No doubt the SEC wants an undefeated Florida and Alabama in the SEC Championship game. The refs absolutely gave the game to Florida. That's too bad.
I'm sure we will hear differently from MCG but I agree that the calls went against Arkansas. Toward the end of the game, a very bad pass interference call on Arkansas that was not reciprocated against Florida. Like I have always said though... You have to play well enough to overcome outside influences, including the refs. Arkansas played well, but not well enough. Good to see you on the board Jeff.
Jeff, I posted in Bill's topic before I saw yours. Here's what I said: Beyond that, I agree with what Tom said:
No doubt, Arkansas still could have pulled it out but the refs definitely made calls down the stretch that really aided Florida. Even most Gators agree. You guys take care. I'm out. http://www.gatorcountry.com/swampgas/showthread.php?t=125389
Well Jeff welcome back. It's certainly nice to hear from you. However you will have to excuse me if I say I don't agree with your point of view. I was at the game and I just don't agree.
Bill, Watch a recording of the game. I know that when I am at at game, I can't tell about most of the calls until I get back to see what happened on replay. Jeff posted a link where even those with orange and blue glasses agree with his view.
Interesting you're right pretty much all those Gators on that thread agree that UF got the better of the calls from the refs. But as has been said already you just have to over come it. Irish were on the short side of the calls in the UM game, but got the benefit of the calls in the UW game.
Tom, Jeff found a topic, I've been on Gator boards since I have been home more than I've been here. They for sure don't think we got a short shift from the refs but sure don't think it's fixed like Jeff says. That is ridiculous. I could post you a some Gator topics that don't say that but I'm not going to bother. Those that want to cling to the conspiracy theory feel free. We won and I'm happy. With all the so called rotten calls we had to score the last two times we had the ball and Arkansas had to miss two field goals in the 4th quarter for us to win. But maybe the fixers got to their field goal kicker, we could start a topic about that.
Bill, you realize I'm sure, that these discussions only happen because of Dave's insistence that Florida gets screwed by the refs. We're just trying to inject the antidote before the snake bite happens this time. :wink:
Sometimes in person it's hard to tell so I don't have a definitive opinion yet as to how UF benefited overall from the calls with regard to their legitimacy. Obviously more penalties were called on Arky and that was probably the thing that tipped it in UF's favor in a pretty even game. Maybe it wasn't so even except for the 4 Fla fumbles but with those TOs the Hogs stayed neck and neck with the Gators. I will say I have seen one replay of the interference and the DB did initiate some contact although both were positioning themselves for the ball so I haven't decided on that till I see more. It wasn't on third down and UF was moving the ball well anyway on that drive and it's not like the pros where you get a first down on the one so to say that gave UF the game is quite a large stretch......too large. Otherwise UF got a very fair shake from the refs at the least and I'll grant that the penalty imbalance as I said did help the Gators today. I do not agree however that to win a game you have to beat the refs in addition to the other team as well. That is a philosophy I will not subscribe to.
I pretty closely agree with Zemek here from CFN with the notable exception that the described infractions occurred at the other end of the field from where I was sitting so I couldn't see what actually happened on the penalty plays and I am sure there are other opinions as to their legitimacy: "1) Hmmmmm… a phantom defensive pass interference call, followed immediately by a ridiculous personal foul call, and later succeeded by a crystal-clear miss of yet another offensive pass interference call on Florida receiver Riley Cooper. This was a hotly-contested, hard-fought and heartstopping SEC showdown, and yet—for the third time in as many weeks—the CBS game of the week was overshadowed by the zebras. We’ll just have to bang the drum again and again until college football’s relevant bigwigs and power brokers take action: Make every call reviewable by replay, preferably by a league supervisor (or assistant supervisor) of officiating. When the National Hockey League reviews calls during games, on-site administrators will sometimes call (or be called by) someone watching a monitor at the league’s headquarters in Toronto. If that’s what it takes to fairly adjudicate close college football games—with all the money, pride and prestige at stake—then by golly, do so! 2) As much as officiating mattered in this game, Arkansas—for all its resolve, resilience and resourcefulness—can’t say this game was taken out of its hands by forces it couldn’t control. Ryan Mallett’s red-zone misfires, Greg Childs’s drops, and Alex Tejada’s missed kicks cost the Hogs a hefty heap of points. Much as Oklahoma didn’t translate physical domination into scoreboard domination against Texas, Bobby Petrino’s bold bunch couldn’t close the sale against the defending national champions. This was a game strongly influenced by officiating, but not DECIDED by it. There’s a big difference. I might add that in the 4th quarter the Florida offense had awakened and was moving the ball on it's own so I wouldn't write the Gators out of this victory if they had not received the aid of the penalties. Again, if one of the questionable calls occurs on a desperation 4th and long where UF was going to turn the ball over on downs late in the game then that call would be a game decider in my opinion. Oh....and I empathize with the Arkansas MCG.......sorry big fella!
FWIW, not having watched the game, I heard a comment on the ESPN gameday replay that Arkansas missed some key opportunities to put more points on the board. I would think that would trump any controversy about ref calls/nocalls.
Dave, I totally agree with that statement. That is why I clarified my first statement on this topic: I have aLWAYS taken this approach no matter what team was being discussed. If you play perfect ball and the refs were the only thing that beat you, you have a legitimate gripe. But until you make no mistakes, you must blame those mistakes before looking for something else to blams. Cindy and I both picked Florida in the contest. We both agreed that Florida didn't beat Arkansas. The refs didn't beat Arkansas. Arkansas beat Arkansas. Mistakes and two missed field goals beat Arkansas. Florida and the refs were just contributing factors. I don't mean that statement to be belittling toward the Gators. It is simply my opinion that Arkansas showed me more in that game than Florida did.
I suspect that is because you might have expected more out of Florida....and that's fair enough. For me this wasn't a repeat of 2008 Ole Miss-Fla as much as it was a repeat of 2006 SouCar-Fla.....and for the Gator's to pull out a gritty win is a satisfying feeling even if they didn't impress.
Dave, For the sake of the Gators, I hope this was a wake up call. Arkansas, except for the fact that they missed two field goals, could have been that "broken leg on the way to the race." Tennessee didn't have what it took this year, or at least had not found it by the time we played. There are some other teams out there that could surprise you during your sleepwalk to the SECCG. Kentucky is surprising people although their marquis win so far is against an Auburn War Eagle team that is losing its talons. South Carolina has a few spurs that can strike against a Florida defense that apparently reads their own press clippings. Confidence makes for great play on the field. Overconfidence makes you look like the Gators looked on Saturday.
I do believe the team was a tad overconfident on Sat. and they instead found themselves in a dog or should I say hog fight. UF has already dispatched Ky 41-7......but I do think SC will be an Arkansas type battle. WRT Tenn-Bama I think the Vol defense should worry Saban especially at the Qb position. That Tide defense will be tough on Tenn though. Bet the under...