One particular play from this past weekend’s SEC games brings out the duties, responsibilities and officiating philosophy of the various on-field officials.

Those fans who watched the Arkansas v. Florida game saw the referee flag an Arkansas player for a late hit against the Florida quarterback just after he had released a pass, which Arkansas intercepted.

I intend to pass no judgement on the call, particularly since the referee had called the same penalty four times previously in that game. It is the referee’s primary duty to protect the quarterback from unnecessary injury.

That specific call, which came with a minute left in the game and Arkansas trailing Florida by five points, effectively slammed the door on Arkansas’ last chance to win that game.

The point I am making is that no college football official I have ever known wants to be forced to make a judgement call at that stage of a game with the game’s outcome hinging on that call.

Every official I have known wanted the players to decide the winner and loser of the games they officiated.

It is unfortunate that the referee in the Arkansas v. Florida game will be vilified by the Arkansas faithful. This is amplified by the fact that those same fans hold officials responsible for the Razorbacks’ loss to Auburn the prior week. A different set of officials, of course.

In the past we have written that the most frequent demand of college coaches regarding officiating is that they be consistent.

My final year of officiating on the field was the 1989 season so it is reasonable that few of the men with whom I officiated are still active.

It would seem that not so much change would have occurred since 2000, which was my final season as an observer for the Southeastern Conference but the turnover on the SEC officials roster has been so great that I now recognize only a few officials I see on television.

That situation is not at all conducive to good consistent officiating.

Many Southeastern Conference football officials (and probably a few coaches) were glad to hear of Coach Jackie Sherrill’s retirement.

Coach Sherrill was among the more vocal of the SEC coaches in his criticism of officials, as it seemed that he blamed officiating for much of the Bulldogs’ failing.

Supervisor of Officials Bobby Gaston could be sure of a call from Coach Sherrill each Monday morning during the football season with a list of officiating transgressions. While some were valid complaints many were not.

Other SEC coaches called maybe once or twice a season so Gaston probably listened more carefully to them.

There is no doubt that Coach Jackie Sherrill created a competitive and respected program at Mississippi State and he has laid the groundwork for success in the years to come. It is a shame that Jackie has to go

out while the team is struggling, but he did so with class.

The Cathedral v. Stringer game last Friday night was almost impossible to believe. The two teams combined for 58 points in the fourth quarter and the 75 points scored the first three quarters were a whole lot!

Those officials worked hard enough to have officiated three or four games, and likely thought they would be lucky to get home before sunup.

I can just picture them trying to explain that to their wives! And, that’s official.

Al Graning is a former SEC official and former Natchez resident.