"Ron Zook, worst college coach ever."
Posted on 09/20/2004 1:30:55 PM PDT by Diddle E. Squat
The Southeastern Conference's supervisor of officials says the crew working the Tennessee-Florida game erred in handling the clock.
That allowed the Volunteers more time on their final drive Saturday night, which ended with a game-winning field goal.
The mistake occurred when Florida receiver Dallas Baker was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after DeShawn Wynn was stopped on a third-down run with 55 seconds left in the game, with the Gators leading 28-27.
After the penalty, the officials placed the ball on the ground and began running the clock on the snap for Florida's fourth-down punt.
But SEC official Bobby Gaston said because it was a running play, the clock should have started on the "ready" -- when the referee winds his arm -- and not the snap.
Gaston was at the game and noticed the mistake.
James Wilhoit ended up kicking a 50-yard field goal with six seconds left to give Number-11 Tennessee a 30-28 victory over Number-16 Florida.
SEC Says Ref Blew Call in UF Game
By Rick Brown The Ledger rick.brown@theledger.com
Florida coach Ron Zook didn't publicly question why his receiver Dallas Baker received a personal foul penalty with 55 seconds remaining in a 30-28 loss to Tennessee on Saturday.
Zook questioned why the clock wasn't started.
The Gators were leading the Vols, 28-27, and facing a thirdand-3 from its 38-yard line. Florida running back DeShawn Wynn got the carry for no gain but the clock was stopped because of an incident that took place 15 yards away from the play.
According to a report in Florida Today, officials made a mistake in handling the call.
"They did, unfortunately," Bobby Gaston, SEC supervisor of officials, said Sunday night. "I can say there was a timing error made at the end of the game and there will be accountability, but we do not make public what we do."
On the play at issue, Baker and Tennessee defensive back Jonathan Wade were tangled up. Wade took a swing and hit Baker in the helmet with an official staring at them both. Baker responded with a retaliatory punch to the helmet, which immediately brought a flag.
Florida was backed up 15 yards, and the clock was stopped at 55 seconds. Tennessee got the ball at its 39-yard line, drove 28 yards in 43 seconds and got a 50yard game-winning field goal by James Wilhoit.
Zook would not say if he thought the referee was wrong in his call because he would get reprimanded by the SEC.
"Obviously, I can't comment on that," Zook said during his weekly Sunday conference call. "Obviously, the mechanics need to be looked up. I think the clock should have started once the ball was ready for play.
"Still, we talk all the time," he said. "Usually, they always get the second guy, although it seemed to me it should have been offsetting. Then, the clock starts and we go from there.
The Florida Today report further stated that the play should have resulted in offsetting penalties. This means Florida's Eric Wilbur would have punted from the 38 instead of the 23.
"To my understanding, and I have to get some verification of it, but during our summer scrimmages, I thought the clock should have started once the ball was ready for play and not on the snap," he said. "That would have given us a chance to run it down where they get the ball with about 20 seconds."
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040920/SPORTS/409200675/1006
Two officials' calls questioned
By MIC HUBER
mic.huber@heraldtribune.com
GAINESVILLE – It was a painful ending to a thrilling game, but Florida coach Ron Zook doesn't expect his players to suffer a hangover from Tennessee's comeback win over the Gators late Saturday night.
Zook knows his team could have – and maybe should have – left Neyland Stadium with a win. He believes there were officiating mistakes made that certainly could have affected the outcome.
And the Southeastern Conference supervisor admits there were mistakes made with the game on the line. But Zook also knows the outcome won't be changed, so he is content to state his case and move on.
"I really believe our guys will take this game and it will be just like we were when we were 3-3 (last season)," Zook said Sunday. "We focused. We revitalized. I really believe our guys will take it that way. That is where we will start, and we will try to get on a roll, if we can."
There were two officials' decisions in succession, just before the Vols' game-winning drive, that has the Gator Nation up in arms.
Florida wide receiver Dallas Baker was called for a 15-yard personal foul penalty that backed the Gators to their own 23-yard line. Then the game clock wasn't started until Florida snapped the ball and punted.
Tennessee, out of timeouts, got the ball back with 43 seconds remaining and was able to run five plays before James Wilhoit hit his kick.
"I have given (Florida athletic director) Jeremy (Foley) the information," Zook said. "I am going to get this game cleaned up, and then go on to Kentucky. That is going to be my focus. I have made Jeremy aware of my concerns, and he will handle it from there."
Foley is more than aware. He is upset about the calls, and on Sunday he had already talked to both Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive and Bobby Gaston, the SEC supervisor of officials, who happened to be at the game.
"The bottom line is that (Gaston) conceded that mistakes had been made," Foley said "The clock should have started and that would have meant another 20-25 seconds off the clock, and their opinion was that (the personal foul) at the very least should be offsetting penalties."
Replays show Tennessee corner back Jonathon Wade pushing his hands in the face of Baker after a running play by Florida's DeShawn Wynn went for no gain on a third-and-three situation. Baker retaliated and was flagged by a game official who appeared to see the entire incident.
"They will review it and handle it internally," Foley said.
Gaston said the crew would be reprimanded and that he feels badly about the errors.
Gatson also said that after looking at replays of the play involving Baker that offsetting personal foul penalties should have been called.
During Tennessee's final drive Chris Hannon, who earlier left the game briefly after a punishing hit by Terrence Holmes, came up with a pair of clutch receptions.
Asked what his message will be to his players this week, Zook said, "Don't read the papers." He said they will be able to get over the Tennessee loss and focus on playing Kentucky Saturday at Florida Field.
Florida offensive guard Steve Rissler, a Riverview High graduate, did not play Saturday after starting the first game of the season. Zook said Rissler broke his nose last week and had trouble breathing. He also said Rissler had an infection in his leg but could have played if needed.
This was the worst officiating I have ever seen.
This game should be logged "under protest"
I demand a recount!
"Ron Zook, worst college coach ever."
That seems odd to me... doesn't the clock stop on the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, regardless of whether the rpevious play ended in-bounds or not?
UF had two plays to make 4 yards to end the game, and Zook called the most ridiculous give-up up-the-middle running plays. All he had to do is have Leak go on a roll-out with the option of running for the first down or simply flipping a short pass to a tight-end for the first down. Game over. But nooooo, Zook had to be an idiot like always, and the Gators choke again.
Those with a sense of karmic justice may say this is payback for that Jabar Gaffney TD "catch" a few years ago.
I noticed a lot of games this weekend with home-town refs blowing the whistle. These jackasses are the ones bringing college football down to the professional level.
Maybe Tenn and Florida can play a rematch in the Peach Bowl at year's end...
Agree... No way they stop Leak on a run-pass option. I was amazed by how improved that kid is. He is the best QB in the SEC, hands down.
I'm very familiar with that web site.
What's sad is that if Zook stays, Leak probably heads to the NFL next year.
A heartbreaking loss for Florida - and it really sucks to loose a game with help from officiating mistakes...BUT
IF Florida REALLY wanted to win, this one call should not have made a difference.
Minimizing mistakes is necessary. Eliminated the human element is NOT!!
As of now he'd have to wait until after the 2005 season as he is just a true sophomore.
I agree with you. I was at the game, and until that kick when through the uprights, I would have traded that late personal foul call for a few holding penalties against Florida linemen throughout the game. But officiating is part of the game. In any close game, there will be a call or two that may make a difference in the outcome. It gets attention when it is at the end. It isn't noticed when it happens with 8:46 left in the third quarter. The NFL has replay, and still screws it up.
Basketball officiating is even worse in my opinion. I've never understood how calls are made in a given game, seemingly with different rules at different points in teh game. But people seem to expect blown calls or no calls in basketball, and don't seem to argue about it.
Uh...Have you seen Matt Jones at Arkansas?
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