BamaOnLine.com - Notebook: SEC suspends officiating crew

October 21, 2009

Christopher Walsh
BamaOnLine.com Senior Writer

The Southeastern Conference officiating crew from last week's controversial Arkansas at Florida game has been suspended and will not work another game until 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 in a release. "I believe our officiating program is the best in the country, however, there are times when these actions must be taken."

Referee Marc Curles called a personal foul on Arkansas defensive lineman Malcolm Sheppard during Florida's final possession, which resulted in the game-winning field goal of the 23-20 game. The league later said that there was no video evidence to support the penalty.

The same crew worked the LSU-Georgia game earlier this season featuring the excessive celebration penalty against Bulldogs receiver A.J. Green that the SEC said shouldn't have been called.

Curles, a financial planner who lives in Birmingham, told EPSN.com that he regrets the mistake.

"I understand people are passionate about their teams," Curles told investigative reporter Mike Fish. "Like I said, we sign up for this. I admit I made a mistake in this ballgame. I deserve a little bit of people getting on me. I am getting on myself.

"From a personal viewpoint, I don't need to hear what folks say, because I know if I made a mistake. And no one feels worse than I do. I have to evaluate myself. We are our own worst critics at times. All the media, the message boards and things like that, I honestly don't listen to them too much. Just don't listen to them, don't read them."

Despite rumors that Curles' crew would work the Tennessee at Alabama game Saturday, the officials were not scheduled for a game this weekend. The crew has not worked an Alabama game this season. Tom Ritter's crew (Arkansas and Ole Miss) and Hubert Owens' crew (North Texas, South Carolina) have both worked the Crimson Tide twice.

The conference reviews games each week using video replays as well as interviews with officials, coaches and administrators. Teams also submit tapes of calls they wish to be examined.

"While only a few calls have been identified, the entire crew shoulders responsibility for each play," Slive continued. "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."

The suspension will affect the crew's eligibility for postseason bowl assignments.

Kicking dispute
Coach Nick Saban was asked during the weekly SEC conference call about Steve Spurrier's comment that Alabama illegally used a piece of tape to mark where the ball should go on field goals and extra points.

"I have to be very honest about this, I was not aware of this," he said. "I have become aware of this since it was brought to my attention. We certainly don't want our players to do anything that's illegal. It's a five-yard penalty if you do anything to enhance the spot.

"We're done some research on it and over half of the teams do something, whether it's put a piece of grass there or piece of mud, or whatever it is so the kicker knows where it's going to be spotted. We even saw verification of something where even South Carolina's kicker did something. This is not something that is really unusual for people to do. It is something that shouldn't be done because it's against the rules. We're actually happy it was brought to our attention because I wasn't aware of it."

The South Carolina game Saban referred to was against Mississippi State in 2007.

Spurrier said later in the afternoon, "If we did that last year, why didn't they turn us in? Shoot, I'm available to turn in if it's illegal."

Before last Saturday, Alabama last played South Carolina in 2005.

Injury/practice report
Senior cornerback Javier Arenas (bruised ribs) appeared to be doing everything during Wednesday's practice and appears to be close to resuming his normal duties.

The other players listed as day-to-day, sophomore nose tackle Josh Chapman (abdominal strain), freshman receiver Michael Bowman (patella tendon strain), and freshman cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (back spasms), were in their usual spots as well, along with freshman safety Rod Woodson (patella tendon).

Saban didn't address Woodson's status, but both sophomore linebacker Jerrell Harris and senior cornerback Chris Rogers switched jersey numbers this week so they can contribute more on special teams (they had the same numbers as Roy Upchurch and Julio Jones).

The coach added that linebackers Cory Reamer and Chris Rogers both have a "couple of bumps and bruises, but they're working their way through it."

Reamer mentioned after practice that the linebacker corps has been more settled this week.

"Nico (Johnson's) done a great job for us stepping in," Reamer said "He's still learning on the run, doing what he can do. He's such a young guy he's not going to know everything and he still has to adjust to all the things that we change each week. The good thing is that we have players around him who are helping him out."

Midseason accolades
Junior linebacker Rolando McClain was named a Lott Trophy (defensive impact player of the year) quarterfinalist, and also a Sporting News Midseason All-American along with sophomore running back Mark Ingram, senior guard Mike Johnson and senior nose tackle Terrence Cody.

Here are the complete lists.

2009 Lott Trophy Quarterfinalists: Sam Acho, DL, Texas; Pat Angerer, LB, Iowa; Eric Berry, DB, Tennessee;Kurt Coleman, DB, Ohio State; Jerry Hughes, DL, Texas Christian; Greg Jones, LB, Michigan State; Trevard Lindley, DB, Kentucky; Taylor Mays, DB, Southern California; Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama; Gerald McCoy, DL, Oklahoma; Mike Nixon, LB, Arizona State; Eric Norwood, DL, South Carolina; Joe Pawelek, LB, Baylor; Brian Price, DL, UCLA; Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida; Darrell Stuckey, DB, Kansas; Ndamukong Suh, DL, Nebraska; Alterraun Verner, DB, UCLA; Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri; Kyle Wilson, DB, Boise State.

Sporting News Midseason All-American Team
Offense: QB Jimmy Clausen, Jr., Notre Dame; RB Mark Ingram, Soph., Alabama; RB Toby Gerhart, Sr., Stanford; OL Jeff Byers, Sr., Southern California; OL Maurkice Pouncey, Jr., Florida; OL Mike Johnson, Sr., Alabama; OL Russell Okung, Sr., Oklahoma State; OL Sergio Render, Sr., Virginia Tech; WR Jordan Shipley, Sr., Texas; WR Mardy Gilyard, Sr., Cincinnati; TE Dennis Pitta, Sr., BYU.
Defense: DT Ndamukong Suh, Sr., Nebraska; DT Terrence Cody, Sr., Alabama; DE Jerry Hughes, Sr., TCU; DE/LB Eric Norwood, Sr., South Carolina; LB Brandon Spikes, Sr., Florida; LB Rolando McClain, Jr., Alabama; LB Chris Galippo, Soph., Southern California; CB Joe Haden, Jr., Florida; CB Kyle Wilson, Sr., Boise State; S Eric Berry, Jr., Tennessee; S Taylor Mays, Sr., Southern California.
Specialists: K Kai Forbath, Jr., UCLA; KR Chris Owusu, Soph., Stanford; P Drew Butler, Soph., Georgia; PR Antonio Brown, Jr., Central Michigan.

Tide-bits
Saban on this week's practices: "We have had a couple of good work days and I'm pleased with the way the players are trying to respond and get through the week in terms of preparation. When you want something that certainly creates the drive to achieve it and even though we seem to be becoming a fast-food nation of people wanting instant-gratification, instant coffee, instant tea, instant everything, right now, that's certainly not the way of the world when it comes to college football. You can't win if you don't finish the race. It takes a lot of perseverance on everybody's part to continue to work, focus on what they need to do to get better."

The Southeastern Conference sent out a memo to all teams reminding them that artificial noise is not allowed during games. Alabama's playing the beginning of AC/DC's "Hell's Bells" periodically during the first half against South Carolina prompted the reminder. According to SEC rules any artificial noise like a Tiger roar or a rooster crow are only allowed before and after games, at halftime, following scores and during timeouts.

Saban said athletic director Mal Moore made the decision to turn down Tennessee's request to wear orange at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday. "I have never, anywhere I've ever been, had anything to do with the uniforms," he said. "It's not my decision, I don't want anything to do with that because to me it's bigger than me and it's bigger than the coach."

Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin told reporters that he wants to pattern his program after what Saban has done on the Capstone, but Saban says he already sees it happening. "I really appreciate the comment, but I think they have been playing with a tremendous amount of toughness and they have a lot of resolve as a team, to go down to Florida and play a very competitive game, and be very physical in that game," Saban said. "They're establishing that ion their offense and the way they play defense. I think those characteristics are probably the most important things in sort of building a program."

Reamer when asked if he'd like to beat his former position coach Lance Thompson: "We'll leave that one for Saturday. For us to win is our main concern." He then paused before saying under his breath, "I'm not going to (bite) on that."

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