Les Miles decided not to test the SECs new get-tough policy regarding coaches criticizing officials.

The LSU coach said Monday he spoke with Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive and coordinator of officials Rogers Redding about a near-interception by Patrick Peterson late in the Tigers 24-15 loss to Alabama. Officials ruled Peterson caught the ball out of bounds and replay officials did not overturn the call, though video showed the LSU defensive back might have had a foot down in bounds.

LSU asked the league to review the call and Miles said he was satisfied with the response he received.

I know these officials are trying, he said during his weekly news conference in Baton Rouge, La. They are doing everything they can to get it right. The final score is the final score. The officials are working hard to get it right. If I felt differently, I would say so.

But then hed have to take out his checkbook. The SEC fined Florida coach Urban Meyer $30,000 last week for saying referees missed a late hit against Georgia on quarterback Tim Tebow, making him the first coach punished under the leagues new policy of skipping public reprimands and going straight to fines or suspension.

The questionable call in the LSU game was the latest in a series of high-profile ones that have left SEC fans, and at times coaches, grumbling.

Peterson stepped in front of Greg McElroys pass and might have gotten his left foot down in bounds – maybe both feet – but was ruled out with 5:54 left and LSU trailing 21-15. Replay official Gerald Hodges determined there wasnt the required indisputed video evidence to overturn the call.

I know I was in, Peterson said after the game. The officials said the pass was incomplete because I was out of bounds. There is nothing you can do now.

SEC spokesman Charles Bloom said the league would not comment on the call.

The standard procedure for us has been that the school turns in a list of plays and we look at those plays and give them back a review of those plays, Bloom said. Thats what were doing.

Miles did not join Meyer, Arkansas Bobby Petrino, Tennessees Lane Kiffin and Mississippi States Dan Mullen in publicly criticizing the officials. Petrino, Kiffin and Mullen were all reprimanded within a week and soon after the SEC decided to make the punishment for knocking officials more severe.

Miles said he was convinced Slive and Redding looked at the play long and hard. So did he.

I know the officials could not see the play, the coach said. They were in great position. One official could not see the play because he couldnt see through the back of Patrick Peterson. The only other official who could see the play, was on the other boundary.

He couldnt see through one of our players. So, it goes to replay. If its not irrefutable, theres no reversal. The replay man is given instruction to defend and defer to the call on the field.

Alabama coach Nick Saban lashed out at the critics, not the officials.

If I was an official and I was making what I made officiating because I love the game and I love doing it, and I was getting criticized by the media – including our announcers on TV – like these guys are getting criticized, Id step back and say, I think Ill go to the lake this weekend. You can have this, Saban said. Thats what Id do.

He also noted that LSU would still have had to drive nearly 70 yards with both quarterback Jordan Jefferson and tailback Charles Scott out with injuries, against one of the nations top defenses.

If it was an interception, that doesnt mean they win the game, Saban said. It was hard for me to tell on our film. I dont watch the TV stuff. I cant tell you or give you an opinion one way or the other.

The SEC publicly suspended a crew that called two personal foul penalties in separate games that were not supported by video evidence.

One of the calls came in the Arkansas-Florida game and aided a Gators touchdown drive late in their 23-20 victory.

Kiffin complained about the officials after a 12-10 loss at Alabama and Mullen did the same after a replay review went Floridas way during his teams 29-19 loss to the Gators.

Alabama and Florida are undefeated and will meet in the SEC championship game. If they stay unbeaten, the game in Atlanta will also be for a spot in the national title game.

Kentucky defensive lineman Corey Peters, who has faced both teams, doesnt buy into talk that Florida and Alabama are getting a hand from the league.

I think Floridas a great football team, Peters said. I dont think they need any help. Officials cant put the ball in the end zone. They cant put points on the board.

Alabamas McElroy said he also didnt think the Tide and Gators had gotten preferential treatment.

Theres been as many calls against us as there has been for us, McElroy said.

As far as Petersons play, he said he hadnt watched a replay.

The SEC officials, theyre very professional in their job, they take their job very seriously and 99 percent of the time theyre going to get the call right, McElroy said.

Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson left the officials alone, but questioned whether coaches should get fined for voicing an opinion.

(Meyer) said in his opinion he thought it was the wrong call, Johnson said. I think everybody can have an opinion.

I think we ought to have the opportunity to say I disagree with a call and not be fined. You cant say, `Well I think he did it on purpose or I think its a conspiracy or whatever. But if I think it was a bad call, I ought to be able to say it was a bad call. But I guess I cant.

Posted on November 10th, 2009 by admin
Filed under: College football news, NCAA college football