September 13, 2005
Ref pulled from Florida-Tennessee game for death threats
The SEC has reassigned side judge Bobby Moreau from the Tennessee-Florida football game this week, after he received death threats as a result of a controversial call that helped lead to a last-second Tennessee win last year.
Moreau called a personal foul call on Florida receiver Dallas Baker after he hit UT cornerback Jonathan Wade in the helmet after the play. Moreau had previously warned both players. Replays show that Wade hit Baker first and Baker retaliated, but only Baker was penalized. Moreau later acknowledged that he should have called a double foul, resulting in offsetting penalties. He was suspended for two weeks after the call for the oversight.
Moreau received dozens of calls at home and on his cell phone from angry fans after last year's game. One caller said if Moreau ever worked another Florida game, "It could cost you your life.""I would like to be there, but Bobby Gaston is my boss," Moreau told the paper. "I understand. There are some looney toons out there."
SEC supervisor of officials Bobby Gaston told made the decision to reassign Moreau for his own safety.
"I just decided that was not a fair thing for him. He's a great official. He will continue to have a great career, like he has in the past. He's been ranked the No. 1 side judge (in the SEC) the last seven or eight years."
Comments:
Regan said:
posted on September 14, 2005 11:40 PM — 205.188.116.199 — link — abuse?
We all love to hammer the Ref's in the middle of games, blame our team's woes on ineptitude of officiating, and often we have a right to (witness Florida @ FSU 2003).
But geez, you've gotta tip your hat to these guys. It has to be tough to be a Ref, and no matter if this guy cost a team a National Championship should he have to put up with this crap.
posted on September 15, 2005 9:41 AM — 71.244.59.109 — link — abuse?Dave said:
Anyone who makes a death threat against anyone is an idiot. Period. That said, anyone who again assigned that official who made the preposterous no-call that clearly altered the outcome of the game in favor of Tennessee does not rank too high on the IQ scale either.
The fact that Florida once benefited from an equally one-sided call or that their play was less than stellar does not justify unfair officiating. A two game suspension for this official defines the nature of his "mistake."
Michael said:
posted on September 16, 2005 11:32 AM — 209.194.80.90 — link — abuse?
To follow the logic farther...back in '00, Steve Sands made the infamous call of a TD that gave Florida the win in Neyland Stadium....and despite my lack of respect for the man and the questionability of the call (I still contend the FL receiver did not have possession) I still wouldn't make a death threat against the guy. Dislike him intensely..yes, absolutely. But death threats..that is a bit much.
And I'd hope that the UT fans showed more class than this...
But there are a few bad apples in every crowd..
Forrest Allen said:
posted on September 17, 2005 8:18 AM — 64.12.116.139 — link — abuse?
Do not hit someone in the head if you do not want a penalty. The fans have the instant replay to look at. The incomplete pass that was called a touchdown needed no replay, it was obvious. I am glad it ended the way it did so FL fans can feel that same feeling. I hate the gators.
max said:
posted on September 17, 2005 8:22 AM — 152.163.100.139 — link — abuse?
This not un-typical for Florida fans, they consistantly want to pursue actities (threats)off the field. This is just one of those times when a bad apple spoils the barral, in this case the barral is pretty rotton to begin with.
If I sound to critical of the Florida fans as a whole I apologize, however my experience at Gainesville where Florida fans spit and threw drinks at us for singing Rocky Top, are grounds for my displeasure.
posted on September 17, 2005 10:06 AM — link — abuse?
Yep, the Gators should consider it a "previlege" to play people who don't know where the caps-lock key is.
posted on September 17, 2005 10:35 AM — link — abuse?
And with a certain LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW TO SPELL.
posted on September 17, 2005 2:19 PM — link — abuse?
And don't accuse people of being "POOR LOOSERS".
WT said:
posted on September 22, 2005 11:12 AM — 68.59.183.110 — link — abuse?
ESPN has it's own agenda!
Like many others, I woke up last Saturday expecting to see the ESPN Gameday crew in Gainesville - for the big showdown in the swamp.
But where did ESPN decide to host from...Chestnut Hill!?!? Boston College was not the center of the College Football universe last saturday - yet ESPN decided to set up shop there.
WHy you ask???
FSU/BC was an ABC game and UF/UT was a CBS game. Another prime example of ESPN forcing their agenda onto the CFB landscape. Until Disney buys CBS, expect less coverage on ESPN's Gameday - if your team is playing that week on CBS (or any other competitor's network.) The SEC's ties with CBS may have been very costly indeed during the 2004 season - when OU was "tabbed" to play USC (instead of Auburn) in the BCS championship.It's a sad time in College Football because corporate america and the media have an agenda to promote - and nothing will change until a playoff system is put in place to decide the Champion ON THE FIELD.
____________________________________________Why can't we take the 6 conference champions and add 2 at-large teams to form an 8 Team Tournament. Use the 7 biggest of the existing bowls (Rose, Sugar, Fiesta, Orange, etc...)to decide a champion on the field. Rotate the championship game within those bowls - so that corporate america will be passified. Then, use the rest of the bowls as a post-season reward for a good season (just like we do now.)
This format would eliminate the current trend of 6-5 teams making bowl games. By having less bowl slots available, the bowl field would be thinned out.
2 Things will happen:
1) The Champion of CFB will be decided onthe field
2) The Bowl System will be restored - and going to a BowlGame will mean something againUntil this happens, ESPN will continue to promote their agenda - whether you and I like it or not!
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Michael said:
posted on September 14, 2005 2:35 PM — 209.194.80.90 — link — abuse?OK, so there was a call...but it wasn't just all on the ref. Last time I looked, the Florida defense did nothing to stop Tennessee's offense from moving the ball to get into field goal range....