News Flash: SEC suspends officials

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The SEC has suspended the officiating crew that worked the Arkansas at Florida game Oct. 17, the league announced.

The crew will be removed from its next scheduled assignment, which was on Oct. 31, and will return Nov. 14.

“A series of calls that have occurred during the last several weeks have not been to the standard that we expect from our officiating crews,” SEC commissioner Mike Slive said. “I believe our officiating program is the best in the country, however, there are times when these actions must be taken.”

Florida won the game 23-20 on a last-second field goal to remain unbeaten. The Gators also were No. 1 in the first BCS standings.

“While only a few calls have been identified, the entire crew shoulders responsibility for each play,” Slive said. “I have taken this action because there must be accountability in our officiating program. Our institutions expect the highest level of officiating in all of our sports and it is the duty of the conference office to uphold that expectation.”


Zook under fire

As Illinois continues to founder, the future of coach Ron Zook appears murkier and murkier.

The Fighting Illini are off to a 1-5 start, with the lone victory coming against FCS member Illinois State. Last week may have been rock bottom, as Illinois lost at Indiana 27-14. If the Illini don’t win at Purdue this Saturday, they may not win again this season.

Zook, in his fifth season in Champaign, guided Illinois to the Rose Bowl in the 2007 season. But the Illini slumped to 5-7 last season, and Zook is 19-35 overall and 10-26 in the Big Ten.

Zook received a one-year, $1.5 million extension in July that pushed his contract to January 2014.

Should a change be made at Illinois, look for the school to look for a younger coach with a Big Ten background. Houston coach Kevin Sumlin and Oklahoma co-offensive coordinator Jay Norvell could be among the targets.

Sumlin is one of the nation’s hottest coaches. He’s in his second season at Houston and has the Cougars off to a 5-1 start with wins over Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Mississippi State. In his first season, Sumlin guided Houston to an 8-5 record and a win in the Armed Forces Bowl. Sumlin, 45, is a former linebacker at Purdue (1983-86) who also has been an assistant at Minnesota (1993-97) and Purdue (1998-2000).

Norvell played defensive back at Iowa (1981-85) and has been an assistant at Wisconsin (1989-94). Norvell also has been an assistant in the NFL with the Raiders and Colts.


Stull’s improvement boosts Pitt

A case can be made that Pittsburgh’s Bill Stull is the most improved quarterback in the nation. And that’s why Pitt is one of the nation’s surprise teams.

Last season, Stull threw for 2,356 yards, with nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Pitt finished 9-4 overall and 5-2 in league play in spite of Stull’s uneven play. A 3-0 loss to Oregon State in the Sun Bowl summed up the plight of Pitt’s offense.

In the offseason, offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh left to coach quarterbacks with the New York Jets and Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt tabbed Frank Cignetti to take over. Cignetti’s arrival has made a difference.

Stull, a senior, is the top-rated passer in the Big East; he is 114-of-171 for 1,409 yards, with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions, and Pitt is 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the Big East going into Saturday’s game with South Florida.

“Billy has done a good job buying into what we are teaching,” Cignetti said. “He is trusting what he sees – trusting the protection, trusting his receivers to be where they are supposed to be, trusting what he sees. Matt did a good job with him before I got here.

“He also has some good playmakers around him in [running back] Dion Lewis, [wide receiver] Jonathan Baldwin and [tight end] Dorin Dickerson.”

Lewis is the top freshman running back in the nation, leading the Big East and ranking third in the nation in rushing at 131.1 yards per game. He also has nine rushing touchdowns, filling the void created when LeSean McCoy left early for the NFL after last season.

“[Lewis is] a good kid who works hard and sets a strong example,” said Cignetti, who orchestrates an offense averaging 387 yards and 33.3 points.

The stretch run will define the season, as the schedule is back-loaded. A win Saturday over USF would make Pitt 7-1 for the first time since 1982. Then, after a visit from Syracuse, the Panthers close with three huge games: Notre Dame, at West Virginia and Cincinnati.

Tom Dienhart is the national senior college football writer for Rivals.com. He can be reached at dienhart@yahoo-inc.com.
Updated Oct 21, 12:59 pm EDT
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52 Comments

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    keith m Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:24 am PDT Report Abuse
    falconfan.....it isnt my statement dumbass....its from the SEC and their commissioner......start reading more than the blogs for god sakes!!!
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    Bubba Thu Oct 22, 2009 09:35 am PDT Report Abuse
    It is a concern to me that the Florida team and coaches didn't give credit to Ark. defense. The post game commits were only about FU making mistakes and how that doesn't happen that often. Maybe the HOG D. has improved and they had something to do about the fumbles and stopping the running game. Lots of mistakes on both side of the ball from both teams but I give credit to FU for being the top defense in the land, just a shame for the hogs. If FU feels good about the win, good for them but they may be the only ones in the country that agrees with them. PS, I'm not a FU hater.
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    David H Thu Oct 22, 2009 03:44 am PDT Report Abuse
    I am not surprised that Florida benefitted from poor officiating. They have been #1 for 3 yrs running. Of course they are going to get bogus calls at home. The refs were probably intimadated by Meyer. It rings of Duke basketball at home, where the ref are scared to death of Coach K. Both will threaten the refs anyway they can to get the calls and win at home!!
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    Ken K Thu Oct 22, 2009 02:35 am PDT Report Abuse
    I hear that Notre Dame has already contacted the SEC crew about working future games in South Bend .
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    joe m Thu Oct 22, 2009 02:07 am PDT Report Abuse
    ask bob......it was the same crew how ridic are they? georgia and arkansas robbed by the same crew
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    doyle Thu Oct 22, 2009 02:03 am PDT Report Abuse
    Hey Kenneth, are you retarded or did you type that crap blindfolded? By the way, the offense can advance a fumble unless its fourth down and then only the player that fumbled it can advance it. So even if it was fourth down on that play the receiver can still advance the ball Einstein.
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    John Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:42 pm PDT Report Abuse
    This poor officiating plague is everywhere. The Big East continues to have some of the most incompetent crews in college football. During the WVU-Marshal game what appeared to be an intentional double helmet-to-helmet tackle by two Marshal defenders resulted in an unconscious WVU quarterback, a concussion... and no flag. And this the very same crew that was taken to task for blowing calls in an earlier game. Kudos to the SEC for taking action and suspending officials who can't do the job. It's time for the Big east and other conferences to follow suit, or these striped bozos will simply continue to get paid for playing pretend each weekend.
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    KENNETH O Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:50 pm PDT Report Abuse
    micheal 42 u not biased toward any team what a lie u can tell u hate the gators them calls did not help fla all that much , like the pers. we haad made the first down anyway. and i could have say about some callsthat went to ark. like te fumble tha was when ark trip the player tripping is a pentaly to. and the fumble on ark last touchdown on the one yard line. the offense cannot advance a fumble. so ball should been on the one yardline . so if we go by u way of thinking that calls would of change the outcome ark wouldn't have score the td. there more things a\on ark. that wasn't call also. they said bad calls were made they didn't what ones . thre is a bunch of cry babies anymore i used like everyteam in the sec. but not now. i see what alot sec fans were when tebow was hurt. how they was glad and wanted more. they are not fans they are idots they hate tebow so much that they wish the man dead . for team losing to tebow. what jerks. i thought sec fans was the greatness till this seasons they are nowa bunch low class trah.
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    KENNETH O Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:50 pm PDT Report Abuse
    micheal 42 u not biased toward any team what a lie u can tell u hate the gators them calls did not help fla all that much , like the pers. we haad made the first down anyway. and i could have say about some callsthat went to ark. like te fumble tha was when ark trip the player tripping is a pentaly to. and the fumble on ark last touchdown on the one yard line. the offense cannot advance a fumble. so ball should been on the one yardline . so if we go by u way of thinking that calls would of change the outcome ark wouldn't have score the td. there more things a\on ark. that wasn't call also. they said bad calls were made they didn't what ones . thre is a bunch of cry babies anymore i used like everyteam in the sec. but not now. i see what alot sec fans were when tebow was hurt. how they was glad and wanted more. they are not fans they are idots they hate tebow so much that they wish the man dead . for team losing to tebow. what jerks. i thought sec fans was the greatness till this seasons they are nowa bunch low class trah.
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    falconfan Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:14 pm PDT Report Abuse
    this is for Keith M. #33 You like to the word "we" too much for comfort. "We" have been in contact with Arkansas. "We" have communicated with Arkansas over the video. Are we to assume that you are a part of the coaching staff or part of the athletic program for Fla.? No way you would be biased toward the Gators.
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    keith m Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:02 pm PDT Report Abuse
    there is no doubt that kenny doesnt read my post in full, i said one was a penalty and the personal foul call should not have been...........jees, talk about a total moron, isnt that your comment, TOTAL MORON...........seems like you are wearing that brand pal!!
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    Steph Wed Oct 21, 2009 09:40 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Suspension only, are we kidding! I'm sure that taught those refs their lesson on making poor calls, basically it's ok and you get a day off, woo hoo!
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    michael Wed Oct 21, 2009 09:08 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Arkanas would have won that game had it not been for the poor officiating. I am not biased to either team and am commenting merely to state that that officiating crew needs to be suspended for more than one game (how about the rest of the season) let's please keep stuff like that out of the college game. It isn't needed! All three of those calls should have went Arkansas way but none did.. I find it ironic that the game was fairly well officiated until it was apparent that Florida was going to lose.

    ARKANSAS WAS ROBBED!!!!!
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    kenny Wed Oct 21, 2009 08:13 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Chris and keith are total morons. ok say that it was interference by ar player(which it wasn't) the there is no doubt it should have been offensive interference on the later play by florida. a sad day for sec football and a sad day for college sports.one of the most obviously biased officiated games i have ever seen!! bogus win, bogus , win, bogus win.
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    tyree Wed Oct 21, 2009 08:11 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Alabama/ South Carolina game: Moe Brown helmet to helmet tackle, moe brown is knocked out, has a concussion because of the hit, lost his play for the rest of that game and for the next game, NO FLAG!! must have been three pass interference calls that were blatant and not called on Alabama.
    Florida/ Arkansas Tebow and many other florida players exhibited excessive celebration that would have been called any most other teams. the SEC has a problem with officiating crews, their is no consistency
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    playa4life Wed Oct 21, 2009 08:11 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Doug, post #14: It appeared to be a full yard... like Florida moved nine yards, got a first down. But it may have been that the yellow line for CBS was off. I still have the game taped, but I just don't care enough to rewind it and make myself puke again.
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    Ask Bob Wed Oct 21, 2009 08:03 pm PDT Report Abuse
    suspended? they should be checking to see if any of these clowns have ties to organized crime. on the other hand, how in the hell did the crew that called the 2 excessive end zone celebrations in the Ga/Lsu game walk away scott free? single worst call i have ever witnessed in sports.
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    kenny Wed Oct 21, 2009 07:59 pm PDT Report Abuse
    No doubt keith m is a die hard gator fan that can see no wrong. the gators did not win the game, they were given the game. plain and simple. keith get your head out. bogus win, bogus win, bogus win. florida does not deserve the #1 ranking. yeah the kicker missed two times, but no matter how you try and spin it, florida fans, it is just plain and simply a bogus w on their record.
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    Phil the Thrill Wed Oct 21, 2009 07:48 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Its about time the Georgia -Tenn game then this one See if any money moved in Vegas during the game. And why does that Reilly Cooper keep getting away with interferance 2 games in row not good.
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    keith m Wed Oct 21, 2009 07:13 pm PDT Report Abuse
    “As is standard procedure, following each game, institutions will send a list of plays from its previous game to the conference office for review and comment. We have been in contact with Arkansas concerning this review from its game against Florida. We did communicate to Arkansas that, after video review, there was no evidence on the video to support the personal foul penalty called on Arkansas midway through the fourth quarter. The other calls that were referenced are judgment calls and a review of those calls have been communicated to Arkansas.” i know Childs recovered it, but they said he didnt fumble the ball..... and Carol....for you to think im referring to you asd an idiot, if your one that post the biased BS on here about the interference call and dont see it then you can wear the brand!!! IT WAS A GOOD JUDGEMENT CALL.....the personal foul was a wrong call i said!!!!
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    __A_YAHOO_USER__ Wed Oct 21, 2009 06:58 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Yeah right KM...the rest of the..country all, all, idiots, cuz we dont see or read thru Gator colored..
    gl(_!_)es,,,,censure and temp. suspensions...were for the ,prior game calls , and the calls of this same game combined.. everyone knows that ! Including the Razorbacks...for, which, this all water under-the-bridge and meaningless ..plattitudes.. they were straight out robbed!!...period !
    Rabbid fans always want to put an asterik on players stats and accomplishments.etc,,.which I don.t usaully agree with, what;s done is done. BUT,This was an outright screw-up...with possible national title implications , that,,really desreve an 'ass'terik..!
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    Flip in Tulsa Wed Oct 21, 2009 06:56 pm PDT Report Abuse
    I was severely criticized Saturday by most bloggers for my reaction to the poor officiating in the Florida/Arkansas game. Apparently, the SEC felt the same way as they are accountable to all schools in the conference not just the darlings of CBS who has already "predicted" the National Championship to be won by either Florida or Alabama. Of course they televise the SEC top games and this would benefit them if it happened.

    I don't see Texas or any other school in the Big 12 cancelling their schedule for the season based on what CBS says. I am due an apology from the overzealous Florida fans who could see nothing wrong with those lousy calls. I am also due an apology from the weak Arkansas fans who just accept such abuse as if it is just their fate in life to not be questioned. Where are the rabid Razorback fans from the 70's and 80's who would never be so passive about the officiating? Very sad. Maybe their "hog hats" were just turned backwards and they were more interested in eating or conversation than in winning.

    That's how I see it in the autumn of my years having watched 5 decades of great NCAA college games including the "Game of the Century" in Norman in 1971. Go Pokes!

    Flip
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    Doug Wed Oct 21, 2009 06:50 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Childs covered the "fumble", still a touchdown
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    keith m Wed Oct 21, 2009 06:50 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Lets also remeber that Arkansas had a chance to win but the kicker blew that, not the refs.........
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    keith m Wed Oct 21, 2009 06:48 pm PDT Report Abuse
    here it is, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vN28pnAKkQ they called it a td?? come on!!!

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