November 8, 2005
Johnson still upset about call
Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson is still seeing red over a controversial call Saturday evening in the Swamp.
With 54 seconds left in regulation, senior quarterback Jay Cutler hit freshman wide reciever for Earl Bennett for a touchdown, pulling Vanderbilt to within one point of the Gators. As Vandy prepared to take a time out to decide whether or not to play for overtime or go for the win, the Commodores were hit an 15-yard excessive celebration penalty on Bennett.
Having watched the game and this play in particular, Bennett did celebrate. But it was nothing more excessive than a standard celebration for a touchdown. However, Vandy was hit with a penalty and had to go for an extra point, sending the game to OT. They lost in double OT when Cutler threw an interception after Florida had scored a TD on their possession.
Johnson has stated that the Commodores would have gone for two before the penalty call. Even the broadcast team ESPN said the call was unfair and unjustified.
Would Vandy have made it? Who knows..but it would have been interesting to see what happened.
SEC director of officials Bobby Gadson has not yet reviewed the play in question.
The controversy over the call has brought up charges of official bias--not only against Vanderbilt but against the bottom six of the SEC. Kentucky football fans came out of the woodwork to point out that several calls went against them in the game Saturday against Auburn.
Comments:
thehakujin said:
posted on November 8, 2005 12:34 PM — 216.79.112.203 — link — abuse?
I'm a Gator fan, and was pretty embarrassed to see UF win that way, as Vandy had about a 90% chance of hitting that 2-point conversion. But I don't know that the officials have a bias against the "bottom 6" of the SEC. Isn't it usually more exciting, more fun, to watch the underdog pull it out?
Bill Hartigan said:
posted on November 8, 2005 1:00 PM — 172.154.153.191 — link — abuse?
As well he should be upset. One of the worst cases of 'jobbing' I can recall in four decades of watching college football. Saturday night was just another chapter of "urbam nightmare" in a season that, to date, has failed to evince much renewal of the Gator's program.
NOTaNOLE said:
posted on November 8, 2005 1:14 PM — 24.110.31.229 — link — abuse?
Please tell Coach Johnson we are very sorry that ALL the calls didn't go in favor of his team that night. Most did but surely not all and not the important one for sure. To say that his team would have gone for it is speculation at most. To say his team would have made the 3 yards is plain and simple guesswork. What if? What if? What if? Every team in college football has played the"What if game?", don't let a bad call ruin the fact that we all got to see a great game with two teams that played there heart out and brought it down to the wire. 'Dores are a good team and play us tough every game!! What a great display by both QB's. The call was bad, but enough with the " What if's???"
I'm a Realist said:
posted on November 8, 2005 2:09 PM — 208.52.140.17 — link — abuse?
SEC officials suck. They have been among the worst in the nation over the last few years, and they seem to be continuing that trend for perpetuity. The endzone dance was no more of a celebration than you see after every single tackle in every game. The official that threw it should be suspended because he affected the gameplay to such a degree.
The better team usually wins in overtime, and, seeing that Vanderbilt has some smart folks, they were most likely aware of that fact and were going to attempt the two-point conversion. Go for the tie at home and the win on the road, right?. The official made that impossible.
Neville Aga said:
posted on November 8, 2005 4:16 PM — 68.97.4.4 — link — abuse?
It was obviously a horrible call at a horrible time to make a call. But I wondered why, if he had confidence in his offense and wanted to go for the win why he did not go for 2 after the 1st TD in overtime? Sort of like Baylor did to TX A&M last year.
posted on November 8, 2005 6:57 PM — link — abuse?Jeff Quinton said:
NotANole,
You won't find too many fans of ACC schools who will disagree with you on the crappiness of the refs - except maybe the Tobacco Road ones.DEE said:
posted on November 10, 2005 1:37 PM — 70.156.119.150 — link — abuse?
I watched the entire Vandy/Fla game and feel the back judge made a good call. There is no reason for individual celebration(team effort) and the only reason the player quit celebrating was that his own player stopped him. Secondly, Florida would have stuffed Vandy for the two point conversion.
Michael said:
posted on November 10, 2005 2:33 PM — 209.194.80.90 — link — abuse?
Dee--I certainly respect your opinion, but I saw the same play and it was not any more excessive than any other TD celebration. It did not deserve a flag and I think Vandy had a good chance of getting the 2 point conversion...Florida's defense was worn out from being on the field forever and a day...
jarred said:
posted on November 10, 2005 4:35 PM — 12.178.129.11 — link — abuse?
What's the big surprise. This big name-no name or high rank-low rank bias has been going on in every sport for years. Rules and guidelines are vague enough that an official could call whatever they want when they and want and it would count.
posted on November 10, 2005 7:13 PM — link — abuse?
Not to mention the TD that leak's knee was down on.
war eagle 2004 said:
posted on November 11, 2005 9:55 PM — 67.166.240.114 — link — abuse?
Why in the hell is fla need ot to beat a vandy team.improved yes a good team not realy dont forget they still lost to mts.ubran myer has been a disapointment he has plenty of talent and has two loses.They realy dont look that good to me.
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Jeff said:
posted on November 8, 2005 11:54 AM — 70.150.177.5 — link — abuse?As they pointed out during the game a couple of times, Johnson still was upset about incorrect calls after reviews in the UGA game.