Mullen: SEC replay official blew call vs Florida

By CHRIS TALBOTT, Associated Press Writer Oct 25, 4:59 pm EDT

Preview | Box Score | Recap
  • Print

JACKSON, Miss. (AP)—Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen called for disciplinary action against the Southeastern Conference replay official who worked the Bulldogs’ 29-19 loss to Florida after a Gators touchdown that might have been a fumble was not overturned.

Mullen said Sunday it’s understandable if a field official makes a mistake because of the speed of the game, but the replay official can take his time and should be held accountable.

“I don’t even know why we have replay right now in the Southeastern Conference if they’re not going to utilize it,” Mullen said.

“That’s twice now that they’ve blown calls on the replay with our games, resulting in big plays, and I think that’s unexcusable for that official. I hope he’s severely punished if he ever works another SEC game again, because I think it’s completely unacceptable.”

The replay official listed for the game in Starkville on Saturday night was Dan Dembinski.

Mullen’s comments come a few days after SEC commissioner Mike Slive suspended an officiating crew for two personal foul penalties in the Arkansas-Florida and LSU-Georgia games that league officials said should not have been called.

It was the first time the league publicly suspended an officiating crew. The group won’t return to duty till Nov. 14 and bowl assignments could be affected.

Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino was reprimanded by the SEC for his comments about those officials after the Razorbacks’ 23-20 loss at Florida. Mullen, who also complained about the consistency of calls made on kickoffs, could to be reprimanded as well.

SEC spokesman Charles Bloom said the league would have no comment until after the play is reviewed Monday.

The play Mullen disputed happened in the fourth quarter with Florida up 23-13.

Gators linebacker Dustin Doe returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown, but replays showed Brandon McRae might have stripped the ball from the celebrating linebacker short of the goal line. If the call had been overturned, the Bulldogs would have been given the ball at the 20 with 8:25 left in the fourth quarter.

Instead, it was Florida’s second touchdown in 33 seconds and it effectively sealed the win.

Mullen said it was the second time a replay official has cost his team this season. He was referring to a penalty called against Mississippi State in a loss to Houston that looked as if the play would have been overturned had it been reviewed.

The coach and his staff watched film of Saturday’s play after the game, then Mullen later watched the replay “all night” on television.

“There’s no excuse for a guy who has the amount of time to replay the video to make sure they get the call right,” Mullen said. “That’s why we have instant replay and I think it’s embarrassing that they blew that call. I’ve seen still shots of the ball out of his hand. I don’t think that’s acceptable on a guy that has the ability to watch all the different angles.”

Doe’s touchdown was important for Florida because points have been so hard to come by for the Gators. Sure, they jumped back to No. 1 after a one-week hiatus. But that was due more to Alabama’s own struggles than Florida’s success.

The offense that dominated college football in 2008 has bogged down. Florida needed a field goal with 9 seconds left to beat Arkansas last week and entered the fourth quarter with a 16-13 lead over Mississippi State.

The Gators have scored just seven touchdowns in 25 trips inside an opponents 20 during SEC play and they’re clearly becoming frustrated. Tim Tebow turned down postgame interview requests for the first time in his career after having two interceptions returned for touchdowns.

“He’s very frustrated,” Meyer said Sunday during a conference call with reporters. “He’s used to playing at a certain level. A lot of guys are frustrated. We go down there by … 10 points on the road and it’s the same old song and dance as the last couple weeks. And guys want to play better.”

Meyer said team chemistry is great, but called a meeting with players recently to make sure there would be no finger-pointing between units.

“I have seen it in the past,” Meyer said. “I have not seen it on this team yet.”

Updated Oct 25, 4:59 pm EDT
digg del.icio.us
more

Head to Head - Week 8

Team Total Yds Pass Yds Rush Yds First Downs 3rdD% Pen./Yds Turnovers Time of Poss.
Florida 376 127 249 18 15.4% 3/25 2 32:15
Mississippi State 237 145 92 13 16.7% 5/25 3 27:45
NCAAF

329 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. <i>edsmith1015</i>
    329. Posted by edsmith1015 Tue Oct 27 4:25pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Based on questionable calls the last few weeks, I think the SEC wants to make sure that Alabama & Florida are undefeated when they meet for the the SEC Championship. So calls are going their way. f both are undefeated when they meet, then the SEC is all but assured of a team to play for the BCS Championship!
  2. Robbie
    328. Posted by Robbie Tue Oct 27 2:56pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    The boys in strips certainly did Miss. State no favors in this one but hten again thta is two weeks in a row that Florida has benefitted from bad calls. Look around the league South Carolina, Florida, LSU and some would argue Alabama have all benifitted from poor officials. What do these teams have in common, the games with bad calls wewre all close ones and the SEC does not want the favored team to lose to an Arkansas, Vandy. MIss. State, or a down Georgia team this year. It would make the league look weak and they cannot have this with the ACC, Big Least, Pac-10, and Big Ten all having down years as well. It is still possible that an undefeated Alabama beats an undefeated Florida in the SEC Championship game and they they rematch for the BCS title. Not likely but it could happen and I think deep down that is what hte league wants and why some games are so one sided by the officials.
  3. Socal
    327. Posted by Socal Mon Oct 26 9:25pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Once Bama blocked th FG and scooped the ball up they became the offense,therefore it was an offensive penelty....... Game over
  4. chris c
    326. Posted by chris c Mon Oct 26 8:34pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Bluhew, I have Always been a SEC fan, but with the SEC officials in Florida and Bama's pockets and the SEC commissioner does NOTHING to correct it, I think I'll be a TEXAS FAN now ! Go LONGHORNS !
  5. M W
    325. Posted by M W Mon Oct 26 4:48pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    The thinkg that bothers me about this Gator offense . . .is how it's being run. The backs are fast and can get to the holes. . .if Tebow isn't the only one carrying the freakin' ball. I never thought I'd say this, but it's entirely feasible that the offense would function BETTER without Tebow. . .as he's playing now. John Brantley would look to hand off and pass first. . .and run out of necessity. TE Aaron Hernandez is wasted. And who's calling the pass routes? Bozo the clown could cover most of those guys. . .because they're only 20 yrds down field. It's not illegal to run DEEP. Come on offensive coordinator. . .show some creativity man.

    And finally, put Tebow under center. Isn't that what he came back for? This style of QB play won't serve him at all if he plays in the NFL. Running QBs don't last long there. The U of Fla isn't doing him any service by this stupid shotgun attack. CREATE someting !
  6. michael h
    324. Posted by michael h Mon Oct 26 4:31pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    321 - Larry B - You are correct, IF a defensive penalty is called, the game can't end. If a celebration penalty is called, it is assessed on the following play, not on the play that led to the celebration. Let me ask you a question, if team A scores a TD and a celebration penalty is called against them, how is the penalty assessed? They are given a 15 yard penalty on the following play.

    I called the NCAA headquarters and had the penalty explained to me. The correct call was made. I have posted the information word for word from the rule book. If you prefer not to believe it, that is your choice. I may show my ignorance every now and then but this is not one of those times.
  7. Phil M
    323. Posted by Phil M Mon Oct 26 4:08pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    That was "excessive celebration" per the rules and because the field goal attempt wasn't on 4th down there should've been another play.

    That being said, this is why you don't leave it up to refs. You win the game on the field with your play.

    I do find it funny though that UF and Bama are struggling so much against the mississippi st's of the world and people say "oh, the SEC is just that tough" and every other conference goes through the same crap and we hear "that's because the conference is weak"

    I'd love for nothing more than to see a TCU UT national championship game, but i think its against Rule 754 in the BCS handbook that non-BCS schools be invited to the BCS championship game.
  8. Larry B
    322. Posted by Larry B Mon Oct 26 3:46pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Casie, you don't make too many mistakes, but you have erred on this one. If the refs call the penalty, the Vols would get a rekick from 15 yards closer because the game cannot end on a defensive penalty.
  9. <i>bluhew</i>
    321. Posted by bluhew Mon Oct 26 3:43pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Why is it that when Texas has a bad game they fall in the standings,not so for Tha gators or Bama...UT 's D would kick their sec @#$%^ without a doubt.....
  10. Larry B
    320. Posted by Larry B Mon Oct 26 3:41pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Michael H: #309 Before you expose your ignorance again , you might want to know this. "The game cannot end on a defensive penalty". If called, the ball would have been moved 15 yards closer and the Vols would have another opportunity to kick.
    And believe me, it the situation was reversed, the crappy SEC officials certainly would have called it.
  11. adolfo g
    319. Posted by adolfo g Mon Oct 26 3:33pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    When will these idiot football players realize that celebration should be off the field, remains me of Leon Lett blunder and Don Beebe perseverance; you do not celebrate until you cross the goal line but then I would not have any celebration in the field.
    We'd all like to vote for the best man, but he's never a candidate. ~Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard
  12. <i>h8714g</i>
    318. Posted by h8714g Mon Oct 26 3:26pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    It's quite obvious that the inofficiating should be replaced by electronic robots examining each play from six
    diffe
    rent angles, thereby eliminating all hints of prejudice, money, loyalty, fraternity or perhaps even sorority.
  13. <i>h8714g</i>
    317. Posted by h8714g Mon Oct 26 3:26pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    It's quite obvious that the inofficiating should be replaced by electronic robots examining each play from six
    diffe
    rent angles, thereby eliminating all hints of prejudice, money, loyalty, fraternity or perhaps even sorority.
  14. <i>h8714g</i>
    316. Posted by h8714g Mon Oct 26 3:26pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    It's quite obvious that the inofficiating should be replaced by electronic robots examining each play from six
    diffe
    rent angles, thereby eliminating all hints of prejudice, money, loyalty, fraternity or perhaps even sorority.
  15. <i>h8714g</i>
    315. Posted by h8714g Mon Oct 26 3:26pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    It's quite obvious that the inofficiating should be replaced by electronic robots examining each play from six
    diffe
    rent angles, thereby eliminating all hints of prejudice, money, loyalty, fraternity or perhaps even sorority.
  16. <i>h8714g</i>
    314. Posted by h8714g Mon Oct 26 3:26pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    It's quite obvious that the inofficiating should be replaced by electronic robots examining each play from six
    diffe
    rent angles, thereby eliminating all hints of prejudice, money, loyalty, fraternity or perhaps even sorority.
  17. <i>bigorange55</i>
    313. Posted by bigorange55 Mon Oct 26 3:15pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Nobody's blamin Florida, for the call. I don't blame them for any of the bad calls that go for them. I think I might be speaking for alot of other fans around the country when I say, we all just want a level playing field. With instant replay, it's almost impossible to blow a call anymore, yet ya see it every week in the SEC, and the last 2 weeks Fla. has been involved. And to all of you Fla. fans out there, it's not exactly whining when you have a legitimate point.
  18. <i>bigorange55</i>
    312. Posted by bigorange55 Mon Oct 26 3:08pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I think most people north of Jacksonville hope UGA beats FLA Saturday Donald. For them to win it's gonna take a career day from Willie Martinez calling Ga's defense. Also it would help alot if Ga. had a running game to help poor ol' Joe Cox out. The guy ain't Joe Montana, but if they could run the ball just a little bit, he would look alot better. Stranger things have happened, and although I really dislike UGA, I dislike Urban Myer more, so I hope the Dawgs hand them their you know what's too.
  19. <i>fspoore11</i>
    311. Posted by fspoore11 Mon Oct 26 3:06pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    OH MY! I've been a die hard Gator fan for over 40 years but I'm not blind....It was a bad call but at no time did Florida ask the officials to give it back to them. Place the blame where it belongs.....GO GATORS!
  20. Donald M
    310. Posted by Donald M Mon Oct 26 2:56pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I hope florida gits beat by georgia.
    a.c. says florida by 17. but don't count georgia out.
    maybe florida can play this game without help from the referees.
  21. <i>bigorange55</i>
    309. Posted by bigorange55 Mon Oct 26 2:55pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Bottom line for Dan, or is it Don, or Dum?...........Not sure, but the bottom line is this. Had a Miss. State player picked Tebow, and had the ball knocked out before he crossed the goal line, it's a gaurantee Urban Myer would be whining just as loud as Mullin is. The call probably didn't affect the outcome of the game, but it's still a bad call. Of course you being a Florida fan, you would know anything about bad calls, cause they all go your way. Just try to remember this, Donny boy, don't break both your legs when you fall off the big Gaytor bandwagon next season! As a matter of fact you will probably fall off this season, it's pretty obivious you know absolutely nothing about the sport. If someone asked you on the street to name 10 current, and 5 former Gaytor players I bet you would have trouble naming 4 period. All you bandwgon fans are the same, go back to the gay bar, and leave real fans alone.
  22. michael h
    308. Posted by michael h Mon Oct 26 2:55pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    303 - Michael J - I see from Casie C's posts that she confirmed my post 281. Keep in mind, if it was a penalty, the mark off (15 yards) is done on the "NEXT" play. They would not give the ball back to the kicking team and give them another opportunity. The clock ran out during the blocked kick and even if they would have extended the game with one untimed play, it would have been Bama's ball. When you see a team score and they are flagged with a celebration penalty, it is marked off on the next play. The field goal or TD stands.
  23. Angry Dad
    307. Posted by Angry Dad Mon Oct 26 2:54pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Justin S. New QB next year at Florida, John Brantley will make Tebow look more like a running back than he does now. Brantley has a better arm, is more accurate, and releases faster than Tebow. With four years in this system, and another year unde Scott Loeffler, he will be wearing out the receivers hands. Debose will be on the field next year to do the receiving, and the incoming 2010 class is strong. Why would anyone want to go to Arkansas? I hope Petrino stays for full season, anddoesn't do like he did in Atlanta half way through the season.

    Gotcha, the SEC said nothing to Spurrier about his vote, the MEDIA crucified him, and shamed him into changing his vote. As far as the officiating, what is done is done, but they referees are, obviously, not immune from discipline. The MSU call didn't change the outcome, the Gators won by 10. wthout the Touchdown, 3 to six points up.
  24. chris c
    306. Posted by chris c Mon Oct 26 2:18pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    DON, that comment was RUDE ! It was a BAD call and Mullen has the right to defend his team.......an d and your golden boy , no matter how nice he is, doesnt give a post game interview after a win, but goes straight to the bus! Why? Because he knew it was a BAD call.............this isnt about Mullen BUT the OFFICIALS ! OPEN YOUR EYES !
  25. Casie C
    305. Posted by Casie C Mon Oct 26 2:08pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    michael j: you prove the rule in your "jake locker" statement!!! the unsportsman like was marked off on the NEXT play(the extra point), they didn't erase they td locker scored and put the ball on the 15 yard line.......LEARN the rule, THEN post
Sign in to post a comment, or sign up for a free account

No upset!

98%
of College Pick’em users chose Florida to win the game

Did the Yahoo! Sports Experts make the right picks?

Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Florida
C. Rainey C. Rainey, RB
12 Rush, 90 yds
1 TD
 Mississippi St.
C. Ducre C. Ducre, RB
2 Rush, 14 yds

Conference Scoreboard

NCAAF - Week 8

YAHOO! SPORTS

ALSO ON YAHOO!

THINGS YOU CAN DO

- Site Map - Additional Terms

Copyright © 2009 2009 STATS LLC and The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the STATS/AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of STATS LLC and The Associated Press.