On Friday, SEC commissioner Mike Slive issued a new directive to all twelve schools in the SEC, telling the universities that the next time a coach publicly criticizes officiating they would open themselves up to a fine and/or suspension as opposed to the toothless public reprimands of the past.
Following Auburn’s win over Ole Miss, head coach Gene Chizik was given the opportunity to test the new edict. And he didn’t bite.
Reporters questioned the coach about a delay of the game call that went against the Tigers. Wisely, Chizik said absolutely nothing that would send him into a conference-mandated timeout.
“I’m not going to comment on any of the officiating,” Chizik said according to the Opelika-Auburn News.
Obviously, a run-of-the-mill delay of game penalty that goes against the team that ultimately wins is not much of a test of the new policy. The true measure of the strength of the virgin directive will come when an emotional, loose-lipped coach -- coughcoughLaneKiffincoughcough -- is on the wrong end of a call that seems to cost his team a win.
That is when the real SEC fun begins. And a whole other can of worms opens up for the conference.