Fans celebrated when Zion Childress seemed to return an interception for a touchdown only to have the call overturned. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Even when you make $9 million per year you don’t want to just throw away $50,000.
That’s why Kentucky coach Mark Stoops is trying to control himself the best he can when asked about Zion Childress’ interception return for a touchdown that was wiped out by an official review that ruled the second-quarter play was an incomplete pass because the ball touched the ground.
Instead of a 10-0 lead over No. 1 Georgia, that kept UK’s lead at 3-0 in what turned out to be a 13-12 loss Saturday.
Stoops said he “absolutely” sent the play to the Southeastern Conference for review at his press conference Monday.
However, Stoops would not say a lot more.
“Do you want to pay — I get very frustrated but 50 grand is 50 grand,” Stoops said about the $50,000 fine coaches receive for questioning officials. “If I get pissed enough, I could afford it.”
Stoops has coached long enough to know complaining seldom helps and that he likely would be mocked on social media for what he said Monday.
“It doesn’t do you any good (to complain) because honestly we are having fun (at the press conference). When people see the whole content of our conversations and when I say things tongue-in-cheek and having fun that is one thing but then everybody grabs it out of it and just takes that little blurb, right?” Stoops said.
“Say I’m whining and crying about calls and everything so nah, it is what it is. No really, after 12 years I did realize that. I can completely lose my mind if I just hang onto every little thing. Just like the ball bouncing around seven times and we can’t get an interception that we have that leads to a field goal.
“We just have to make the plays. There are no excuses, the officials are going to make mistakes as well. We have to overcome those things. It is what it is.”
Will Kentucky likely hear back from the SEC about the ruling? Probably not and Stoops knows it. Besides, nothing changes the 13-12 outcome even if the SEC did admit it was the wrong call.
“I have not received that back yet, and when I do, again, I’m just not allowed to share that with you. One time, I had to learn that the hard way, early on (and pay a fine),” Stoops said. “But anyway, I mean, even if you know — I’m just, I’m not even allowed to give you the explanation they give me.”
4 Responses
There should be enough video angles to let UK look at tht controversial review and put some stills of the play on websites for fans to see,
It may not change the outcome, but the SEC crooks need to be exposed every time there is evidence to expose them.
A review has to have absolute proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the call on the field should be overturned. If it’s that clear, why hasn’t the crooked SEC office released stills to prove it was not outright thievery.
The ball did touch the ground but the receiver’s hands were still on each side of the ball. The refs took one of two possible outcomes…either the ball allowed the receiver to make the catch or the ground caused the fumble. Either call stops the play as an incomplete pass. That play did not beat you coach. You playing not to lose is what cost you the game.
Another call that killed us was the hand to the face mask call by the refs and on the sake play our running back got his helmet ripped off by his facemask. That would have offset the penalties and we would have not punted the ball we would have probably attempted another field goal. But that’s 3 points off the board over a missed call. What makes it bad is there was a ref looking right at it.
The vast majority of “close calls” will go against UK anytime we play a SEC team in the Top 10. The SEC office makes sure any middle of the pack or lower team will not beat a bit time program of there is any way to avoid it (by making those “close” calls favor the big boys).
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