The Southeastern Conference hardly has a proud history of quality officiating. But Saturday was a new kind of brick in the wall. It happened so fast I missed the metaphorical equivalent of the media's relationship with John McCain. Thankfully, the You-tubes don't lie.
Video from the LSU-South Carolina game Saturday night clearly shows the referee bow up and plant a shoulder on Stephen Garcia. WTF?
Go Back to Footlocker, indeed.
Most Georgia fans would tell you Penn Wagers is the worst draw you could get from the SEC's cesspool of officials. But after seeing the video above, here's hoping both Penn and this rabid zebra are Cat-fanciers in Gainesville.
The ref definitely wasn't trying to avoid becoming part of the play. At the end, he steps up to the QB and intentionally sticks a shoulder to him. If he has any eligibility left, GT might want to give him a call.
Nice footwork on his scrape, staying square with Garcia and a decent little breakdown before he delivered the shoulder. Followed by a smooth, old school Georgia Championship Wrestling "back away and act like nothing happened even though you just jabbed the guy in the head with a metal object you just shoved back in your leotard" move.
There was actually two of them highlighted on Gameday Final. In fairness to the ref, he was less bowing up and planting than he was trying to keep from getting killed. Not sure why he was in that particular spot, and the I will not defend SEC refs in general, but still...
I remember seeing this during the game and my initial reaction was 'wrong place, wrong time', but it's pretty clear that the ref squared up and stepped into the play.
Not saying that I wouldn't like to do the same thing to Garcia myself, but man.
If the official was trying to keep from getting run over why did he raise his shoulder and step into Garcia?! I do high school officiating and I can tell you, if a runner is coming my way, I step to the side AWAY from him and let him run past then follow behind.
I had to watch it three times to see what I was seeing was what I was seeing. I think it's time to move that guy back to the youth leagues for a little more training on the proper mechanics on a running play.
Remember though this was the same official who also gifted the coots with a TD when the ball clearly didn't cross the plain. He also got in the way of an lsu defender on another td run that helped the coots to score.
If you watch, he is actually making a move in on him from the beginning. He wasn't trying to back away, he moved up and into him and delivered a blow. Would love to hear the SECs explanation on this.
I watched this about forty times on the good ole DVR. It was obviously an intentional act on the part of the official. As another commenter noted, he also got in the way of an LSU defender on another play - although that seemed accidental. There is no excuse. He should be gone. Simple as that.
I was just impressed with how he kept such good leverage on Garcia. What a damn fine open field tackle. I would take that over Greg Blue's 50/50 hit or miss heat seaking missile technique. He had good balance, kept his feet moving, and delivered the blow.
I wish there was more being said about AA's pass interference call at the end of the half. I still can't understand how that could be called on us.
The SEC said in a statement " The umpire was in the correct position on the field and will not be placed under any type of review." I think he had a flashback to his old playing days...
Sounds like the SEC covering their ass, again. He may have been in the correct position at the START of the play, but he did not rotate around and let Garcia, and the play, pass him. He became PART of the play.
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38 comments:
Holy friggin' crap....I'd heard about this, just hadn't seen it yet. Truly impressive.
any info on Wood and Vance's arrests?
The ref definitely wasn't trying to avoid becoming part of the play. At the end, he steps up to the QB and intentionally sticks a shoulder to him.
If he has any eligibility left, GT might want to give him a call.
Somebody explain what the explanation for this has been.
Unbelievable. Just unbelievable.
What if anything is being done about this? That is unacceptable & that ump needs to be banned from football. I hope this is being investigated.
Nice footwork on his scrape, staying square with Garcia and a decent little breakdown before he delivered the shoulder. Followed by a smooth, old school Georgia Championship Wrestling "back away and act like nothing happened even though you just jabbed the guy in the head with a metal object you just shoved back in your leotard" move.
He grades out two plusses on this play.
There was actually two of them highlighted on Gameday Final. In fairness to the ref, he was less bowing up and planting than he was trying to keep from getting killed. Not sure why he was in that particular spot, and the I will not defend SEC refs in general, but still...
I remember seeing this during the game and my initial reaction was 'wrong place, wrong time', but it's pretty clear that the ref squared up and stepped into the play.
Not saying that I wouldn't like to do the same thing to Garcia myself, but man.
Well, in his defense, SC was driving and he had 2 dimes on LSU covering. Un-freaking-believable.
If the official was trying to keep from getting run over why did he raise his shoulder and step into Garcia?! I do high school officiating and I can tell you, if a runner is coming my way, I step to the side AWAY from him and let him run past then follow behind.
I had to watch it three times to see what I was seeing was what I was seeing. I think it's time to move that guy back to the youth leagues for a little more training on the proper mechanics on a running play.
Remember though this was the same official who also gifted the coots with a TD when the ball clearly didn't cross the plain. He also got in the way of an lsu defender on another td run that helped the coots to score.
If you watch, he is actually making a move in on him from the beginning. He wasn't trying to back away, he moved up and into him and delivered a blow. Would love to hear the SECs explanation on this.
I've got two possibilities...
1. He just wanted to score points with the nice looking LSU fan he saw at Buffalo Wild Wings while looking through the instant replay camera.
2. He thought Garcia was programmed to kill the queen of England in the 4th Quarter.
That guy needs to work on his fundamentals. Why didn't he wrap up?
nice dan ;) I love it!
I watched this about forty times on the good ole DVR. It was obviously an intentional act on the part of the official. As another commenter noted, he also got in the way of an LSU defender on another play - although that seemed accidental. There is no excuse. He should be gone. Simple as that.
Textbook open field tackle.
I was just impressed with how he kept such good leverage on Garcia. What a damn fine open field tackle. I would take that over Greg Blue's 50/50 hit or miss heat seaking missile technique. He had good balance, kept his feet moving, and delivered the blow.
I wish there was more being said about AA's pass interference call at the end of the half. I still can't understand how that could be called on us.
LMAO, it gets funnier every time i watch it.
LOL souletrain. Greg Blue and a running back one-on-one. The RB is either going to the endzone or the emergency room.
Typical great SEC officiating...they are the best..
So the PAC-10 officials beat their teams with bad calls and the SEC officials beat their teams with physical play. SEC SPEED BABY!!!
That was actually Rennie Curran in whiteface.
Maybe he wanted a Bud Light:
Bud Light
Stephen Garcia as John McCain?
Interesting...
"In fairness to the ref, he was less bowing up and planting than he was trying to keep from getting killed."
wow, you might want to see an eye doctor. Or maybe another type of doctor to get tested for being mentally challenged.
Didnt I see this referee in a Buffalo Wild Wings commercial last weekend?
This camera angle makes it look like he bowed into him
If you watch it from the view shown on TV it look more like garcia was running toward him and he just gave the hit to avoid getting injured.
BREAKING NEWS: George W. Bush pays referee to hit South Carolina QB.
I hate both of thoes teams but man, that's not cool at all.
He's trying to get a bud light endorsement. see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzJOlpSwweM. Seems very similar.
The announcers commented on it by making light of it and laughing during the slow-mo replay. If it was your team's QB...you'd be pissed.
Funny as Hayull. But what nobody is commenting on is that the ref took Garcia DOWN with one blow.
Man! Wait til a real SEC LB hits him.
The SEC said in a statement " The umpire was in the correct position on the field and will not be placed under any type of review." I think he had a flashback to his old playing days...
Word from ESPN this afternoon is that the ref was a linebacker for Kentucky back in his day. Think he had a brief flashback?
Sounds like the SEC covering their ass, again. He may have been in the correct position at the START of the play, but he did not rotate around and let Garcia, and the play, pass him. He became PART of the play.
Click clack!
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