nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Georgia football podcast: UGA deserves better explanation from SEC regarding controversial call

System

Georgia football podcast: UGA deserves better explanation from SEC regarding controversial call

Georgia football is the No. 1 topic every day on DawgNation Daily — the daily podcast for fans of the national champion Georgia Bulldogs. Catch up on everything happening with UGA athletics with host Brandon Adams and the DawgNation experts as they break down the latest Georgia football recruiting news and discuss coach Kirby Smart’s quest to return the Bulldogs to the top of the college football world. On episode No. 2090 (Dec. 6, 2023) of the podcast, Georgia fans can hear a discussion about what the SEC told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the controversial play from near the end of the first half of Saturday’s SEC championship in which Isaiah Bond was ruled to have made a catch which wasn’t reviewed by replay officials despite evidence that the incorrect call was made on the field.

Read the full story here

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

KnoxDawg3318

Look, I love the Dawgs but we lost to Alabama. As Kirby said, they whipped us in the trenches; we couldn't run the ball effectively, we missed a FG;,we fumbled in our own red zone and Bama capitalized with a FG. We lost by a FG. They won. We lost. We all hate it. Having said that, I am disappointed with Brandon Adams whining about the "catch" Bama got near the end of the half. Brandon, I hate to say, is sounding a whole lot like Ryan Day after our game with OSU last season. BA has complained all of season about whiny Ryan Day (which he is). Brock Bowers had a very classy post about the game which he refused to make excuses. Brock is 25 yrs younger than BA. BA, don't sound like Ryan Day. I listen to your show everyday and I cringe every time you whine like Day. Please stop . Now, let's go beat FSU. Go Dawgs!

GtheGreek

I have lost a lot of respect for Greg Sankey....ultimately he is responsible for that BS excuse....it would have been so much more palatable/believable just to admit the truth.....the officials blew it and should have reviewed the catch but didn't. The Dawgs lost the game on three plays....the fumble on the ten, the 5 yard penalty/missed FG and the blown catch/call. The only alternative is to now win in the portal so that we have the power to go to Tuscaloosa in 24 and demolish and drain The Tide, then make sure we play in the SECC in 24 and if Bama comes back, kick they arse again!

navydawg

This was a very tight game. The bogus “Catch” call was on a Fourth Down play that is Super Important. So had it been ruled a No Catch then Bama couldn’t have even got a FG. So that officiating put 7 points on the board for Bama.

Dawgs lost by only 3 points. So Regardless of the bad plays that the Dawgs made in the second half, the Math shows that if ALL things BUT that bad call had came to happen. Then the Dawgs would have Won the game by Four points. The final score would have been UGA 24 to Bama 20. So it Did and Does matter.

It’s Worse really than the Phantom Offsides in 2017. And like Brandon is trying to point out Why were there TWO Reviews of two Dawgs catches and No review of Bama catches ?? Saban is a great coach, he and his staff recruit really well, he doesn’t Need or Deserve help from officiating.

Also if the Committee Really wanted the Four Best Teams in the Playoffs then UGA should have been in over Bama. Because the Dawgs margin of victory over opponents In Particular common opponents was Significantly better than Bama. Even though Bama beat the Dawgs by only 3 points in One game with help from the officials.

Saban will Always and Forever as long as he’s HC will get the benefit of doubt on Anything and Everything controversial. It’s going to go Saban’s way. Period. That’s NOT excuses, that’s the History of Saban at Bama. Period.

87dawg

Aside from officials missing the call, I can also blame Kirby and his staff because he should have called timeout and challenged. Officials are one thing but the coaches should have been in the game.

BigDawg61

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/734714#Comment_734714

Lol...are you guys forgetting?...Bama has had a defense on par with UGA's all year long. Bama's offense had some of the same problems moving the ball, that UGA had.

With all of UGA's injuries and the constraints that put on "their game"....It was an "Even" fight...but, not a "Fair" fight. Bama definitely got the "Official's Push"...as always. I've seen this movie a hundred times if I've seen it once.

One of Alabama's Alums has a connection with a small group of SEC Officials. They have been influencing game outcomes through timely "momentum flags and spots", for decades. A play here...a few inches there...and, abracadabra...momentum shift...or, opponents momentum stopped.

Changing the outcome of the game through officiating 101....It's not that hard to do, if you know what you're doing. Maybe, 2 or 3 plays in a close contest like the SECCG. The calls, ALWAYS go Bama's way...when they count the most.

@MontanaDawg ...FYI

The game's momentum shifted to Bama at the end of the half, because of a 4th down stop that turned into Bama points...specifically, because of that call. UGA had time to move the ball into Bama territory and at least kick a FG to make it 4 point game vice a 10 point game.

It changed how UGA approached the second half. It was anywhere, from a 6 point...to 14 swing.

UGA could've been tied with Bama coming out at the half...giving them license to be more aggressive offensively despite the injuries. 1 call influenced a game...and, with replay available...IT WASN'T NECESSARY.

I've suspected cheating by "Booth Review Officials" in a number of games, this year, that didn't include UGA. That's the "new method" of influencing results. I can't blame the field judge that made the call. It was really close and looked good from every angle...but, one.

Gary Danielson and their "expert" said they should stop and review...BEFORE the ball was snapped. If they saw it...and it's not really their job...Why didn't the people that get paid to make the review, see it?

Hell....tell us something that makes sense...like the "Review Official" was "eating a hotdog". Lol

osmosiphobe

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/734714#Comment_734714

I get what you’re saying, and agree with much of it. UGA had to keep from beating itself in the second half, and didn’t.

This commentary from BA isn’t a Ryan Day whine, though. Adams didn’t put words in the SEC’s mouth, or complain about their lack of follow-through. He flat out just called out a bold-faced lie and is saying there should be some accountability as far as that goes. How do we trust the governing body when it puts out needless garbage just to cover its own butt publicly?

BigDawg61

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/734728#Comment_734728

Agree 100%. I said that, during the game. It's the second time, I've seen em drop the ball on calling a timeout in that situation. The other time...UGA was way ahead and it wasn't critical.

Kirby DID call a timeout last year, that saved the game, against OSU. And, got them the ball back...on that "fake punt" in the 4th qtr.

Actually, thinking about it....Bobo and the "Booth coaches" would've been the only ones to get a review at the critical angle. There's no way, they could've gotten that heads up down to the field in time to stop it. And, UGA was trying to save it's timeouts, in case they got the ball back with 20-30 seconds.

There's a lot going on during the game...getting the defensive play call in...getting personnel lined up and focused. Trying to spot weaknesses, like Kirby did last year. This one slipped through everybody's fingers...and it had a helluva impact on the outcome of the game. Make no mistake about that.

if the SECCG were to be played at the end of Dec or 1st of Jan as the CFP, will be....UGA would be healthy and mop the floor with Bama or Michigan. It's a darned shame, they won't get that opportunity.

As banged up as they were, last Saturday...i saw a heroic effort on the Bulldogs part. I'm extremely proud of em. They left it all on the field.

navydawg

Brandon is spot on they think we’re All a bunch of idiots. I might be, but ALL of Dawg Nation certainly isn’t.

I’m Not saying the Dawgs didn’t make mistakes in the second half that hurt them badly, they Did. I’m just saying that if everything were Exactly the same in that game, but the Bogus call was deleted then the Dawgs would have won by four points.

So officiating Does matter. There were other “missed” calls in the Second half to. Like the Bogus horse collar call on Bullard that same former official said that call was Very Iffy and He wouldn’t have called it. But we’ll just forget those.

But that fourth down Stop hurt the Dawgs momentum going into the locker room by putting 7 points up for Bama. When your in an Extremely tight game where even two points from a safety matter, Officiating Can and Does hurt you.

Is there a SEC rule when playing Bama that All 50/50 calls Must go to Saban ?? Yeah I’m being sarcastic but it sure Seems that way.

My Second point that I will stand by till they lay me in the grave is Saban pretty much Always gets the Benefit of any and all controversial calls. And not just against UGA but other teams as well.

NOW instead of just Admitting they blew the call the SEC is making very Silly excuses. So there’s something very wrong when it comes to Saban and having fair and unbiased officiating. If it has feathers, a beak, webbed feet, and goes Quack, Quack. There’s a darn good possibility it’s a Duck !!

Some Dawgs fans say best way to stop Saban is just beat him on the field. I agree with that. But How do you do it when the Refs wink at Saban and say Don’t worry Coach we’ve got your back ?? That to is sarcasm but That To sure seems that way. I’ve Never seen “Coincidence” weigh so Heavily in one person’s favor as it does with Saban.

If he’s so “ Great” why does he Need help from the officials in tight games vs not just UGA but other teams. That probably all ends in 2024 as TX and OK in particular TX have $$$ to !! 🙄 P.S. So King Saban might consider retiring while he still has the throne.

navydawg

@BigDawg61 Hey Bro. please see reply I left you on the Trevor Entiene thread.

PlateauDawg

More than one thing can be true. We didn't play or coach our best but the non catch catch still could have been decisive. And hell yes Kirby blew it by not calling TO. We should(not sure if we do) have a GA or analyst whose only job is to tell Kirby when to challenge. Even Alabama Gary Danielson saw it wasn't a catch in real time so it wasn't difficult to see from the booth. If it was reviewed that's even worse bc that means it goes beyond human error to straight up rigging of outcomes. Which would not surprise me when it comes to that school.

BigDawg61

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/734774#Comment_734774

It is difficult, when the other team is in hurry-up offense and they're driving. It might be a lesson the Dawgs apply to games, going forward. Have one guy, who's job is to monitor the TV screen and wait for the various replays to tell em something they didn't see the 1st or 2nd time around.

Danielson...and my own eyes...thought it was a catch...until we saw that one angle, where the ball appeared to shift and touch the ground. That was the 3rd or 4th angle reviewed...which happened, as Bama was lining up to snap the ball.

Not much time to "see it", "decide" and "get the word down"...then, the Coach on the ground has to do a risk/reward evaluation and make the final decision.

Like you...I thought there was enough time to throw the "Challenge Flag" or call timeout...[if I was standing by a Referee on the field, when they finally showed the critical angle replay].

Come to think of it....there WAS a bit of a delay on the part of CBS, to get that particular angle up on the screen. If that had been the 1st replay shown...it would've been a no-brainer. IMO You don't think that was intentional, do ya. Lol...we know how much CBS likes Georgia.

Other than the chaos that exists in that particular situation...I can't explain it...and I wish somebody would ask Kirby the question. From a distance,, of course. Lol

E_Roc

A lot of the points I've been wanting to make are made below, and I'll second / add onto them.

Everyone is focused on the one botched play by the officials. It's more than that. As someone else pointed out, the officials made **** sure to stop the game and throw Arian Smith's obvious catch - Georgia's biggest play of the game - under a microscope. Just slap-you-in-the-face one-sidedness.

At one point Starks was flagged for not teleporting out of the way on an underthrown pass. If I'm recalling correctly, that was the play that got Alabama's offense finally moving. A little later, Dillon Bell was tackled before the ball arrived, no flag.

There was the time the ref stood there and watched Milton get tackled, at least initially, by the facemask, no flag. I think that would have set up first and goal in a drive that ended on a field goal.

There was the flag for a horse collar that didn't happen. I feel like I'm forgetting one or two others at this point.

In any game, you could go back and forth all day about things like missed holding, illegal formations and such. That will always be a wash, and a futile argument. This is different. This was a game where every egregious and especially costly call from the refs went against one team.

And to those who would say it's just part of the game, I would ask, when is it ever just a part of the game that Bama has to overcome? When was the last time Georgia needed, and received, major help from the refs to win a close game? Yes, over the entire course of the game, it's conceivable that Georgia could have played well enough to beat both Bama and the refs. But that completely misses the point. On the aforementioned play where Bell was obviously interfered with, he actually made a great play and still managed to catch the ball. When the refs came up with that horse collar call, the defense still ended up getting a stop. But this doesn't change the fact that throughout the game, Georgia was faced with an artificial obstacle that Bama simply didn't have to worry about. If you honestly don't think that that's a big deal in a game that was ultimately decided by 3 points, I don't know how to reason with you.

Lastly, I want to address this false equivalency between blaming a loss on an injury and pointing out the effect that one-sided officiating can and does have on the outcome of a game. Injuries are indeed a natural part of the game. They strike more or less randomly; the top teams are generally no safer than the cellar dwellers. And injuries ultimately are more or less manageable. There are other players that coaches can still use, and spend the season preparing in case they're needed. Every team has people who are paid a lot of money to problem solve on the fly, with things like play calling, personnel packages and overall game strategy. It's a disadvantage to have important players out, of course, but there's nothing unfair about it. None of this can be said of uneven officiating. There is no planning or preparing for it. Once it happens, it's done, and there is no undoing it. The ball is moved up or down the field, touchdowns and possessions are given or taken away, and that's that. It's as a significant factor in the game which has absolutely nothing to do with how either team plays or prepares.

And it doesn't have to be the product of some conscious bias or conspiracy to be real. We can come up with speculation and theories, and those might actually be correct. Or it may be something as simple as unconscious bias. But even if there's never any definitive account as to why it happens, that doesn't change the fact that it happens.

E_Roc

Oh and I also don't buy the argument that while Smart was trying to quickly get his defense ready to defend the next play deep in their own territory, he should have had the presence of mind to call a timeout to get the officials to do their job. Literally the only reason the replay official is even there is to look at plays like that, stopping the game if he needs to. Blaming the coach for not doing the ref's job for him is not a reasonable argument.

BigDawg61

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/734831#Comment_734831

I want to add to yours real quick....

"All the calls went against one team"...at critical points.

A good hustler knows when to dump. The refs timed it perfectly to allow a 3-point squeeze by an inferior, but, healthier team.

I think they knew that, goini'-in....that UGA was so banged up, they might be able to steal the game.. That's when they had their "Media Spin-Masters" on FOX & ESPN, go to work, setting up a Bama Bump and Georgia Drop.

This "whodunit", is starting to write itself. Lol