Jim Harris: In Spite of Officials' Ineptitude, Hogs Had Their Chances for Huge Win

Right on Jim. The pts we left on the field hurt. The high pass to Stumon, the high and behind pass to Wright and the pass to Childs that would have been a great catch but was dropped are plays you have to make to beat the #1 team on their field. That being said, that was abs...  

Right on Jim. The pts we left on the field hurt. The high pass to Stumon, the high and behind pass to Wright and the pass to Childs that would have been a great catch but was dropped are plays you have to make to beat the #1 team on their field. That being said, that was absolutely the worst officiating I've ever seen in major college football. Officials that continually flag one team where 1/2 are phantom calls and turn a blind eye to the other teams penalties is criminal. The pass interference call in the endzone and the Shepard penalty are just a couple of examples there were many more. It was fitting that the refs wore stripes because they stole that game from Arkansas. The SEC should come out and publicly apologize to Petrino and team but they won't because those calls were made behind closed doors before the kickoff. They definitely want an unbeaten Fl and unbeaten Ala in the SEC championship game. When that happens watch ALA get hosed so they can heap more praise on that waterheaded Tim Tebow.  

well written! We won that game!  

We did leave a lot of points on the field, but the officiating WAS terrible! It seems to me though that the Hogs are growing into a team that every team should be scared of.  

Cobra I agree. Either Fl is not as good as advertised or the Hogs are coming into their own. We have definitely improved by leaps and bounds on defense. We are CAPABLE of winning every SEC game left on our schedule and we are capable of losing several of them. But if I were ...  

Cobra I agree. Either Fl is not as good as advertised or the Hogs are coming into their own. We have definitely improved by leaps and bounds on defense. We are CAPABLE of winning every SEC game left on our schedule and we are capable of losing several of them. But if I were playing the Hogs right now I would be afraid, very afraid.  

Jim, You are spot on with the officiating. I went back through the game film and Florida was holding on almost every play and didn't get called. It was so obvious that the league office can't miss it but frankly I don't expect anything to change. Mike Slive is all about m...  

Jim, You are spot on with the officiating. I went back through the game film and Florida was holding on almost every play and didn't get called. It was so obvious that the league office can't miss it but frankly I don't expect anything to change. Mike Slive is all about making money and Alabama and Florida atop the BCS series is what this is all about. The only way Arkansas or one of the other teams is going to win is to become as dominant as Florida or Bama are now so that we get that same treatment. It's really like watching an NBA game where the ref's always protect the money players.

With Regard to Tejada though I've got to disagree with you. I'd rather have a campus try-out than give him another chance. He can't stand pressure. He was a great kicker at Springdale but if you remember they were always ahead by 40 points so there was never any pressure. Put 70-80 thousance people in the stands and he is toast. It's time for someone / anyone else to have a chance. Its an advenure everytime he kicks even PAT's. When he misses he takes all the momentum away from our team.

If I were coach Petrino I'd go find Ken Turner to advise on the special teams too. Our special teams used to be special and be as good as any in the nation but now always look challenged to do the mundane....  

I thought Tejada in time would be a good kicker for us, I was wrong. I know nobody feels worse than he does but he's playing w/ the big boys now not to mention a very expensive free education. If I were Petrino he wouldn't set foot( pardon the pun) on my football field again...  

I thought Tejada in time would be a good kicker for us, I was wrong. I know nobody feels worse than he does but he's playing w/ the big boys now not to mention a very expensive free education. If I were Petrino he wouldn't set foot( pardon the pun) on my football field again.  

Hey Froghog, I'll respect your opinion. Do you think the Hogs got hosed by the officials or not? Too bad about the Sooners. I hate the Longhorns almost as much as HDN.  

i couldn't get the tv version of the game so i watched it online over on justin tv which has a chat box beside the game player... while i never volunteered any comments as the game went on, i did watch what many of the 900+ viewing participants were saying as the game progre...  

i couldn't get the tv version of the game so i watched it online over on justin tv which has a chat box beside the game player... while i never volunteered any comments as the game went on, i did watch what many of the 900+ viewing participants were saying as the game progressed... ALL of them, even those gator fans were ranting about the game being "bought" by florida and how awful and biased the officiating was.. from seriously questionable pro-florida ball spotting after plays, to the obvious lack of equity in interference calls, to the malcom sheppard unsportsmanlike conduct call... that one, really ticked me off after watching the replays about three times, because sheppard didn't incite the contact to begin with, a florida guy went after him, and he just knocked him on his can for it... i rarely say anything about officiating, but that game was way too obviously tainted by the officials... i believe that if a team is getting a lot of unfair or biased officiating calls, it has to make up for that and score more to compensate, so the officials can't literally, "rob" it of the win... arkansas played well overall, very well... much of that making up for it, wasn't tejada's missed field goals, but mallett's strong arm consistently over-throwing his receivers and a lot of the times, lack of finesse on his throws... he'll get better, but that's an area of weakness he's going to have to continuously work on if we're going to win these tough games in tough places... just my two cents worth... go hogs...  

Great article Jim, it helped me get over my anger somehow. Does anyone think this horiible officiating is possibly related to las vegas?
Anyway, Jim I would like to hear your thoughts on the what this game says abou the hogs future. To me it says that Bobby Petrino, a...  

Great article Jim, it helped me get over my anger somehow. Does anyone think this horiible officiating is possibly related to las vegas?
Anyway, Jim I would like to hear your thoughts on the what this game says abou the hogs future. To me it says that Bobby Petrino, and coaching staff are steadily doing what they were hired to do. Great Job Williy Robinson and our entire defense, I kept saying the whole game our offense has got to step up, and give our D some rest. Next year maybe we will be the ones favored in most games, with the vegas slanted officiating working on our favor. But for now, let's take pride in the way we played this game and go out and win the rest of our games. Especially the next one against the Nutt meister! Go Hogs!  

We need to keep up the pressure on the officiating. I agree we had our chances and the results are on us. But when an officiating crew makes such obvious blunders (such as Malcolm Sheparrd defending himself from an offensive lineman looking for a big hit at the end of the ...  

We need to keep up the pressure on the officiating. I agree we had our chances and the results are on us. But when an officiating crew makes such obvious blunders (such as Malcolm Sheparrd defending himself from an offensive lineman looking for a big hit at the end of the play) it detracts from the game and really gives fodder to conspiracy theorists.

The SEC needs to make its evaluation of officiating crews transparant. Doing so would go a long way to taking away the stigma of favoritism. Let's see the analysis and let the results speak for themselves.

GREAT WORK JIM. You're the only reporter to comment that a team that gives up lots of sacks and fumbles, usually does not play mistake free football when it comes to penalties. All of them are mental errors that tend to flow together.  

HOGNBAMA:

NOTHING to do with Vegas. Arkansas was such an underdog they'd have had to make many many many more bad calls than they did.  

Yes the Hogs did some things that hurt them,but even at that they would have still won,had the refs not decided the outcome early in the game,the truth is the Refs saw the Hogs were going to chew up some Gator Tail,and for every little thing they could,they started throwing ...  

Yes the Hogs did some things that hurt them,but even at that they would have still won,had the refs not decided the outcome early in the game,the truth is the Refs saw the Hogs were going to chew up some Gator Tail,and for every little thing they could,they started throwing flags.  

I really don't know what would come of it but I hope there is some sort of investigation into this. I don't know if the league should because they're probably the ones who orchestrated it. Does anybody really think there could be a conspiracy here?  

Jim...good read. I agree on all counts about the way you saw the bias against the hogs against florida. I also agree that same bias was present in the LSU/florida game, not just on the obvious offensive pass interference no call, but on repeated head jerks by their center ...  

Jim...good read. I agree on all counts about the way you saw the bias against the hogs against florida. I also agree that same bias was present in the LSU/florida game, not just on the obvious offensive pass interference no call, but on repeated head jerks by their center that was never called until the second half although he continued to do it throughout the first half, causing multiple offsides penalites on the Tigers. The rule specifically prohibits "head jerks" by the center. Why did they refuse to call it until the third quarter. He immediately stopped doing it after he got whistled for it. It just shows florida will cheat until they get caught.
However, I am tired of the continuous reference to the georgia game and that they lost because of the personal foul penalty for taunting. LSU got called for the same penalty when Scott pointed up to God for thanks after his touchdown (the first official penalty called on God in any college football game I am aware of). The difference was LSU held georgia to the 32 yard line after they kicked from the 15, but Holliday returned georgia's kick 40 yards after Green's penalty. Plus, LSU had quite a problem with receiving bad ballmarks in the georgia game, as well. Twice on third down and fourth down the ball was carried past the sticks only to see an official mark the ball over a yard behind the forward progress. Those ballmarks cost the Tigers points in the red zone. Green for georgia puished off before every pass thrown to him reached his hands. Not once was he called for pass interference. A fumble was called on Shepard when replays clearly showed he had hit the ground before the ball came loose, and the ball went out of bounds three yards back and ultimately cost the Tigers a first down deep in georgia territory. georgia's linemen held throughout the game with no flag being thrown. My point is, did these bad calls have any less impact on the game? Did those bad calls not potentially cost the Tigers touchdowns and field goals? How did that one 15 yard alleged bad call for taunting have any greater impact than those others...in a game with over 600 yards of offense involved? Yet, the media keeps referring to that call as costing georgia the game?
I do not agree with that call on either player in that game. Local t.v. cameras did pick up a chest pump with Greens' fists after he turned away from his teammates (that was not shown on CBS or to the SEC office who admitted that it was a bad call, but may have been wrong about why it was) So, he did acknowledge the crowd in his celebration, despite what CBS cameras show and the SEC claims. However, the penalty itself is stupid, But it was stupid for both teams, and it is not the first time it has been called on LSU this year. Against mississiippi state, it was called and in the rain cost them an extra point that almost cost them the game....just for acknowledging the student crowd in the endzone after an interception for a t.d. Yet, LSU botched the longer extra point, not the refs. The rule is stupid....but, clearly, it did not cost georgia the game. You can make your point without saying that....it hurts the credibility of what you are saying and actually flies in the face of how you started off this article stating that, despite the bad calls, arkansas still controlled what it did on the field and had chances to make plays to win despite what the refs did to them, but didn't.
However, lost in all of this, is the fact that georgia and Mark Reicht have no one to blame but themselves. They caused this rule to be put into effect after Reicht had his entire team storm the field in 2007, against florida. Aint it funny how such classless things can come back to haunt you down the road?
And finally, when is anyone going to start exposing the fact that a majority of the SEC officials reside in the state of alabama. We all have been enduring bias when playing against auburn and alabama, no matter where the game is played. Is it not because they are actually bringing their own officials to the game....almost like a home game away from home? We all know how difficult it would be for a Ref, living in alabma to not bring home the bacon for his state teams. Then, is it any wonder why nothing was done to bama LB McClain after shoving a referee vs. va. tech? The SEC commissioner said he believed the appropriate measure was taken for that when he was penalized 15 yards? What? Since when is that appropriate punishment for shoving a referee? The SEC office resides in Birmingham...afraid of a few broken windows, Mr. Slive? Maybe its time, we demand that some light be shined on who these refs are and where they live, and whose games they are calling on a weekly basis. Unfortunately, they can still adversely affect a bama or florida or auburn opponent through bad calls in their other conference games, but at least, it would be a start towards some accountability for their bias.  

Great article Jim. I don't like to blame officials much for losses. I don't even like to criticize them because as a rule they do a decent job but miss calls both ways. This isn't one of those usual times. There were so many bad calls & non-calls that I'd forgotten about...  

Great article Jim. I don't like to blame officials much for losses. I don't even like to criticize them because as a rule they do a decent job but miss calls both ways. This isn't one of those usual times. There were so many bad calls & non-calls that I'd forgotten about some of them. The SEC needs to do something to fix this problem. Maybe the SEC needs to spring for full-time professional officials. It'd be expensive but one thing this league has is money.  

to summarize the game : "ARKANSAS- the land of missed-opportunities"!
having simplified the game summary, why is it not apparent to the UA recruiters that we have struggled since the mid-point last season ('08) in the kicking game? why did we not sign a 5, 4 or 3 sta...  

to summarize the game : "ARKANSAS- the land of missed-opportunities"!
having simplified the game summary, why is it not apparent to the UA recruiters that we have struggled since the mid-point last season ('08) in the kicking game? why did we not sign a 5, 4 or 3 star place kicker & punter?
hopefully this painful message has been received loud & clear by now ---??  

to summarize the game : "ARKANSAS- the land of missed-opportunities"!
having simplified the game summary, why is it not apparent to the UA recruiters that we have struggled since the mid-point last season ('08) in the kicking game? why did we not sign a 5, 4 or 3 sta...  

to summarize the game : "ARKANSAS- the land of missed-opportunities"!
having simplified the game summary, why is it not apparent to the UA recruiters that we have struggled since the mid-point last season ('08) in the kicking game? why did we not sign a 5, 4 or 3 star place kicker & punter?
hopefully this painful message has been received loud & clear by now ---??  

to summarize the game : "ARKANSAS- the land of missed-opportunities"!
having simplified the game summary, why is it not apparent to the UA recruiters that we have struggled since the mid-point last season ('08) in the kicking game? why did we not sign a 5, 4 or 3 sta...  

to summarize the game : "ARKANSAS- the land of missed-opportunities"!
having simplified the game summary, why is it not apparent to the UA recruiters that we have struggled since the mid-point last season ('08) in the kicking game? why did we not sign a 5, 4 or 3 star place kicker & punter?
hopefully this painful message has been received loud & clear by now ---??  

to summarize the game : "ARKANSAS- the land of missed-opportunities"!
having simplified the game summary, why is it not apparent to the UA recruiters that we have struggled since the mid-point last season ('08) in the kicking game? why did we not sign a 5, 4 or 3 sta...  

to summarize the game : "ARKANSAS- the land of missed-opportunities"!
having simplified the game summary, why is it not apparent to the UA recruiters that we have struggled since the mid-point last season ('08) in the kicking game? why did we not sign a 5, 4 or 3 star place kicker & punter?
hopefully this painful message has been received loud & clear by now ---??  

Tejada was a high recruit. During Nutt yrs we quit offering scholarships to kickers that's why we always struggled in that area. Tejada was the only kicker Nutt offered a scholarship to.  

To the annoyingly redundant georgiahog, this is why Arkansas offered a scholarship to a high school kicker many months ago, even though Tejada is supposed to be back next season. I wish they had signed a kicker last February, but we have no idea what they had to choose from...  

To the annoyingly redundant georgiahog, this is why Arkansas offered a scholarship to a high school kicker many months ago, even though Tejada is supposed to be back next season. I wish they had signed a kicker last February, but we have no idea what they had to choose from. They did sign a punter, then gave the punting job to a walk-on.

  

brucethe pig-- I only got a chance to see the 2nd half. I thought the officiating was terrible. We were knocking on the door of another great win against a great team and the officials seemed to help them in that last drive. On purpose? I dont know, but Florida was defin...  

brucethe pig-- I only got a chance to see the 2nd half. I thought the officiating was terrible. We were knocking on the door of another great win against a great team and the officials seemed to help them in that last drive. On purpose? I dont know, but Florida was definately helped.  

There is a great deal of hypocrisy going on about officiating, when it is precisely what put Auburn in the hole in the first half of last weeks game and for all practical purposes gave the game to Arkansas. It wasn't a handful of calls it was ALL calls. Six first downs by ...  

There is a great deal of hypocrisy going on about officiating, when it is precisely what put Auburn in the hole in the first half of last weeks game and for all practical purposes gave the game to Arkansas. It wasn't a handful of calls it was ALL calls. Six first downs by penalties IN THE FIRST HALF. Four scoring drives, ALL extended (sometimes twice) by questionable penalties against Auburn. Arkansas OL were tackling Auburn defense all game long - no holding calls. It was obvious that a fix was in early during the Auburn game.

Live by the sword, die by the sword. What SEC teams need to do is insist that the corrupt officiating CEASE IMMEDIATELY. It will be your turn in the barrel eventually. But more importantly this kind of thing is cheating and should not be allowed. It is un-American. It is a crime - and when you accept it you open yourself to being a victim. and it will CERTAINLY happen to you...  

Funy Big Frank,look like to me the Hogs just lined up and whipped Auburns tail.  

One correction, Bruce. Nutt gave a schollie to a kid from El Dorado. He ended up by his senior yr. losing his position to a walk on.