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SEC fines Meyer $30,000 for criticizing officials

Nov 6, 1:12 pm EST

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP)—Urban Meyer of Florida became the first coach to be disciplined under the Southeastern Conference’s new policy regarding criticizing officials.

The league fined Meyer $30,000 on Friday, two days after he said referees missed a late hit against quarterback Tim Tebow in No. 1 Florida’s 41-17 win against Georgia. Meyer sent video of the play to the SEC office, but his mistake was telling reporters refs missed the call.

Last week, the SEC changed its policy about coaches publicly criticizing officials, making the punishment either a fine or a suspension and doing away with reprimands. The change came after Tennessee’s Lane Kiffin, Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen and Arkansas’ Bobby Petrino were reprimanded after they publicly questioned officiating.

“Coach Meyer has violated the Southeastern Conference Code of Ethics,” SEC commissioner Mike Slive said in a statement. “SEC bylaw 10.5.4 clearly states that the coaches, players and support personnel shall refrain from public criticism of officials. The league’s athletics directors and presidents and chancellors have made it clear that negative public comments on officiating are not acceptable.”

Meyer apologized following the fine.

“As I stated last week, I have great respect for commissioner Mike Slive and the Southeastern Conference, and I respect this decision,” Meyer said in a statement. “There was no intent to criticize an official after being asked about a situation that occurred last Saturday, and I apologize for my remarks.”

Updated Nov 6, 1:12 pm EST
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398 Comments

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  1. hammer
    398. Posted by hammer Tue Nov 10 10:36pm EST

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    Posted "Ocean Gator Sat Nov 7 4:31pm EST
    Attention morons (you know who you are): Please stop posting. Thank you."

    ...are you talking to yourself again?
  2. hammer
    397. Posted by hammer Tue Nov 10 10:34pm EST

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    $30k just a payoff for the lack of ncaa doing anything about spikeboy's eye gouging...sick stuff.
  3. Philip M
    396. Posted by Philip M Mon Nov 9 1:58pm EST

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    I'm not a Gator fan but the hit looked late to me. Meyers was not crying the blues when he made his comment. Seems the NCAA and the Conferences have way too much control over everything. There is no way the officials will get evr call in ever game right. No one realistically expects that. But a late hit??? How do you miss that? Just because you join a conference and participate in the NCAA should not mean you have to shut up and take it in the ..............................? Whatever happened to free speech?
  4. Katena
    395. Posted by Katena Mon Nov 9 12:21pm EST

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    Are you serious ? video don't lie and neither did Urban Meyers about the SEC. but I guess the truth hurts but Dang 30,000 Dollars worth. that's just ridiculous. Whatever haters {GO GATORS}
  5. TomB
    394. Posted by TomB Sun Nov 8 9:09pm EST

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    They don't call him Urban Cryer for nothing!
  6. Swamp Thang
    393. Posted by Swamp Thang Sun Nov 8 7:03pm EST

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    You cry babies are more entertaining than the article. Go Gators # 1
  7. JustMe
    392. Posted by JustMe Sun Nov 8 11:12am EST

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    oh my... people... Fl Gators are #1, deal with it !
    Put all your jealousy aside and enjoy the game, it's football after all :)
    For those of you that were not fortunate or smart enough to get into UF and are not Gators Fans... I am sorry :(
  8. Steven
    391. Posted by Steven Sun Nov 8 8:42am EST

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    The Tide will roll in the SEC Championship! The Gators are going down.....bring on Tebow and those thug fish-heads!

    ROLL TIDE!!!
  9. robert h
    390. Posted by robert h Sun Nov 8 7:09am EST

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    Just off the press

    Over heard by some pesky reporter on a phone conversation

    Meyer’s is apparently mad at Commissioner Mike Slive when he called off his best Commissioner in the SEC party at the end of the season. Stating that he now had to spend the money he was going to use on the party on a fine that should have never been imposed on him.

    “Doesn’t Mike understand we are friends and the memo he put last week shouldn’t apply to me” We are number one and with his help last year and this we will go undefeated.

    I used the word “I have great respect” don’t they understand that means when calls are going my way, there for I shouldn’t be fined.

    After all you let me impose that horrific suspension of half a game on Spikes for trying to help a Running back adjust his contact lens, I still don’t understand why Spikes felt so bad and wanted to make it a full game.

    So Mike the parties off, unless you can help me win another national title and somehow take care of the pesky people from Alabama, after all I am sure you can get most of the team suspended prior to the SEC title game can’t you old buddy.
  10. <i>davemau8</i>
    389. Posted by davemau8 Sun Nov 8 1:27am EST

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    No animosity, Ocean Gator. Poor sportsmanship is a reflection of the school that the player represents, and the community that the school serves. Instead of encouraging a "winning is everything" mentality, maybe the coaching staff needs to instill these values into their players, and to accept nothing less. It's way more impressive to win with class than to win after poking your opponents eyes out.
  11. Ocean Gator
    388. Posted by Ocean Gator Sat Nov 7 10:25pm EST

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    davemau8: Such animosity... I hope you get the help you obviously need, my friend.
  12. paul
    387. Posted by paul Sat Nov 7 9:17pm EST

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    This is complete BS. since when can it make any f*ckin sense to fine someone for speaking his mind???? SEC, you've lost yours.!
  13. <i>davemau8</i>
    386. Posted by davemau8 Sat Nov 7 7:48pm EST

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    Thanks, "Ocean Gator", for proving my point... you jackass.
  14. Ocean Gator
    385. Posted by Ocean Gator Sat Nov 7 5:31pm EST

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    davemau8 -- Seems to me that it would be more appropriate to say that "every big-mouthed, "LOOK AT ME", jackass in the world" is whining on the internet about his team's (or even his own) inadequacies and trying to blame others for it. Sorry you feel the need to slander others, but I'm glad I'm not you.

    GO GATORS!
  15. kate
    384. Posted by kate Sat Nov 7 5:18pm EST

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    If the SEC is such a pathetic conference, then how have they won the past 3 years of National Championship teams? Oh I do believe it was Florida in 2006 whom massacred Ohio State 41-14. The LSU Tigers who massacred Ohio State YET AGAIN in 2007 and Florida AGAIN in 2008 beating Oklahoma. If the SEC is such a joke tell me WHY Florida, Alabama, and LSU are in the top 10. It can't be because they pose no chance to other teams. Everyone whines and complains when their conference isn't on top. Especially when specific teams are doing better than others. It's truly funny to see how people say "Oh yeah anyone can beat the teams in the SEC." Prove it. I have yet to see that. Talk trash and can't back it up. It's honestly pathetic. Please, grow up.
  16. Mathew S
    383. Posted by Mathew S Sat Nov 7 5:17pm EST

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    University of Florida=2 NCAA championships in football (another on the way) and 2 championships in football since 2006. Only school to ever win a basketball and football championship in the same year. Gainesville=TITLE TOWN. Deal with it bi-otches!!!!!
  17. <i>davemau8</i>
    382. Posted by davemau8 Sat Nov 7 4:55pm EST

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    Just more examples of poor sportsmanship from Florida based teams. What is it about this state that cultivates lowlifes like Iowa cultivates corn? As far back as you can remember, every big-mouthed, "LOOK AT ME", jackass in the world goes to Florida, Miami, or Florida State to play football. You can call it "swagger" if ya want... most people have a different name for it.
  18. JAMESW
    381. Posted by JAMESW Sat Nov 7 4:40pm EST

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    Why doesn't Florida play a real team out of the SEC instead of UCF Get real any body could beat half the teams they play
  19. Ocean Gator
    380. Posted by Ocean Gator Sat Nov 7 4:31pm EST

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    Attention morons (you know who you are):

    Please stop posting.

    Thank you.
  20. Shane
    379. Posted by Shane Sat Nov 7 4:15pm EST

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    Sounds like a load of crap to me, like interfering with his 1st amendment rights. Not only that, he is stating a fact. I don't see how it's criticizing by stating a fact, unless U.M. said more than "the official missed the call."
  21. billy
    378. Posted by billy Sat Nov 7 3:56pm EST

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    Who cares about the sec very weak conference. not one team there could beat a good high school team. because of there money they can pay off the refs and tv to get all the exposure they want. really poor football in the sec.
  22. Patrick C
    377. Posted by Patrick C Sat Nov 7 3:43pm EST

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    GEEZZZZZZZZZZZZ the biggest thing that this has done is that it helps to take the attention away from that ANIMAL Spikes and that is his reasoning for his outburst. Had it been a WHITE PLAYER who did what Spikes did Sharpton, Jackson, and the friggen naacp would have been all over it. Spikes is an animal and has shown these actions since his first year with his 'LOOK ATS ME" attitude when he makes a play. Bets are that if you pull up that animal's (yes I keep calling him that) grade point average he would not be even close to getting a diploma, he is there for 1 thing and 1 thing only to perform for the NFL draft. He will end up just like Lewis, Stallworth, Edwards, and Marshall a trained animal playing for thier own glory!! Remember if you have money you can get away with any crime right O.J.
  23. Marvn W
    376. Posted by Marvn W Sat Nov 7 3:32pm EST

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    bobwebb, dont let these bozos bother you with your spelling. I am a college graduate and I was able to understand what you were saying so keep a stiff upper lip and keep on saying what you want and spelling any way you can!
  24. STEVEN
    375. Posted by STEVEN Sat Nov 7 3:18pm EST

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    The sec has its priorities wrong..if you do something promoting bodily harm {gouging of the eyes etc.} on a player, youll recieve a slap on the wrist. But, it you verbally conflict with our referees, youll be severly penalized.{$30k fine}.
  25. jaymee
    374. Posted by jaymee Sat Nov 7 3:14pm EST

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    373....grow up, will you. do you know how silly people look criticizing the spelling of others on the internet? with millions and millions of readers and people commenting all over the net, you see it constantly. you're right.....it IS very petty.

    (by the way.....it's grammAr, not grammer, fool. people in glass houses....)
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