On this week’s edition of As the SEC Officiating Turns, we find LSU looking like it was on the receiving end of an unfavorable ruling that benefited one of the SEC’s 2009 Twin Big Boys.
With just under six minutes remaining and Alabama leading 21-15, LSU’s Patrick Peterson appeared to intercept a Greg McElroy pass on the sidelines. Instead, officials on the field ruled the pass incomplete, while the replay official upheld the ruling.
It appeared, however, that Peterson got not only one foot in bounds but possibly two, and looked to have (maybe?) maintained possession of the ball through his tiptoeing. If the ruling had gone in favor of the Bayou Bengals, they would’ve been 69 yards away from the go-ahead score with the point after.
Alas, they never got the chance as the SEC officials may — or may not, depending on where your loyalties lie — have blown yet another call. The person responsible for the non-interception interception seems to agree with that sentiment.
“I most definitely was in,” Peterson said. “After I caught the ball, I looked down and I saw both feet in. I don’t know what the ref was looking at, but I got them both in. And I caught the ball clean. I didn’t bobble it.”
Regardless of whether or not Peterson was in or out, it’s yet another black eye for the SEC and it’s beleaguered and embattled officiating crews. And it will do nothing to stop the conspiracy theorists from thinking that, right or wrong, the black helicopters hovering above their heads are charged with delivering undefeated Alabama and unbeaten Florida to the Georgia Dome for a December date by any means necessary.
Big Texas fan watching the game last night, left foot dug into turf and right toe touched what were these zebras looking at?!!! Doesn’t matter the beloved Tebow and Gators are who the Horns are meeting in Pasadena!
You know what I say John, it is just the SEC protecting their investment….keeping it in the right place to return more on investment.
The only answer is a 16 team playoff. It keeps everyone honest and takes the polls nearly completely out of the equation. My playoff format includes selecting at large bids from final BCS standings and seeding playoff with final BCS standings. No conference could have more than two teams in.
This season could end perfectly if TCU and Boise State are the only undefeated teams left standing.
Let’s all watch USC jump right back up towards the top 6 now that Oregon has lost again.
As a ‘Bama fan, I thought the replay showed that it was an interception and was surprised when the call was not overturned. But before everyone starts shouting about a conspiracy, keep in mind:
1) LSU would have had the ball about 70 yards from the go-ahead TD with about 5 minutes to go in the game, no time outs, and their starting QB and RB out (and they only had NINE YARDS of total offense in the 4th quarter),
2) the play would have never happened had the Tigers not roughed the kicker on 4th-and-5 just a few plays before, letting the Tide convert on 4th-and-inches, and
3) if there really WERE a conspiracy afoot, the refs would not have flagged the Tide for illegal substitution on 3rd-and-goal at the 2 in the 3rd quarter, forcing ‘Bama to eventually settle for the FG instead of the go-ahead touchdown.
LSU also made plenty of other mistakes in the gam, including several untimely false start penalties, and then there was Miles’ decision to go for two at 15-10 that also changed the complexion of the game completely (kick the XP, then ‘Bama doesn’t go for two on Jones’ TD and the score even after the last FG would have been 23-16, still a one-score game instead of being out of reach at 24-15). In the end, LSU’s mistakes cost them the game, not a questionable call that would have only given the Tigers a chance at driving the length of the field without their best players available.
Maybe the NCAA needs to assign a neutral (non-SEC) officiating crew to Florida and Alabama games. Then you wouldn’t have to worry about the SEC brass having any kind of say in the outcomes.
The SEC will probably fine or suspend Peterson for his remarks.
This is easy for a change.
Re the game: What DCroz said.
Re the officials: What naso62080 said–except not just for Bama/Fla games but for ALL NCAA games.
And as so many have said, let’s have a playoff system–but without limiting the number of teams per conference. It should be about having the best play the best regardless of conference and having the championship decided on the field.
nas062080 has a great point.
Right now Slive looks like an idiot. Instead of dealing with problem of poor officiating crews making awful calls, he goes after the folks that point out the problem.