SEC officials change controversial call after Texas fans throw trash on field vs. Georgia
An officiating controversy unlike many in recent memory struck at a pivotal junction in the Georgia–Texas showdown on Saturday night. Hanging in the balance? A red zone possession for the Longhorns, trailing by two scores at home.
With Georgia in possession late in the third quarter, Carson Beck targeted wideout Arian Smith down the left sideline. Smith had made contact and turned inside while defender Jahdae Barron held his ground. There was contact from both parties, and the bail sailed into Barron’s arms before he returned it inside the 10.
But a flag was down: Defensive pass interference on Barron.
The call immediately drew the ire of Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian and the approval of Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart. Fans hurled debris on the field.
And then, after a lengthy discussion — in part allowed by the delay caused by fans throwing debris on the field — the roles were reversed as the officials announced there was, actually, no penalty on the play.
Shortly after, Texas scored a touchdown to cut the lead to one score.
Kirby Smart was still running hot about the call after winning
Smart was still agitated hours later and with a 30-15 win in his back pocket.
“Now you’ve set a precedent that if you throw a bunch of stuff on the field and endanger athletes, that you got a chance to get your call reversed. And that’s unfortunate, because to me, that’s dangerous,” Smart said.
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Further, Smart offered some preliminary clarification as to what happened. Officials originally announced the penalty to the stadium as defensive pass interference. Smart said that head official Matt Loeffler explained that the penalty was miscalled or announced and was actually supposed to be offensive pass interference.
No pass interference was ultimately called on either team on the play.
“It took him a very long time to realize that,” Smart said of the official in the crew who realized they’d flagged the incorrect player.
And while Georgia did win, Smart was evidently still hot about the penalty, bringing it up in his postgame on-field interview.
“You know, these players get the best out of me. And I’m so proud of these guys. Because nobody believed. Nobody gave us a chance. Your whole network doubted us. Nobody believed us. And then they try to rob us, with calls, in this place and these guys are so resilient,” Smart said.