That accountability system must really be effective if Al "Jasper was down!" Ford is still around. He was the replay official for the LSU game Saturday and the poster child for the fact the SEC does not run a meritocracy with respect to officials.
Bobby Gaston, right, selects his successor.The problem with Slive's comment is that no one knows anything about the accountability system. And if there is an accountability system, shouldn't the conference talk with specificity about how it operates in order to inspire the kind of confidence Slive was trying to create?
I think such a discussion is important to the integrity of the game. The system for hiring, firing, and evaluating Southeastern Conference officials lacks transparency. It's precisely this veil of secrecy that permits conspiracy theories to take hold. It's easy to believe the SEC Supervisor of Officials is a patronage position for farted-out old Tech ankle biters when only Total
I would like to see the SEC talk about how it selects officials (are there fitness & vision requirements? How are they enforced?), what kind of training is required, the rate at which officials are involuntarily "retired" and other related facts. The LSU game merely brought these kinds of questions into focus for me, and Slive's bobbing and weaving on the issue only makes it look worse.
13 comments:
Still nothing on the game this Saturday? The blogosphere has been dwelling on the past this whole week. Hope our team hasn't been doing the same, else we'll be in for another loss.
+1 for the picture. Perfect.
Obviously there are no fitness tests. One of the referee's at the game saturday couldn't even sustain a jog for 10 yards. His legs and waist were overflowing out of his pants.
Disgusting.
Dawgnoxious, you echoed my thoughts exactly upon seeing Slive's comments today. It was as if he was daring all of us to point out the obvious.
Nail on head with this post.
I heard from a member of today's audience that he deterred from the question before it was even asked. And I know one man who WAS an official, but the NFL snatched him up like Fulmer snatched doughnuts, I think that is the trouble we have. All of the good ones leave and the bad ones remain.
There could not possibly be accountability when the officials incorrectly ENFORCE a penalty and are still employed. Officials should be able to rattle off penalty enforcement in their sleep, yet holding on an eligible receiver is not granted an automatic first down and Penn Wagers still has a job. Accountability? Methinks not.
The SEC uses the dregs as officials. There is no denying that. Just pick any game being officiated by SEC officials and it won't be long before you are wondering WTF
They are terrible.
Just watch the game tomorrow. They will screw that game up beyond recognition and will make horrible calls against both teams.
It is not as if they have it in for Georgia. It is just that they suck every time they take the field.
Part time flunkies.
Why don't you start a SEC Ref Hall of Shame section on your web site?
I've been saying for awhile there should be an age limit and heavy fitness requirements. A 40-something 300 lb. man cannot keep up with 20 yr olds in top shape. We're talking about mental focus, reaction time, mental clarity and the ability to use common sense while enforcing the rules. Some of these guys look like they spend every moment of down time on the couch with beer and a pizza.
Compare how thin and in shape basketball refs are to football zebras at any level.
LOL great picture!
"no one knows anything about the accountability system"
Because there isn't one. If there was, Slive would be bragging about it and showing it off every chance he got. hell, I know more about the NFL's system than the SEC's.
And like someone else mentioned, if there WAS an accountability system in place, Penn Wagers would be back in the Ohio Valley conference.
I did high school officiating for a couple of years (until I got tired of the politics), and OUR accountability system was better than the SEC's.
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