Lane Kiffin isn't the only Tennessee coach miffed by what the Vols perceived as questionable officiating in Saturday's Alabama game.
Assistant head coach Ed Orgeron, who was the head coach at Ole Miss 2005-07, knows the feeling.
"Seems like some people get the calls and some people don't," Orgeron said while speaking to the Knoxville Quarterback Club on Monday. "I've been in this league and I've been a part of that. Whether that's true or not, you can never prove that.
"I do know this: there were some very questionable calls in that game that could have went either way and they went Alabama's side. There were very questionable calls throughout the season and it seems they go for the better team. Whether that's true or not, we can never prove that but that's what it seems like."
Orgeron, however, refused to blame the officials for 12-10 loss.
"You cannot make excuses to your team," the defensive line coach said. "You've got to beat them all. The better team you have, the less you're going to complain about the officials."
Orgeron hinted that there might be a backlash to head coach Lane Kiffin's public, provocative comments made during the off-season.
"He may have rubbed some people wrong a little bit and maybe they want to get back at you a little bit," Orgeron said. "I think that's human nature but I think it's also human nature that there's some favorites."
The SEC reprimanded Kiffin on Monday for questioning the officiating in the UT-Alabama game.
D-Line Breakdown: Orgeron said he was disappointed that the Vols' defensive line doesn't have more sacks this year. Orgeron said he believes that teams are throwing the ball quicker to overcome UT's pass rush. UT's defensive linemen have eight sacks this season.
However, there is no disappointment in tackle Dan Williams' play. The senior has 35 tackles, two for a loss and six quarterback hurries.
"When we got here I thought Dan would be a free agent (in the NFL)," Orgeron said. "The guy is coming around. He may be an early round - first-, second-, third-rounder."
Opponent Preview: Orgeron said he believes South Carolina's offense is "O.K." despite being ranked 67th in total offense.
"Stephen Garcia is hot and cold," Orgeron said. "He's a scrambling quarterback. They have a great receiver in Alshon Jeffrey. They play really well."
Jeffrey considered UT before signing with South Carolina in February. South Carolina plays at Tennessee on Saturday.
Jesse Smithey contributed to this report.
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 89
the10sevol writes:
gotta love coach o. tell it like it is, if they suspend lane, suspend me, too.
GBO
volball7222 writes:
Did anyone see the off sides no call on the elephants on UT's first possession? There was a 350lb elephant beside Crompton on a third down play before the ball was snapped...Crompton threw the ball away and we had to punt. Sad thing because we were in Bama territory and had mo on our side....ended up with a punt. Could have been a game changer............
RichRollinz2 writes:
Dude was OFFSIDES on 3rd down during our 1st offensive posession. That no call ended our 1st drive, I'm just saying......
tulelakevol writes:
Circle the wagons and gut the chickens, time to return the gamecocks back to the cellar.
RichRollinz2 writes:
Great minds think alike, LOL!!!!!!!!!!! The ENTIRE joint erupted where I was watching the game. The ONLY folks that did not see dude jump was the..... well even the refs saw that punk jump, just didn't have the STONES to call it.
volball7222 writes:
Are you serious? Are you doing LSD again?
gilesvol writes:
if that's the way it works in a season or two we'll be getting all the calls. can't wait to be back on top.
Moral_Victories_U writes:
here we go...
what a bunch of clowns
DownTheField writes:
yeah, well, you're gonna get your azz kicked by a bunch of clowns
CHEROKEEVOL writes:
I saw it too,almost threw my brew at the tv...
GO VOLS!!!
UT4ever writes:
Here's to pumpin' some Gazz up their Azz....HOHHO!!
DownTheField writes:
well thank goodness it didn't come to that!
we3vols#281863 writes:
You are headed for "Blowbation" spending time on this site.. Are FOOLS really cheaper by the dozen...LOL...Go away suckers (trolls)...Go Vols!
beatlecakes writes:
Its sad that a non-UT fan lurks in the underbrush waiting for a new article so they can lash out some insane remark about the school, our athletes or coaches. I can only say that I feel extremely sorry for someone that has nothing better to do with their life than lash out at others and hoping to strike a cord with a fan from an opposing team in their safe harbor. DonCordonwrong you boring...
volfan28 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
notoriousBIGorange writes:
I'll bet $100 that UF interviews CEO this winter after Urban bolts to ND...WRITE IT DOWN!!
notoriousBIGorange writes:
You'd better run over to the LSU site to interlope there...they love seeing Satan come back to Baton Rouge on a Saturday night.
rich182x writes:
Let's spam his email account.
VOL03_NC writes:
Sure was funny watching the bAMMER group gaining religion that last minute...ALL were praying for hope!
HA HA , tide is out we made you drop in the polls. You know it is only down from here.
GO VOLS1!!
rich182x writes:
My favorite team is Tennessee...and anyone playing Bama that particular week.
VOLMAN40 writes:
Yeah and you are headed to the local g a y bar don cornholio
Slimjim_Vols writes:
Bet if Cody doesnt block that kick you wouldnt be here....... just like with the Gator fans...... soon you will all dissappear cause the Vols are in the BIG ORANGE EXPRESS "LANE" back to the top......... Bama loses next year in Knox Vegas...... I bet the headsets work from start to finish as well!
TelfordVol writes:
I would be very worried if I was you. According to idiots like you, Tennessee has a joke for a coach with no idea on what he is doing. We took you to the wire and should have won. For your sake, I hope you win the SECCG because if you don't, TCU will smoke your arse in the Sugar Bowl.
tennezz writes:
Alshon Jeffrey is a pretty good wide reciever when he`s not busy pumping gas! Ha Ha Ha
pikavol writes:
I'll take the title "Moral Victories U" over "We just got our butts kicked by a no 1 team twice in one season"..
don't make a sh*t from here on out.
Hell, even the PTI guys were calling the officiating phooey. Pretty sure they didn't have us in this game.
fittobetide.. congrats on the win. We gave you a great gift. Let's see what your team can do with it.
As for our team, we have a top 25 team coming into our house, and we need a big win. Time to forget about last saturday and focus on this saturday...
FLVOL79 writes:
Why are you posting? Glad for a 2 point win? Or worried..?
oldvol48 writes:
I am tired of this phooey. Get over it and shut up. We play SC in 5 days. If you look at the tape of the game we probably should have got a pi call in the end zone and the pass before the last pass to the tight end, one of our players was tugging on the arm of a bama player. let's man up ok?
TnScooby writes:
OMG...this coming from a fan of a so-called "university" that is still "whining" about being caught cheating...over and over and over and over again...count your blessings now 'cause you WILL be on probation AGAIN...SOON!...nobody is whining but y'all....we accepted the loss but call a spade a spade...LOTS of blown calls in that game...the helmet penalty was so blatant as to be ridiculous...we have gotten over the "win" by the Turdalosers but you should get over YOURSELVES!...go back to your own site or sewer or hole or whatever....this site is WAY beyond your intellectual level...Just be glad you got lucky Saturday and got a gift from the officials...we have moved on, why don't you?!?!?....
pikavol writes:
fittobetide is winning... albeit he might have taken his helmet off a little prematurely.
fittintobe#6... tell your team not to blow it... again. I would hate to see Southern Cal sneak back in it..
AFVol423 writes:
Saw the offside. But not the biggest blunder by the officials. I can forgive some bad calls but the trend this year has been really bad, Arkansas, Miss. State, South Carolina and now the Vols have been screwed by the SEC.
AFVol423 writes:
Note to Big ED: Get with your boss. One or the other be the bad guy for the SEC. We need one of you on the sideline. only one of you can attack the cheating children of unmarried parents at the SEC home office.
AFVol423 writes:
We lost but left the tide with a big "?" on the season. They ain't as good as advertised. Should have never been left to the officials to win for you. HEY HEY, WE BEAT THE HE double tooth picks out of you! isn't it funny how a loss can leave fans feeling sooooooo gooood.
CadmiumOchre writes:
SEC officiating: Favoritism calls are nothing new. Usually though, they're not so consistent as they have been with the SEC this year. What we're seeing is blatant marketing to keep the NCS in the SEC, as well as media attention focused on the conference. It's all about money and prestige.
But the blatant conduct we're seeing is going to backfire on us because unlike long bygone years, the unblinking eye of video cameras are everywhere, not just on TV stations. Stuff finds it way to Youtube and everywhere else. If this continues, be not surprised to see other conferences insisting on unprecedented guidelines for parity in officiating personnel and even authority when playing SEC teams.
This will hurt the conference and perhaps the game of football itself. It smells of Mafia-like fixing. Meaning? An utter and justified lack of trust in SEC officials which will bode ill for the SEC in general. The dirt will be perceived as filth and an infection so the demand for disinfectant and decontamination will be both loud and unrelenting.
mm29680#645909 writes:
Yes, we lost, but we took you down a notch in the polls. We sure aren't moaning over that. By the way, some of your players didn't wear the approved jersey. The wore black and white stripes.
listentothemusic writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
rusty_shackleford writes:
Keep singing that song and one day even you may believe it. He who gets his butt kicked gives respect to the one that kicked it....period.
Besides, if the refs "respect" a team or coach more than the rules, then they need to go back to Friday night games.
abnermc writes:
Okay, Tn. Ark, Ms.St.Aub, Ga, S.C., Ky., Vandy, Miss, pull out & start our own conf.Also, who needs ncaa while we're at it.
someofmybestfriendsarevolsfans writes:
Did you look at both sides of the ball? Did you see the pass interference on Jones in the endzone? Did you see the holding that kept Crompton from being sacked on his last pass play? Game changers???? Methinks that you protest too much.
DownTheField writes:
are you referring to one of the more obvious offensive pass interference infractions committed by jones? extremely obvious... thanks for adding that to the evidence.
someofmybestfriendsarevolsfans writes:
All I'm saying is that bad calls generally depend on your perspective. Alabama fans (and Coach Saban) disagree with your perspective, as you disagree with theirs. CLK is lucky he is not sitting out this next weekend on suspension.
golfballs03 writes:
Jeffery is really good
BigOrangeJeff writes:
Well, if anyone knows what bad head coaches and probation looks like, it'd be Floriduh.
leedsvol2007 writes:
Whoa! If you ever notice in college basketball the visiting team usually is called for 2/3 of the fouls.
What Orgeron was talking about relates to human nature. Officials are human like everyone else and they blow calls and they always seem to give the close calls to the team expected to win.
In basketball the influence of the home crowd works against the visiting team.
Let's not diminish a great effort by an under-manned Vol team against the #1 team in the country.
I agree with Orgeron but disagree there is any conspiracy.
GoVols!
ClearVol writes:
Okay best friend so what is your perspective on the last play? Taking your headgear off while on the field is a penalty, right? The ball was still spinning in the grass for someone to pick up,right? A game or half Cannot end on a defensive penalty unless the offense declines the penalty, right? So, what perspective are you seeing that one missed call from?
14_lay_tha_wood writes:
did anyone notice that even though all the players were running off the field after the kick, we could have picked the ball up and ran for a score, probably wouldnt have happened but it was still live ball??????
ClearVol writes:
And actually it may be you, and the rest of the SEC, that's lucky CLK is not on probation this week. I would imagine that after seeing an undermanned TN team beat the #1 tide in every category except field goals and penalties there might be some commits having second thoughts about right now and what an opportunity to strike while iron is hot. Can you imagine Lane taking the week off and landing the Vol Navy chopper on a kids practice field during practice to do a little recruitin'. Sweet
GBO
JackDaniels writes:
The only thing we're headed for is championships. You know it and you fear it. And yes, they are a dynamic duo.
gbeejr#1354500 writes:
You are confusing your singing with that sound that comes out of your rear-end. You understand it, but no one else does.
orangeluvr writes:
Click suggest removal enough and people like don cornholer are supposed to be banned.
Keep your posts civil, trolls
Docrok writes:
Now why should Lane Kiffin not do what every other coach in the SEC and in the country has done? And why should he even be reprimanded much less worry about sitting out??? I'm sorry that is just bullsh*t there! I will agree with you that there will always be disparity in how people percieve the calls in the game! But not one coach has been suspended by the NCAA or their respective league for mentioning it! And only a few have been reprimanded! Usually new coaches in an attempt to lead them a certain way and set patterns for expected behavior! All that being said it has been painfully obvious that the officiating in the games involving FL and AL this year have been pretty shady!
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