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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP)—Florida coach Urban Meyer believes Southeastern Conference officials missed a late hit on Tim Tebow in Saturday’s game against Georgia.
Meyer said Wednesday the crew calling the game should have flagged Bulldogs linebacker Nick Williams for knocking his quarterback to the ground well after he had gotten rid of the football.
Meyer sent video of the play to Rogers Redding, the league’s coordinator of officials. Meyer declined to reveal what the SEC told him, saying he didn’t “want to step out of line.”
Last week the SEC changed its discipline policy about coaches publicly criticizing officials, making the punishment either a fine or a suspensions and doing away with the reprimands.
Meyer told reporters on the weekly SEC conference call the play was directly in front of the referee and should have penalized. Tebow handed off to running back Jeff Demps, took a few steps to his right and wasn’t looking when Williams came unblocked off the right edge and slammed into his chest.
“That should have been a penalty, in my opinion,” Meyer said. “Obviously, it should have been. You’ve got to protect quarterbacks. That’s the whole purpose. It’s right in front of the referee. I’m not sure how they’re going to handle that, but … that was one of the plays we did send in.”
Meyer didn’t mention the play until asked about it Wednesday, possibly trying to avoid drawing punishment from the league. He also prefaced his comments by saying he has “great respect” for SEC officials and the way the league handles complaints.
The SEC decided to stop handing out reprimands for ripping officials after three coaches in less than a week were reprimanded last month.
Commissioner Mike Slive was given full discretion by the league’s athletic directors and presidents to hand out the punishment. He will determine the amount of fines and lengths of suspensions on a case-by-case basis.
The SEC’s officiating, and public complaints by Tennessee’s Lane Kiffin and Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen, has drawn plenty of unwanted attention for the league.
An officiating crew was suspended last month after it called penalties the league said were not supported by video evidence in the LSU-Georgia game Oct. 3 and the Arkansas-Florida game Oct. 17. The SEC publicly announced the suspensions, an unprecedented move by the conference.
Florida coach Urban Meyer said Wednesday during the SEC coaches teleconference that officials missed a late hit on Tim Tebow in the Georgia game last week and that a penalty should have been called, particularly with the play occurring "right in front of the referee."
If you go back and watch the replay, Meyer is right. Tebow was clearly hit by linebacker Nick Williams well after handing the ball off to Jeffery Demps in the first quarter of the game. Tebow wasn't even looking when he was leveled by Williams.
Meyer said he has sent the play in to the SEC for review.
Now, here's the more pressing question and one they're already debating at other locales around the league: Does what Meyer said on the teleconference rise to the level of public criticism of the officials, especially given the new legislation that was adopted last week by the SEC?
SEC commissioner Mike Slive now has the power to suspend a coach for any public criticism of officials, and the league emphasized last week that the new policy was effective immediately.
Tennessee's Lane Kiffin, Mississippi State's Dan Mullen and Arkansas' Bobby Petrino were all reprimanded in recent weeks for calling out the officiating publicly and making critical comments.
But sensing that reprimands weren't working, the SEC announced last week that it would start suspending coaches for publicly criticizing officials, a move that was unanimously approved by the league athletic directors and presidents.
It should be noted, too, that it was emphasized to league athletic directors last week that coaches shouldn't be engaging in any public commentary on officials that casts a negative light.
Did Meyer cross that line?
That one's on Slive to decide, but you know what they're thinking in Knoxville, Fayetteville, Starkville and pretty much everywhere else in the SEC -- with the exception of Gainesville.
And something tells me they won't be satisfied with a half-game suspension, either.
I have already stated that Richt should suspend Nick Williams for a game for that hit. Even if the ref didn't see it as a penalty it was a blatent wuss thing to do.
As for Meyer i would shut up if I were him because everybody is already calling for a more substantial punishment for Spikes and if enough pressure is put on Slive it just might happen.
Also if Meyer isn't reprimanded for calling out the refs Kiffin will tell anyone that will listen that he's being picked on and they are bias to Meyer and the gators. I don't see either situation working out in UF's favor.
"I'd rather lose as a Dawg than win as any other team....once a Dawg, always a Dawg---how sweet it is!" :
Considering Tebow could coach the game and UF would beat vandy I wouldn't be surprised if he did. Its not going to really effect Floridas season either way. They are probably at dinner together planning it out as we speak.
"I'd rather lose as a Dawg than win as any other team....once a Dawg, always a Dawg---how sweet it is!" :
My bet is that Slive called Meyer up and asked him to complain. He can dole out some sort of public reprimand, call out an official, all in hopes of getting the rest of us off his back.
Now even Meyer is crying foul 
"above all else, endure" ~ Hemingway
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