Lane Kiffin expresses extreme frustration after speaking with SEC regarding questionable officiating in Auburn game, calls out league policy on silence
Lane Kiffin really had to bite his tongue on this one.
The Ole Miss coach was running a few minutes late to his Monday afternoon press conference to open Vanderbilt Week, but there was a good reason for that, he was on the phone with the SEC office regarding the controversial ending of the Auburn game.
If you missed it, Ole Miss should have been awarded a touchdown late in the game that likely would have sealed the game after Auburn returner Shaun Shivers touched the ball before it rolled into the end zone and was recovered by Ole Miss.
Play on the field was not stopped to review the play even though video of the play shows the ball hit Shivers.
Here’s what Kiffin had to say about getting off the phone with the SEC on Monday.
“Well, I was late to this because I was on the phone with (the SEC head of officials),” Kiffin shared. “I really struggled with this. A lot. I just had the conversation with him. He called to explain what happened. I really wish for our players, for our fans, that they could hear what I was just told. I think they deserve to.
“I asked and they made sure to tell me there’s a policy. I can’t tell you, the players or the fans what their, if you want to call it ‘explanation’ for that situation and how the TV copy, everyone in the country could see it hit him. And I asked the side judge, ‘Why aren’t they replaying it? Do I need to challenge?’ He said, ‘They’ve already looked at it, there’s nothing there.’
“So, I’m not allowed to say anything about the conversation but I really wish our fans and players could hear what I was told.”
Kiffin was then asked another question but he cut that question off to share his frustration with the SEC’s policy to not comment on officiating explanations.
“I’ve had to take a five-minute like power yoga class before I walked in and said what I really want to,” Kiffin continued. “You know what I’d like? I’d really like when you guys ask me questions about managing the game or how I play players to say that’s a personal thing and I can’t discuss it with you.
“I’d really like to be able to answer those questions like that.”
Credit Kiffin for continuing to fight for his team long after the game is over. His popularity in Oxford likely just went up with these comments.
I’ll give Lane Kiffin credit for speaking out concerning the Auburn-slanted refs. They have two(2) wins that every fan, including Auburn fans, know they should not have in 2020. Give em heck Lane !
Pot calling the kettle black.. Eh Afan????
I admit … It hit his fingers…
One win dude lol you act like he touched that ball as time expired
Yeah. It’s no secret that Auburn is 1-4.
Piggie, you’ve earned the right to say that!
Lane never holds back, regardless of policies. Don’t stop now Lane, let them know since you wish they could know. Take the fine.
As far as the game.. Auburn was called for “holding” that wasn’t on a KO TD, OM was holding on the 3rd and 10 play that let them even get ahead 28-27 and let’s not forget Auburn went 3 and out after this play and Ole Miss was still leading. They had their opportunities to win the game and they didn’t.
The SEC made an “impromptu” rule change after the Auburn/Arkansas game, I’m guessing another one is coming. The SEC/SEC officiating office can’t seem to get out of their own way. There’s no question why the SEC silence’s the coaches, it would just be too embarrassing for them if their conversations actually went public.
There was no rule change.. it was a clarification.
yeah clarification for the officials because everyone except the officials knew what the rule really meant.
Yep.. no rule change though.
Well change or clarification is just semantics, it all came down because they knew the rule was misinterpreted and they got the call wrong, not only on the field but during the process of reviewing it as well.
It’s not semantics though. Rule changes happen in the offseason not during a season. The SEC refs thought they were handling right at the time. After they met with the rules committee, governed by the NCAA I believe, they clarified it. I recommend following Terry McAulay on twitter. He breaks it down of what actually happened and what they did moving forward.
We know what they did moving forward. They saw the same thing and asked the same thing everyone else in the world was asking, how was this not reviewed correctly when clearly it was a live ball with a recovery? So they clarified it so even SEC officials could understand what immediate recovery during a football play actually means.
But it wasn’t a live ball recovered by Ole Miss. The ref clearly signaled a touchback WAAAY before any Ole Miss player was near the ball. That makes it a dead play. No recover.
We’re talking about the rule change/clarification after the Aub/Ark game. The Ole Miss game will probably have a completely different one.
They didn’t do anything moving forward except clarified it. No changes. It wasn’t a live ball either as the whistle was blown. It also wasn’t immediate. The ball was fumbling around for 5 seconds.
Yeah that’s why they had to clarify it, because clearly it was botched both on the field and during the replay, and they can’t afford to have a play called so poorly like that again.
Wait wde, you went from “what they did moving forward” to “they didn’t do anything moving forward” in consecutive comments. I think you’re starting to confuse yourself. This isn’t complicated.
Yes I know. That’s why I have been stating they clarified it as opposed to you saying they changed the rule.
Yeah I understand the difference but change or clarification is just semantics, they’re interchangeable with regard to the original point I was trying to make.
It all went down because they knew the rule was misinterpreted and they got the call wrong, not only on the field but during the process of reviewing it as well.
I said they didn’t do anything moving forward except clarified it. You’re right. It’s not complicated. They clarified it. They didn’t change anything.
A rule change would mean something was changed. Nothing was changed. It was clarified. What do you not get about that? It’s not semantics. It’s not interchangeable either.
Yeah they did, they changed it so it wouldn’t be misinterpreted again.
No, they clarified it so it wouldn’t happen again. Clarifying means to make clear. But you continue to interchange them though.
Like I said, with respect to the point in my original comment… change, alteration, clarify, refine, revamp, modification, revision… insert any of those words in the comment and the point remains the same and accurate, which makes the word choice nothing more than lexical semantics, meaning regardless of the word it’s relation to the point remains the same.
But see you can’t just insert any of those words because it changes the dynamic of your point. Change means something was altered. It’s means it’s not the same. The rule is the exact same as it was before the game. They just clarified it to the officials to make sure they all knew it moving forward because obviously some didn’t.
It’s the same thing, you have to alter it in order to clarify it. You can’t NOT change something and make it different at the same time.
But still, you’re focusing on semantics and not the actual point, the point remains the same and true regardless of the word choice. I’m done, end of thread.
Lol no you don’t..
Do honestly not know the difference between clarifying and changing/altering?
The rule is the exact same. If it’s the same then you didn’t alter it or change it. They clarified it to the officials so something like this wouldn’t happen again moving forward.
You’re point was they changed it. That didn’t happen. That is completely false. It matters what word you use because it changes the dynamic of your entire post.
Also, this will probably be the last time the head of officials calls Kiffin, or any coach now BEFORE their Monday presser. The dude is too dumb to realize he should have waited. Lol.
Simply put chief…. It’s not the rules as much as the officials lol so change anything you want but if dumb fk McGee can’t get right then it does no good
Why can’t the public find out who the refs are? I know fans would probably go crazy, but there should be a roster of officials without their contact/personal information. What if the same refs called the Arkansas/Auburn game and the Ole Miss/Auburn games? There’s gotta be a way to find out, right? And don’t forget Auburn got a beneficial call in the Kentucky game as well. It’s not all about the refs, but these bad and non-reviewed calls toward the END of the game can’t be overcome. Best Conference. Worst Refs.
It’s not impossible to find out if you want to do the research, for example:
The refs at the Auburn Arky fiasco were: Referee Jason Autrey, Line Judge Chuck Rice, Side Judge Martin Hankins, Umpire Walt Hill, Back Judge J. Middlebrooks, Linesman Chad Green and Field Judge M. Williams…
The refs at the Auburn Ole Miss fiasco were: Referee Marc Curles, Line Judge Tim Beard, Side Judge Mike Boshers, Umpire Brent Sowell, Back Judge Matt Hollifield, Linesman Randall Kizer and Field Judge Wes Booker…
Obviously two entirely different equally biased inadequately trained crews…lol, you’re welcome
Not such much a need for rule changes….just fire the brain dead crews that are making a media joke out of SEC officiating. Its just ridiculous, and a phone call saying “sorry” aint gonna cut it. There needs to be some firings. Send em back to the high school level for more training.
He should be frustrated with his team not finishing. Almost every close game has that one play or penalty that if not called or happened could change the game. This is just Lane whining like he does best
Kudos Auburn you pulled it out. Arkansas game was a bit of bs but this play didn’t decide the game lol the terrible playing calling at the end sealed the deal… Honestly how many of you didn’t know Auburn was gonna win that sh#t at the end?
Wrong. We’re not talking about play-altering holding penalties here. These are game-altering, points-changing mistakes from the refs.
Auburn is 1-4 in my book, and I’m not the only one. I really hope FBS takes this into account come bowl season.
Good thing your book isn’t the official book then..
That holding play is the equivalent of this because both happened early enough for good teams to overcome. Simply put ole miss isn’t ready to be winners and Auburn stepped up in the clutch to seal the win. Love it/hate it but there’s not a d@mn thing you can do about it. Why none of you wanna blame the ball coach for going ultra conservative at the end? He had the win but let it slip away so even as a bama fan I’ll say kuddos to Auburn and we’ll see how next week shakes out
Before you feel the need to b#tch that one was reviewable and one was… Save it because we know and the easy remedy would have been call a timeout and I guarantee this gets overturned but since he didn’t then he can own it
Wasn’t*
Arkansas has the most to be upset about not ole miss. I can honestly say it’s nice to see them turn it around and play good ball. They aren’t top tier yet but headed in a good direction. I’d entertain their complaints long before this one
Dumb@ss had a challenge flag but waits until two days after to wanna use it lmao
@Dwreck Yea, because a touchdown in that situation wouldn’t have mattered at all.
Can you sit here and 100% say even with that td ole miss wins? No one disputes he touched the ball but what I’m saying is they failed even after having the ball and the lead late in the game. That type of bs lame kiffin gotta own and stop making excuses for sucking @ss