them are you all going to complain about officiating. If not then shut up.
SoddyVol writes:
Please! Let the players determine the score (TD or field goal), not the officials. So obvious a bad call twice by same group is ridiculous. Retire the offenders!
ArealVolFan writes:
Who knows what would have happened. Those eight yards may have made the difference. Arks defense held FL in check most of the game. Point is the right calls need to be made. It doesn't matter though FL won and its not their fault, just a bad call. This is why FL fans are insufferable though. They can't even admit it was a bad call after a weekend of claiming it wasn't.
wally writes:
how about the bogus pass interference call just prior to the personal foul call? do they investigate these officials?
tnbanker_govols writes:
This horrible call was preceded by a pass interference call that was just as bad. There was definitely some home cookin' at this one. Almost ridiculous as the celebration penalty against Georgia.
Rule for the refs:
When the game's on the line, please don't determine the outcome by calling stupid penalties.
Munsterlander writes:
Not a fan of conspiracy theories, but the combination of the pass interference call and the personal were just amazing, as in pathetic. I wonder if the guy who made the call for the personal was the same guy that made the excessive celebration call in the other game. After the Arkansas guy totally layed out the Florida player (which was 100% legit (and funny as heck) - the Florida guy initiated the contact and wound up flat on his backside), the Arkansas player made a slight gesture, may have said something - but no way it merited that call. It's unfortunate that replay can't be applied to these situations. No pass interference whatsoever. One can argue Arkansas should have won anyway with Tejada missing 2 field goals - but I don't for a second buy that Florida was sure to have scored on that drive. Florida looked like anything but an offensive juggernaut in that game. Arkansas was robbed.
oldvolsfan writes:
as a former offical this is a sad day when an offical is allowed to change the outcome of a game with a call that he thought he saw they need to make sure that they see the whole play and not what they imagine we were always were told to make sure that it happened this is the second time for this crew and they need to be suppened for their actions
kman29 writes:
Most gator fans have admitted including myself of it being a poor call. My point is, that call did not decide the outcome. It was an 8 yard penalty. If they dont call it, Florida still has it at the 18 with a 2nd and 8 with 2 more plays to get 8 yards. Im guessing the same Arkansas administration who are crying about this, didn't bother to bring up to the SEC officials about Mallets last TD pass where if you watch the video he crosses the line of scrimmage before releasing the pass. Should have been an illegal forward pass penalty, but it was missed. I admit its sad that we have games where officials make bad calls and miss others, but it is what it is until leagues like the SEC start firing these guys for bad calls. And ultimately, when it happens, teams have to over come it and execute when you have the chance to. Florida did, Arkansas didnt. Thats why Florida won.
halloffamebowler writes:
If this had been a bogus call on the Gators,You would be talking another way.You are plain stupid.I would not want a win I didn't earn,and you didn't earn anything more except more hate from fans all over America.These young men play their hearts out only to be shafted by a Zebra.You should just shut your stupid mouth and smile,knowing your team has a win that was not earned.A good team does not need that kind of calls.If Arky had a QB,this would not even be a discussion.Florida's day is near.Very near.Alabama has already surpassed you.and others are only a few feet behind.
TommyJack writes:
Yeah, right. You dolt.
hgvol writes:
What about the no call, ofensive pass interferance on the last drive. If Riley Cooper dosent interfere with the defender, probably a pick ending Floridas hopes. Cooper did the right thing to interfere. If not Florida dosent have a chance to win the game. Florida is a good team and may still have won, but I know I am knot the only one who thinks Florida was spoon fed that game. Hoggs should be pissed. Florida should have to earn the win, not saying they couldnt have, but it should have been harder for them. Bad no call! God Bless! Go Big Orange!
kman29 writes:
Thats your angle? lol! Ok since obviously you did not watch the game, you know why Florida only scored 13 points in 1st 3 qtrs?
1st qtr. opening drive got in redzone, missed field goal.
2nd qtr. inside 20 fumbled.
2nd qtr. inside 20 fumbled.
Florida had 13 points because they kept giving the ball away. You convert those redzone opportunities into at the least field goals, the score is 12-10 UF at half and 22-13 after the 3rd. So while I understand what you are trying to say, fact is, Florida moved the ball on Arkansas all day. It just ended up being in the 2nd half they figured out how to not turn it over.
give_him_6 writes:
Yes that call was horrible and anyone watching it on TV..ALONG WITH the announcers..could see it was a tremendously pitiful call. But how about, in my opinion, the worse call of pass interference??? There was no pass interference that I or the announcers could see. Yet..someone at the SEC office is quietly hoping for a Bama-Fla title game. There are 10's of millions at stake for the right people here. It's really not in the SECs or Mike Slive best interest if Fla loses a game before Atlanta. It diminishes the credibility of our league. Look at the nightmare the Big-12 had last year with Tex-Ok-TexTech. And they still didn't address it this year. Slive has to make an example out of these so called refs. They really screwed up the LSU-UGA game. And now they influenced the Fla-Hogs game, not once, but twice. They should really never work another SEC contest again. Send a message Mike!!!
kman29 writes:
Did you just say, if Arkansas had a QB???? LOL! Mallet will be playing in the NFL as a 1st round pick in a couple years and quite possibly is the most talented QB pure passing wise in the SEC. Im sorry if at times Florida's defense made him look a little confused.
oldvolsfan writes:
lets clean up the officals and urbins sugar daddy needs to go
hgvol writes:
Florida is tough. That dosent change the fact they sure do seem to get alot of bad calls, or no calls. Authers of 16 str8, true. Best team in the country at this point, FALSE. I personally think Bammer is a better team! I hate to admit it, but its true.
halloffamebowler writes:
Yes I said QB.That should be kicker ,not QB.
RollTideJoe writes:
No. Arkansas had them beat and deserved the win they played for. This crew is pathetic and the SEC office needs to deal with it.
Pullingguard writes:
Gators and Tide get preferential treatment in the SEC..... Watch for it Saturday Night... Some of these SEC ref's should be sent back to Friday night High School games... But, have you seen any discipline from the SEC or the Commish say one word about the officiating.. Not a Peep, Why? Because his favorite sons. Bame and Gators are getting the benefits...
caverunner writes:
Its time to strip them of their stripes...The SEC can't afford to have officials of this caliber representing the SEC here or elsewhere. Come on comish...show some fortitude and suspend these guys for the rest of the season!
KiFFiNOMiCS writes:
For me the 8 yds don't matter and Florida should have lost 14 IMO but Mallet left those points on the field with 2 bad passes....anyway....for me it is the point of it...these weak and disturbing penalties in critical situations...it did cost valuable time off the clock for the Hogs though.
kingwoodtx_vol writes:
As a sports fan, I believe the game should be called in the last 2 minutes just like it was called in the first two. All of the calls that are being talked about would get the same reaction from most people if there were made in the first quarter.
As a high school and former junior college official, I can tell you that officials do not want to decide the outcome of the game. They want the players to decide it on the field. However, we recognize that we have to call it the same way for both teams. Does this mean that we get them all correct? No way. Did you watch the Yankees/Angels game with the call down the left field line? As a sports fan, we ask, "What was he looking at?" As an official, I tell you that he called it just like he saw it. Did he see it correctly? No chance.
So, at what time do you remove an official from a game? There has to be blatant rules busts or repeated questions on judgement. This crew is about at that point.
kman29 writes:
While I will say Alabama is certainly one of the top 3 teams, what makes them the best right now? In watching them against an above average S.Carolina team I saw.
* A Alabama team who could not pass the ball
* An offense who had one player gain 280 yards while the rest of the offense gained 80.
* A secondary that continually left S.Carolina WRs wide open with their only benifit being that an average at best QB in Garcia couldn't hit them and would over throw the WR.
* A offensive line who couldnt pass block anyone on the S.Carolina Dline.
* An offense who lost the turnover battle turning it over 2 times.
* Their best win is against a Virginia Tech team who got exposed saturday against Georgia Tech.
Again this isnt taking anything away from Bama, they are one of the best 3 teams, but they have just as many questions if not more than Texas and Florida. At least with Texas and UF they have experienced QBs to weather adversity. Bama does not have that yet.
volgrog#210164 writes:
Some of the worst calls I've ever seen personally (not in any particular order):
1. TN-FL Florida Touchdown in 2000 with less than 1 minute left. Even Spurrier said, "God was smiling on the Gators".
TN-AL at TN in 2002(?)- Alabama QB is on knees, pitches to RB who is on knees. Neither called as down-TD.
3. Kick out of own end zone by AR punter against UT in 1998. TN won, but that is just not knowing the rule book. Should have been TN ball on the 2 yd. line. Everyone remembers the fumble but few remember that TN should have had a chance for a TD rather than a safety.
3. PF against Arkansas last week.
4. Pass interferance against Arkansas last week.
5. LSU-GA Excessive celebration against GA.
6. 5th down for Colorado vs. Missou.
I'm sure there are more but these stick out.
notoriousBIGorange writes:
Maybe, Dingle Crack, but they have now been exposed.
UF will lose at SC and if they make it to ATL they will get destroyed by Bammer, the true # 1 team in the nation.
Meyer can feel it slowly slipping away....
TSNVol writes:
Welllllllllll, DUH! I watched this game and was peeved. The "KIDS" deserve better. They played their hearts out and received this type of officiating(?) And the interference call in the end zone. Officals can change the flow of a game and old MO. This was accomplished Saturday night what a dammmmm shame!!! As I said "THE KIDS" playing hard to win don't deserve to be screwed!
What is the SEC going to do about them????
kman29 writes:
No 2004 UF/UT game listed on there? Wasn't that the pay back game for 2000? Strange you missed that one. I'll add on the 2003 Florida/FSU game. Swindle in the Swamp. To this day, you will never see a worse more inept officiated game throughout the entire game than that one. That was one for the ages by ACC officials.
VolinCalif writes:
Kboy
you are looking out your belly button if you try saying that was the only bad call in that game. There were also things that should have been called that weren't, such as Ex. Celb. They sure call that on GA. And loving Tebow shaking his fist in another players face. Had that player responded they sure would have called something on him. So stick it . You still have to play GA. They will call timeouts to run up the score, just like UBaby. Steve will have you for lunch. Having nice dreams there will be no NC game for you.
VolinCalif writes:
If we win this game there is n way I will shut up. Not for years to come. Believe it.
TSNVol writes:
kman...so you don't believe the officals can change the mind-set of a 19-year old and that it doesn't effect them on the field?
When a player has a call against them and it is bogus it will change the way they go all-out to make a hit on someone. That is a fact. And also the fact is the officals helped Florida stay unbeaten. But I did read about one AP voter on Foxsports.com. He said he could not vote them number one after the way they played against Arkansas. 38 other voters agreed with him.
Arkansas got screwed!!!
VolinCalif writes:
Hmmm The pressure the Ark was putting on Fl had just a little to due with those mistakes. Don't you think. Sorry I shouldn't''t have said that, I know the answer.
OldNumber7 writes:
If you don't think it helped then you don't get football. It's a game of inches - especially when your overrated Gators have only scored 13 points at that point. YES !! It really matters...every inch in this game matters. If a Tennessee tackler was inches closer and Tim Tebow goes out of bounds inches behind where he did on 3rd and a mile, Tennessee may have tied the game in Gainesville. Wake up..it matters!
allvol32 writes:
It really makes you wonder about some of these games. I think the SEC really likes the idea of undefeated FL and AL going head to head in Atlanta - I admit I want to see that game too if TN can't pull the upset, however.
The pass interference call against AR was bad enough but man oh man that horrendous unsportsmanlike flag against AR really makes me wonder. Where is Al Matthews these days? Was he calling this game too?
Granted the ref's hadn't been overly intrusive most of the game I just shake my head when all of a sudden in the last critical moments of big games the ref's insert themselves with either out and out bogus calls or the NBA style ticky-tack calls.
In the words of Arsenio Hall these are "things that make you go hhhmmmm..."
And if you wager on sports you must really be wondering...
VolinCalif writes:
Thanks Tidejoe.
At least Tide fans know football. Bad calls happen and have to be lived with but BS is just that and should be corrected. One true Football fan likes BS calls. The kids play and should not be scr.. by A.. hole off's.
OldNumber7 writes:
Another bozo remark. Do you think Florida would have fumbled without 11 Arkansas jerseys on the field? Sorry to break this to you, but fumbles are results of 2 things, poor offensive discipline and a defense. Florida played a terrible game and you can't admit it. You are too fanatical and emotional and not very reasonable. Facts are facts, Florida looks bad to the nation this week and frankly it ticks you off.
CHS52VOL writes:
Whether the calls cost Arkansas a well-earned victory or not, how do you measure the effect it had on the Arkansas players attitude and willingness to fight to win? Why try when the refs are even against you? It is a horrendous situation and all AD's and Coaches should yell until it is corrected...and yes I do believe the SEC honchos would do anything to ensure the SECCG is Gators VS Tiie. Follow the money trail.
hgvol writes:
Well, to me what makes the diffrence in all honesty is Bammers front 7. The defense as a whole is better than Floridas( not that Floridas is not very good ), but Bammer has the best front 7 in the nation which is what will make the diffrence in the SEC Championship. Assuming you both make it.
CHS52VOL writes:
With the number of officials on the field during an SEC game, there is absolutely no way 3 key calls are blown in the 4th quarter 1) a blatant offensive pass interference not called on Riley Cooper; 2) A pass inteference call against the Hogs that was an obvious no-call, and 3) the "famous" unsportsmanlike conduct against an Arkansas player that everyone watching the game knew was a "homer" call. What a truly horrible way to steal a game from a worthy underdog. It is sickening!
hgvol writes:
Not mad at UF, not hypocritical, just saying UF got alot of help to beat an unranked team. Go back and read my post on the Gators. I have alot of respect( dont like them ) for Florida, and the program that they are. Aside from being a die hard Vol fan, I am also an SEC fan. This would include Arkansas.
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