SEC Economics Dictate a Loss for Arkansas

The Southeastern Conference has the greatest fans, facilities, coaches, and players in all of college football. Unfortunately, it also has the most corrupt administration and commissioner, or the most inept officials in all of college football. Possibly both.

The league office, by continuing to send the crew led by Marc Curles to the most significant games, opens itself up to further ridicule. One can easily assume Mr. Curles, while not a very good official by definition, is quite adept at protecting the league's financial interests. What other explanation can there be for the Curles crew's continued employment?

I am no Bobby Petrino fan due to my support for the Atlanta Falcons. I am, however a fan of the student athletes, and their coaches, that work their tails off believing they can accomplish anything, beat anybody, if they just work hard enough and execute properly. It may be cliche, but anything can happen on any giving Saturday.

Not in the SEC. Not in the days of billion dollar television deals and multi-million dollar coaching salaries. No, the day of the fair football game appears to have come to an end in the SEC.

Today, the SEC is drama television. Each episode is build up to the next week's, until finally reaching a crescendo in the seasons finally. It is a formula that has been around as long as the television.

There are stars to promote. There are "good guys" and "bad guys". There are ratings draws and the lesser compelling teams.

Coaches are fond of saying winning the SEC is the ultimate goal, it is what teams can control. They can't control polls our computers, but winning the SEC was decided on the field. Was.

Crowing a legitimate SEC champion has now taken a back seat to winning the ratings war. Apparently the powers that be in Birmingham, New York and Bristol, have decided a key component to winning the ratings war is to have Florida, and its mega celebrity quarterback, remain undefeated.

Alabama opponents beware. It is a safe bet these same powers want Bama unblemished when they arrive in Atlanta.  I wonder if any Bama games are in Mr. Curles's future?

Even Mike Bianchi, an unashamed Gator homer, calls it what it is:

There's something foul with SEC referees - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

ORLANDO, Fla. -- If the Florida Gators win the national title this year, the championship should come with an asterisk:

(ASTERISK)Referee-aided.

And the championship trophy should have a bronzed image of a blindfolded Southeastern Conference ref pulling a late flag out of his pocket and calling a phantom personal foul penalty on Arkansas.

And the inscription below the trophy should have my favorite limerick about college football officiating:

"There once was a ref whose vision,
Was cause for abuse and derision,
He remarked in surprise,
'Why pick on my eyes?
It's my conference that dictates my decision.'"

I'm not saying SEC officials are protecting their cash cow known as the Florida Gators, but I believe the SEC officiating crew that called the UF-Arkansas game Saturday was made up of Line Judge Mr. Two-Bits, Field Judge Albert the Alligator and Side Judge Bob Tebow.

Yes, I'm kidding, but only partly. Anybody who has read this column for any length of time knows I believe college football officiating is the biggest scam this side of the BCS. I'm not saying conference football officials blatantly cheat (although sometimes I wonder), but I am saying it's human nature that they are going to err on the side of their paycheck.

The SEC has admitted that the refs working the UF-Arkansas game were wrong on a crucial personal-foul penalty called against Arkansas DT Malcolm Sheppard on the Gators' game-tying drive in the fourth quarter. There was also an equally awful pass-interference call against the Hogs in the fourth quarter, but the SEC wouldn't comment on that one.

Now, of course, the conspiracy theorists are out in full force, wondering if SEC refs are trying to protect the Gators. Their reasoning: If Florida and Alabama stay unbeaten, the SEC Championship Game will draw monster ratings. And monster ratings eventually translate into monster revenue.

These are the kinds of scandalous perceptions you create when you allow major conferences to employ their own refs. I've written this before and I will keep writing it until this travesty ends:

Why is college football the only college sport that has "conference officials" who traditionally work for only one league? College baseball umps and college basketball refs aren't employed exclusively by one conference. They are in regional officiating organizations that are utilized by multiple conferences.

But college football is different in that it is the only sport where the big conferences control all the money. And when you control all the money, you want control over the officials, too. Let's face it, one flag here or there can determine who gets a $20 million bowl bid and plays for a national championship.

Sorry, but I've seen too many times in the past where major conference officials have made blatantly bad calls in favor of the league that signs their paycheck.

Remember the "Swindle in the Swamp" a few years ago when ACC officials absolutely hand-delivered Florida State a victory over the Gators?

Or what about last year's UCF-USF game when Big East refs perpetrated a series of questionable calls that helped their boys beat the Knights?

And every longtime UCF fan will tell you about the 1999 game when the Knights were driving for the winning score against Georgia, but were taken out of field-goal range when an SEC official called a phantom penalty for, um, offensive pass interference.

Former Marshall coach Bob Pruett told me bluntly a few years ago: "The big schools want their own officials to protect their teams, and most of the mid-majors have to agree to it because they need the money."

UCF Coach George O'Leary says now he shies away from scheduling road games against major conference foes unless he can bring his own Conference USA officials.

"There's a reason you want your officials with you when you go play away," O'Leary said.

Dick Pace, an Orlando resident and a retired SEC official, told me once that he actually drew up a detailed plan in which he advocated officials be assigned to NCAA regions instead of hired by conferences.

"I presented the plan to former NCAA commissioner Cedric Dempsey," Pace said. "He said he liked it but said the conference commissioners would never go for it because they wouldn't want to give up their power. The major conferences want to be in charge of their own officials."

And so now we take you to a meeting of SEC refs, where they are discussing upcoming assignments. Let's listen in, shall we:

"Two bits, four bits, six bits - proclaim!

"We need the Gators in the championship game!"

And yes, there were other bad calls in the mugging of Arkansas:
SEC officials admit mistake during Arkansas-Florida game - USATODAY.com

On his Sunday TV show Petrino rewound tape of a hit by UF linebacker Dustin Doe on back Dennis Johnson along the sideline.

"When they hit you when you're on the white, it's supposed to be a late hit, a 15-yard penalty," Petrino said. "Unfortunately, in Florida, they don't call it that way."

Arkansas had 10 penalties for 92 yards. Florida had just three penalties for 16 yards. Petrino was also upset about two penalties (a 15-yard personal foul and 10-yard pass interference call) on the Gators' final touchdown drive.

"It's unfortunate that the fourth quarter there's probably three plays that the officials made the difference in the game," Petrino said on his TV show.

Petrino is not alone. CBS announcers working the game seemed to agree with him on several of the questionable calls.

The Gator PR Department Admits SEC Robbed Arkansas

SEC Commissioner Mike Slive is determined to ensure two SEC teams are in BCS bowl games. In his Birmingham office, the mantra must be "the ends justify the means". Everybody is not buying it. Take for instance Mike Bianchi, professional Gator propagandists for the Orlando Sentinel.

How badly did SEC officials rob Arkansas against Florida?

How badly did Arkansas get jobbed by the refs at the end of the game against the Gators?

Here are two of the worst calls I've seen in quite some time -- one a pass interference call on the Razorbacks and the other a personal foul.

By the way, this was the same SEC officiating crew that made the ridiculous excessive celebration call against Georgia in the game against LSU two weeks ago.

But don't trust me. Look at the videos yourself:

As if these calls were not bad enough by themselves, add the context of what was taking place in the game at the time these calls were made and the short time span in which they occurred and it all leads to one place.

Florida was trailing by a touchdown with the clock ticking down in the fourth quarter. These two calls kept Florida's game tying drive alive. Bianchi failed to show the horrible spot on a Tebow run in which the SEC official crew award him a first down when it was apparent he was a solid yard short of the spot awarded.

BUI will continue to highlight these indefensible calls made by this crew and to shine sunlight on their reprehensible motivations.

Beyond Crompton: Scarbinsky's Lambs and Lions

Kevin Scarbinsky, not exactly the Georgia Bulldog's biggest fan, attempts to demonstrate he can simultaneously muckrake and ass kiss on par with the Finebaums and Bianchis of the world. BUI is getting a special place on the "Journo" Wall of Shame ready for this front-running sycophant.
Scarbinsky: The more you look at Mark Richt, the more he looks like Tubs | Scarblog - al.com (h/t Mr. SEC)

If perception is reality, Richt is to Meyer as Tuberville was to Nick Saban as the lamb is to the lion. Sooner or later, the lamb is lunch.


That’s unfair to Richt and Tuberville. You don’t win as many SEC games as they’ve won without inner strength. But Tuberville didn’t have the stomach to break up the beloved core of his staff, and Richt seems headed for a similar crossroads with his coordinators.


Will his heart let heads roll? And has anyone else noticed that Georgia hasn’t quite been the same since Neil Callaway left for UAB?

Take Two Aspirin and Read

This really isn't the first time players have moved on. I understand the narrative, but we have been here before. We may not have had to replace a quarterback that was the top overall draft pick, but we have replaced an all-time career wins quarterback. Heck, when Zeier left he was holding several UGA and SEC records. Garrison Hearst was a pretty decent running back, we replaced him.

Until the season starts the narrative will remain, "look what Georgia lost, how can they replace that?" Joe Cox has the answer.
Bulldogs enjoy being under radar - University Of Georgia - Macon

“There’s a possibility to get worse and a possibility to get better,” Cox said. “We want to get better and do just as good as they did when they were here. We have guys that can play, and we’re going to do our best to make plays and be successful as an offense. It’s not like because those guys left, we’re packing up and saying ‘OK defense, win games for us.’ We want to be successful, too, and we’re doing everything we can.”

Mr. Tucker takes it a little further.
The pressing issues of preseason camp | UGA Sports

But there are lots of other issues, too, from who’ll win the kickoff job (Blair Walsh or Brandon Bogotay?) to who’ll be the backup quarterback (Logan Gray or Aaron Murray/Zach Mettenberger?). From how many of last year’s injured players will prove to be as good as new to how many of the incoming freshmen will be ready to contribute immediately. And some issues are more generalized, such as improving tackling and reducing penalties.

Construction along your commute got you down? The Dawgs feel your pain. Unless, of course your commute is to the airport, in that case, it truly is "Great to be a Georgia Bulldawg!"
Butts-Mehre expansion alters Bulldogs’ routine | Football | OnlineAthens.com

“It’s the old adage like when you go to a hotel, ‘Pardon Our Dust’ while we expand or try to improve,” athletic director Damon Evans said. “That’s what we’re saying, ‘Pardon Our Dust.’ It shouldn’t impact us too much this year.”

T Kyle is reading the "tea leaves" and comes up with a seemingly contradictory prediction. This Dawg hopes he is half right.
The 2009 Georgia Bulldogs Will Beat the 2009 National Champions - Dawg Sports

Naturally, as an SEC partisan with a 'Dawg in that particular fight, I was reminded by that passage of a certain other neutral-site division-rivalry showdown that has resisted all attempts to expunge its longstanding politically-incorrect nickname from the lexicon, lest the participants in the event come across as insensitive to the hypersensitive.

While I think it is a little premature to be ranking the best teams of the yet to be concluded decade, that didn't stop cbssports.com. Was Georgia dissed? Bill King takes a look.
Dogs ranked No. 8 for the decade | The Junkyard Blawg

But from a Georgia fan’s standpoint, the first thing that jumps out at you is that every team ahead of the Dogs on this list has won a national championship in this decade. In fact, Miami’s lone BCS title in 2001 is probably the main reason they’re ranked ahead of UGA. Yes, the Canes should’ve played for the national championship at the end of the 2000 season but didn’t. And while they did play for it again in 2002, they lost to Ohio State. First part of the decade, they were one of the nation’s strongest programs.

Take a ride on Scott's rollercoaster of Dawgmotions.
The Stuff of Legend: Sorry...a depressing thought to start your Monday

But the 2008 season that started with so much promise and hype has to be one of the most frustrating sports seasons I can remember...even in most of the wins, it seemed like we never really hit our potential. That we still won 10 games in such a frustrating year just tells you what kind of job our coaching staff has done in elevating both the performance and the expectation level for this program.

In Mike Bianchi's world, thou shall not speak ill of any gator, even if you were once the mightiest of gators.
Orlando Sentinel - Steve Spurrier's snub of Tim Tebow immortalized in editorial cartoon by

Perhaps even funnier than the cartoon is that now Spurrier is apologizing for apologizing.

Full Contact Tuesday

It appears the psyche of the Oklahoma State defense needed a boost, at least according to new defensive coordinator Bill Young.
Cowboys take defensive stance - College Football - Rivals.com (h/t Blutarsky)

“One of the main things we’re working on is the psyche of our players,” Young said by phone Monday. “They don’t need to be hearing how bad they are. They need to be hearing how good they are – because they are good.”

Ask, and you shall receive....
What's in store for Oklahoma State this season? | NewsOK.com (h/t Hale)

Sept. 5 vs. Georgia
Despite growing doubt nationally about the Cowboys, they announce their presence with authority, handing Georgia a 21-point defeat to open the season.

The BUI take on the pokes, the game, and that color.

Maybe we won't see them in the "I" formation
Florida quarterback Tim Tebow says he'd consider playing other positions in NFL

But Tebow said last week that doesn't mean he's not open to the possibility of playing other positions at the next level.

Here's to hoping Tebow makes about 4 tackles and 0 circumcisions at the WLOCP!


The BUI recruiting/research/marketing department talks about some fresh faces
Bernie's Dawg Blawg: Have Campus Bus Schedule Will Play

I for one think we've recruited really well at that position the last few years.

It's never too early to prep for next year
EDSBS » Archive » THIS RECRUIT MCGEE MUST BE SOMETHING

Coach Dan Hawkins making what is by far the most JACKED AND ENTHUSED call

Nothing like a little confab between the Masters of Muckraking, Finebaum and Bianchi
Paul Finebaum | Press-Register Sports Columnist - al.com

"The Bear has finally risen again," Bianchi said, "but he's coaching at Florida under the alias of Urban Meyer."

Not to ignore the gathering at Cobb Galleria, but nothing too newsworthy took place that wasn't examined by Bernie.

The Virgin and Votegate

Upon reflection, Mike Slive was compelled to change the name of this week's event to "The Vote for Virginity". Slive took full responsibility, claiming it is obvious to everyone the purpose of the event was to further glorify the Saint that is Timothy. Furthermore, Slive went on to say it was a mistake to invite other teams to the event and he personally apologized to Tebow. The Gator Nation and ESPN both accepted the apology.

Will Steve Spurrier be allowed to take back all those pre-season votes for Duke? Seriously. The man that has given a pre-season vote to Duke every year since 1990 was compelled to change his vote from Jevan Snead to Tim Tebow. No, he didn't claim it was a hanging chad, nor did he claim the ballot was too difficult to read. He blamed it on an assistant. Oh how the mighty has fallen.

Like an unforeseen weather pattern, or a Tim Geithner speech, the "V and V Episode" has placed our Media Days' expectations in jeopardy. After all, when they change the name of the event and allow coaches to change their votes, speculation becomes a fool's game. Still, before we write off the predictions, we will have to wait on Paul Finebaum's column that should be published around July 28.

Given the events that occurred, it will be hard for even the most stubborn of muckrakers to take a shot at any coach other than man that once was Steve Spurrier. Of course, Paul, the master of the qualified statement MAY focus on virginity and vote-gate. IT IS POSSIBLE Finebaum will deliver a piece that both questions the veracity of Timothy Tebow's virginity claim, and criticizes Spurrier for changing his vote. After all, Nick Saban PROBABLY would have been man enough to take the heat.

And finally, if there was ever any doubt Mike Bianchi has a man crush on Tebow, his RUMORED offer to de-flower the god from Gainesville should remove any doubt. Stay strong Timmy, remember when Bianchi asks you to get in the spread formation, he is not talking football.

SEC Media Days, Quantity over Quality?

The annual SEC Media Days event opened today in Hoover, Alabama. A record number of media credentials, over 900, were awarded. Obviously this number includes many from outside the 9 state SEC footprint. No matter from where they hail, 900 is a pretty impressive number. The Vice President can't even get 900 citizens to show up for one of his speeches.

Beat writers, sports anchors and editors, radio row denizens, national columnists, and perhaps even a blogger or two will comprise the crowd. One has to expect ESPN will have their marketing machine in full force to capitalize on their sizeable investment. But 900? The conference must care less about the richness of the message than it's reach.

I would love to see a categorical breakdown of these 900 media members. The decline of print media has been well documented. Local television gives precious little time to sports in their evening newscasts these days. ESPN, and its vast array of content sources can only contribute so many. I doubt the number of pure-play bloggers is substantial.

There are some great talents covering SEC teams and football in general, but 900? With 900 credentialed media members attempting to give their audience some unique value and the coaches and player representatives doing their dead-level best not to give them anything, what are we to expect from this?

I predict the pros, like David Hale, will gather tons of quotes to report on their beats at opportune times or on slow news days. The likes of ESPN's Forde and the AJC's Bradley will apply their patent writing styles to give us some "flavor" of the event. Barnhardt may explain why no news was actually made. Pat Dooly will opine on how clearly evident he finds it that Tebow is better in every measurable way than any that has come before him.

Then the reporting ends and the news making begins. That is where the likes of Mike Bianchi, Paul Finebaum and the aspiring muckrakers takeover. These are the media members that aim to be the news, to ascend the ladder of SEC power players. They do not attend to be of service to their audience but to advance personal agendas or to be implements of the coach they long to leisure with.

They will write their pieces and o their broadcast without disclaimer of purpose. Under the guise of entertainment and information, they will descend deeper into the political spin mastering cancer that his spread to sports journalism. Their intended victim is the naïve high school football player and coach. Their product is the preferable weapon of the lazy recruiter. The primary purpose to these "journalists" has become to give rise to "hot-seat" or "regime change" speculation.

In the end, one may expect the biggest news coming out of SEC Media Days will have more to do with who is coaching Notre Dame in 2010 than anything do with what takes place on the SEC field in 2009.

A Pay per View Event in the Making

In the blue corner is Mike Bianchi, Gator loyalist that will have “Death to Dooley” inscribed on his tomb. In the red corner we have Paul Finebaum, a Tennessee escapee that churned butter as a child and uses this skill to stir the pot on his daily radio show and in occasional columns. Officiating our bout will be Tony “I don’t have a Dawg in the fight” Barnhart.

Bianchi’s corner consist of Buddy “swamp stew” Martin, Pat “don’t call me Vince” Dooly and Huntley “the gator didn’t do it” Johnson. Finebaum is backed by the ghost of Paul Bryant, Sr. and MUCDA, the Memphis Used Car Dealers Association. The winner of this cage match will receive a lifetime achievement award from The Bleacher Report.

Seriously, in this case I am not buying “the pen is mightier than the sword”. Let’s get these guys in the ring and let them settle it trailer park style.