By Kyle Golik
The state of officiating is often criticized by fans, and questioned by coaches – they have to tiptoe their comments in fear of being fined, and even players realize they cannot talk about the officials without repercussions.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, once the game went final, let the officials have it postgame: “I’m so proud of these guys, because nobody believed. Nobody gave us a chance,” Smart said. “Your whole network doubted us, nobody believed and then they tried to rob us with calls in this place.”
How Smart felt Georgia was almost robbed transpired at the 3:21 mark in the third quarter on a third and nine play. Georgia quarterback Carson Beck targeted wide receiver Arian Smith, who was engaged with Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron. Smith was not ready for the ball and Barron made the easy interception, returning the ball to the Georgia nine-yard line.
Prior to the interception, the officials penalized the engagement between Smith and Barron and poorly delivered the call. As Texas fans expected a call on Smith, referee Matt Loeffler ruled that Barron was guilty of pass interference negating his interception.
With all the poor officiating gaffes this did not aid in defending the officials, as the fan furor mounted with debris being tossed on the field that delayed the game for some time. During the delay the officials discussed and what would be the rare occasion, actually reversed the call saying there was no defensive pass interference and giving the Longhorns at the Georgia nine-yard line.
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Fan furor mounted with debris being tossed on the field that would delay the game for some time. During the wait, the officials discussed and in what would be a rare occasion, actually reversed the call saying there was no defensive pass interference and giving the Longhorns at the Georgia nine-yard line.
Texas would score two plays later on a Quinn Ewers touchdown pass to Jaydon Blue, making the game 23-15.
THE BLUEPRINT 🤘@QuinnEwers @Jaydonblue23 pic.twitter.com/VTqPYduVUu
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) October 20, 2024
What did Kirby Smart and the SEC say about the penalty?
While Georgia did not surrender any more points in the evening, it could have been a momentum swing that could have given Texas the game. The officials were almost the devil that went against Georgia.
“I won’t comment because I want to respect the wishes of the SEC office,” Kirby Smart said following the game, “But I will say now we have a precedent that if you throw a bunch of stuff on the field and endanger athletes, that you’ve got a chance to get your call reversed.”
https://twitter.com/collegefbportal/status/1847894782737338678
Additionally, the SEC released a statement following the game:
“With 3:12 to play in the third quarter of the Georgia at Texas game, Texas intercepted a pass at the Georgia 46-yard line and returned it to the Georgia 9 yard line. Texas was flagged for committing defensive pass interference on the play which resulted in Georgia maintaining the ball with a first down. The game officials gathered to discuss the play, which is permitted to ensure the proper penalty is enforced, at which time the calling official reported that he erred, and a foul should not have been called for defensive pass interference. Consequently, Texas was awarded the ball at the Georgia 9 yard line. While the original evaluation and assessment of the penalty was not properly executed, it is unacceptable to have debris thrown on the field at any time. The disruption of the game due to debris being thrown onto the field will be reviewed by the Conference office related to SEC sportsmanship policies and procedures.”
I am often reminded that fan is short for fanatic, and the fanatic crowd in Austin disgraced themselves with this abhorrent behavior.
I am not surprised by fan behavior, you literally can YouTube fan fights and can see a wide array of various altercations at many sports. Additionally, there are many stories of people writing appalling things to athletes and the media because they didn’t get what they wanted. I get fans pour so much emotion into supporting their team, hoping they win a game, but at the end of the day, their role is to cheer and support.
This might be my “after school” PSA for all that read this. As a fan, know the athletes you support pour hours of time and energy to win the game you are attending or watching. They want to win more than you do and it isn’t even remotely close. When fans launch debris, it has a significant impact on the safety of both teams and game personnel. Those people don’t come to work to have their safety impacted.
The entertainers are on the field, not in the stands.
“I understand frustration. We were all frustrated in the moment. But all of us, Longhorn Nation, we can be better than that,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said following the game.
The officials too can be better than that, remember they are human. Look at the NFL, even the referees in the highest league make mistakes. Can instant replay be expanded? Absolutely, but that can add unnecessary interpretation when you slow it down, and why would you want to invite that?
I feel like the SEC show downgrades the officiating crew for this Texas sized gaffe because in the biggest moments, the execution of calling a penalty and seeing what you see is important.
Were the officials impacted by the fans? I firmly believe so, and I cannot be convinced otherwise. This is a precedent that has been set: if you get unruly enough as fans, you will get what you want.
On the other end, that isn’t what these officials should be doing. They should not simultaneously be calling penalties that they aren’t 100% committed to either.
Now the SEC, and quite frankly the nation, now has a Texas sized turmoil of fan behavior and poor officiating, a dangerous mix if you ask me.
