Letter to the SEC | TigerFan.com

houtiger · Sep 18, 2006

Mr. Mike Slive
SEC Commissioner

Dear Mr. Slive,

I am writing to complain about the officiating during the LSU –Auburn football game.
Three calls were horrendous, in my opinion.

1. LSU running back Hester catches a pass, has control, fumbles out of bounds, and the official calls it an LSU catch, first down. The play is reviewed, and without conclusive evidence, it is overturned an the ball goes to Auburn on downs. THERE WAS NOT CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE TO OVERTURN THE CALL.
2. LSU receiver Brandon LaFell was positively mugged in the endzone just before halftime, causing him to miss a pass for a touchdown. This was not “away from the play”, but it WAS THE PLAY. This score was the difference in the game.
3. Late in the game, pass interference WAS CALLED on a pass to Early Doucet of LSU, who was held prior to the ball being tipped. A flag was thrown, which was correct, but after a conference, the flag was picked up because the ball was tipped. The tip occurred after the holding and pass interference. The league has stated the pass was “not catchable”, but if Mr. Doucet was not held and could have made a free move to the ball, I believe he could have caught it. If he was held, the tip had nothing to do with it.

I have invested too much in a lifelong of being an LSU Tiger fan. This disappoints me too much to watch my favorite team be victimized by incompetence. The league does not care about the quality of its officiating as much as I care about my team. I can take a loss, and have taken many since 1958, but I can’t take the WAY this game was lost. I will ratchet down my interest in SEC football to the level of commitment I see from the SEC in producing quality officiating, and a “review system that works” instead of a review system that “incorrectly reverses correct calls on the field”.

The PAC 10 issued an apology to Oklahoma for their officiating mistake in the game with Oregon, and they suspended the officiating crew. They have integrity. You folks are stonewalling the incident, and demonstrate your lack of integrity. Why would I invest my interest in such a league?

You at least owe LSU a public apology.

Very truly yours,
Click to expand...

Mr. Mike Slive
2201 Richard Arrington Blvd, North
Birmingham, Al. 35203

friedriches · Sep 18, 2006

A few things I would have done differently (like debate The Hold more than the overturned PI). Also, some confusing diction in the closing paragraph. Let us know what Slimey does to respond.