SEC officiating thrown for loss, but commissioner throws red flag at Kiffin

Associated Press

Tennesse coach Lane Kiffin, right, talks with quarterback Jonathan Crompton in the fourth quarter of their 12-10 loss to Alabama in their NCAA college football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009.

First the Southeastern Conferences powerhouse coaches got tweaked by Lane Kiffin, then there was the principal's office visit with Commissioner Mike Slive and now the rookie Tennessee coach is pulling the tails of the zebras.

There's no question the young coach has got a lot of energy, is rambunctious and has plenty of audacity. But as far as Slive is concerned, he sleeps in the doghouse with Smokey.

Kiffin, however, is focusing attention on an huge issue: blown calls, missed calls and general poor officiating in the elite of the elite conferences. That shouldn't happen -- at least not often and certainly not more than once a Saturday.

He's stirred up the buzz in a way that not even the Old Ball Coach Steve Spurrier has in recent years, and Spurrier has been known to make many a face grow red with anger.

Here's some of what we found this morning.

• 3rd Saturday in Blogtober Kiffin Reprimanded By Slive For Officiating Comments
• Crybaby Kiffin may have a point | Lucas Oil Presents MavTV's The Works
• Alabama-Tennessee: Quest for Silence -- NCAA Football FanHouse
• Kudos to Mullen, Petrino, Kiffin - Sports
• View From the Cumberlands Blog Archive Kiffin reprimanded by SEC
• Orlando Sentinel - Is Lane Kiffin building a winner at Tennessee? by Andrea Adelson
• Tennessee's Lane Kiffin Should Just Shut Up and Quit Embarrassing The SEC! | Bleacher Report
• Chattanooga Times Free Press | Greeson: Kiffin's violation keeps SEC officials in spotlight
• Scarbinsky: SEC should suspend Tennessee's Kiffin | Scarblog - al.com
• Scout.com: SEC officiating in chaos
• Touring the SEC: Two more coaches spanked The Commercial Appeal
• Kiffin reprimanded for criticizing officials | TideSports.com | The Tuscaloosa News | Tuscaloosa, AL
• Message to Lane Kiffin Haters: Keep Hatin' | Bleacher Report
• SEC Officiating: Crisis or Conspiracy? | Bleacher Report
• Lane Kiffin Should Blame His Players, Not SEC Officials | Bleacher Report
• Fundamentals: Protect The Football | Bleacher Report
• Officials' blown call doesn't matter as Alabama edges Tennessee - Andy Staples - SI.com
• Kiffin's comments fan conspiracy flames - College Football Nation - ESPN
• Kiffin Reprimanded, but the Announcement is a Bit Overboard, No? - Team Speed Kills
• SEC reprimands Lane Kiffin, Dan Mullen for criticism of officials -- latimes.com
• Time for conferences to get out of the officiating business | Mr. College Football

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