Eli Drinkwitz calls out SEC officials, ABC broadcast backs refs

Late in the first quarter of Saturday’s game against Missouri, Alabama punt returner Jaylen Mbakwe signaled for a fair catch and bobbled the ball. He got control back, but appeared to advance the ball – which Eli Drinkwitz argued should’ve been a penalty.

Mbakwe called for the fair catch, but had trouble holding onto the ball. When he got control, it appeared he started to run, which would be a penalty since returners can’t advance a fair catch. The officials spotted the ball back at the point of control after the commercial break, but Drinkwitz was visibly upset.

Speaking with ABC’s Katie George after the break, Drinkwitz said he told the referees it should’ve been a flag. However, he didn’t want to say anymore and get in trouble.

“That’s a penalty, but they didn’t call it because it’s a judgment call,” Drinkwtiz said. “But I’m not gonna get fined today.”

The ABC broadcast booth of Joe Tessitore and Jordan Rodgers also broke down what happened on the play. Tessitore pointed out Mbakwe was trying to get control of the ball while running, and said ESPN rules analyst Matt Austin confirmed he, too, wouldn’t have thrown a flag.

“What Eli’s talking about was Mbakwe, the Alabama return man who was trying to secure the fair catch – he’s not running after making a fair catch. He actually is running, juggling the ball, simply trying to secure it,” Tessitore said. “Which technically, it falls into that bucket. But even Matt Austin, our rules expert, said I would never call that because he hasn’t even secured the ball yet while he’s going after it.”

Rodgers also pointed out the difference between Mbakwe’s play and if he decided to take the punt farther down the field. He said it was clear the freshman was trying to get control and sided with the officials on the no-call. However, Tessitore noted Eli Drinkwitz had a point and the referees could’ve thrown the flag if they thought it was warranted.

“It’d be one thing if you took that fair catch and then, sprinted off 20 yards down the field trying to make a play,” Rodgers said. “It’s a little bit of a continuation there. I think the judgment was right to not call that one. Eli disagrees.”