SEC: No public apology

ATHENS, Ga. -- The Southeastern Conference sent out a release Oct. 30 stating all violations of SEC Bylaw 10.5.4 will be enforced by suspensions and fines, effective immediately.

The bylaw required coaches, assistant coaches, players, support personnel and others associated with the institution's athletic program to refrain from public criticism of officials. It was coined the "Kiffin Rule" after Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, but Florida's Urban Meyer became the first violator and was fined $30,000 on Nov. 6.

At the end of that release was the following: "As is customary practice, the conference office will continue to address reviews of officiating calls on specific plays with each institution's head coach, and no public comments will be made concerning these communications."

In other words, the brief era of mea culpas was over.

"That had been our standard operating procedure all along until this year's LSU-Georgia game and Florida-Arkansas game," SEC associate commissioner Charles Bloom said. "We don't want to get in the business of saying we're right, and we don't want to get in the business of saying we're wrong. We are communicating directly with the institutions, and I think our schools feel comfortable that we don't comment on specifics."

On Oct. 5, two days after LSU defeated Georgia 20-13, SEC coordinator of officials Rogers Redding admitted there was not enough evidence to support an excessive-celebration penalty thrown on Bulldogs receiver A.J. Green with 1:09 remaining. Green had given the Bulldogs a 13-12 lead, but the flag forced Georgia to kick off from its 15-yard line and aided the Tigers in field position.

The following Monday, Oct. 12, the league said a personal-foul penalty on Arkansas defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard should not have been called midway through the fourth quarter. The same crew worked both games and was suspended from their next assignment, returning Saturday to work the Kentucky-Vanderbilt game.

"I don't feel like there's a need on my part for a public apology," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said. "I don't need to feel vindicated or anything like that. When we turn things in and they give their comments about what they saw and what they believe should have happened, that's plenty for me."

Florida's 41-17 win over Georgia on Oct. 31 contained two controversial plays -- Gators linebacker Brandon Spikes eye-gouging tailback Washaun Ealey and Bulldogs linebacker Nick Williams late-hitting quarterback Tim Tebow. In both cases, the SEC dealt directly with the head coaches.

This past week, the league dealt with LSU's Les Miles concerning whether Tigers cornerback Patrick Peterson intercepted Alabama's Greg McElroy last Saturday.

"I'll expect perfect officiating the day I coach a perfect game," Richt said. "I don't think either one of those things is going to happen any time soon. We're all human and we make mistakes, but I think Rogers does a great job of keeping an eye on everything and keeping them moving in the right direction."

Said Bloom: "We have had a confluence of events six weeks in a row that we have never experienced before."