One of the many headlines SEC commissioner Mike Slive has been involved in this season was his decision to initiate a new policy on the coaches in his conference publicly criticizing officials.
In the wake of Tennessee’s Lane Kiffin, Arkansas’ Bobby Petrino and Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen openly questioning calls in various games, Slive’s new policy calls for any coach who publicly chastises/questions/criticizes officials or their calls to be subject to a fine and/or suspension, even for a first-time offender. That policy replaced the previous one that relied on a series of reprimands before suspensions or fines were even considered.
Enter Urban Meyer.
In speaking about a play during which quarterback Tim Tebow was hit well after he handed the ball off to running back Jeff Demps, Meyer may have stepped over the line drawn in Slive’s sand.
“That should have been a penalty, in my opinion,” Meyer said today during the SEC coaches teleconference according to the Florida Times-Union. “You’ve got to protect quarterbacks. That’s the whole purpose. It’s right in front of the referee.”
Uh-oh.
Given Slive’s opening a can of suspended worms, did Meyer just criticize the officiating in the game, therefore opening himself up to a suspension?
It seems innocuous, to be perfectly honest, but just how far will the SEC take their apparent hard-line stance of uttering anything untoward in the direction of the men in stripes?
One thing’s for certain: this will be an excellent test of what exactly Slive’s new policy is and how serious the conference is as far as “protecting” their beleaguered officiating crews.
Slive is a joke. Improve the refereeing and then the criticism goes away. Simple solution to a real problem. By putting a gag on coaches who are just telling the truth about blown calls (not just Meyer, but Kiffin, Mullen, etc.) only makes Slive look worse and damages the SEC.
By taking such an idiotic stand, he now has to punish everyone that says boo or look like his is playing favorites.
Re:”Meyer said that play was one of several he submitted to the SEC office for review. ”
This is why Slive was o.k. with the 1/2 game suspension for Spikes. Meyer’s tape could quickly go viral and make Slive look stupid if the SEC took it upon themselves to suspend Spikes for a longer period of time.
Meyer is stupid for keeping this going. Turn the page and march towards the Crystal Football.
slive and urban meyer will not have any fun on witness stands at very public jury trials on these issues.
while meyer may actually get the crystal football temporarily, unlike the other 2 which he and florida won fair and square, meyer and florida will end up forfeiting this one and be obliged by jury verdict and court orders to return this crystal football, in asddition to paying very substantial economic damages.
Can a coach that gets hit with the supposedly more severe sanctions complain if Meyer doesn’t get sanctioned for this?
robertg,
Re: “meyer and florida will end up forfeiting this one and be obliged by jury verdict and court orders to return this crystal football, in asddition to paying very substantial economic damages.”
Perhaps you can explain why this would occur? As always, punctuation, spelling and capitalization are optional, but please try to include some sort of logical basis for your argument.
DMurph,
Yes, as well they should. Slive drew an illogical line in the sand and now needs to some how reasonably enforce it.
The fix is still in – Meyer gets no punishment or reprimand because Florida and/or Alabama represent post-season gold for the SEC.
Apparently, Samuel is an Iowa/Boise State/USC/Tennesee/Oregon fan.
Gator haters unite!
Maybe you should pay Mr. Slive more than we do? I know that’s why I get a UF license plate. Where do you think that extra cash goes?
where exactly is the criticism?