BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
Wednesday is always the day for the Southeastern Conference to hold its weekly teleconference with all 14 head coaches, but this week we got the added bonus of the conference director of football officials, Steve Shaw. Here's what he said:
- First, on the new rule governing how coaches protest calls from the sidelines that states they can't leave the sideline to do so. Shaw said, "I think the rule is doing exactly what the rules committee intended it to do. I think we've seen a positive change in our interactions with coaches." Shaw added the conference has yet to have an issue with a head coach, but has had a couple issues with assistant coaches.
- Now, what everyone is interested in after the LSU-MSU game: offensive pass interference. Here's what Shaw said: "Anytime we have offensive pass interference, that's a tough judgment call. The rule states it's the job of the offensive player to avoid opponents: he knows his route, the defender doesn't know where he's going. ...Typically, guys look at if the receiver goes right at the defender and initiates contact with him, that's what gets the alert of the official. It's dependent on how the player kind of finesses that. If they're seeing out that contact, by rule, that's a foul."
- Shaw added that offensive pass interference has not a bigger emphasis for officials this season than it has been in the past. He said offensive and defensive pass interference is always a big talking point with officials positioned deep downfield, but offensive pass interference wasn't prioritized more than normal.
- Shaw said SEC officials have had five targeting calls and all five were confirmed, with two of those five being initiated by the replay booth. "I think the rule is still working very well. We've seen the player behavior change."
- Shaw said officials are taking the 20-minute halftime seriously. He says schools, bands and coaches have adapted to the hard 20-minute cap and joked, "we may be pushing you in the press box to get your food and get back."
From the Mississippi State Sports Blog
- First, on the new rule governing how coaches protest calls from the sidelines that states they can't leave the sideline to do so. Shaw said, "I think the rule is doing exactly what the rules committee intended it to do. I think we've seen a positive change in our interactions with coaches." Shaw added the conference has yet to have an issue with a head coach, but has had a couple issues with assistant coaches.
- Now, what everyone is interested in after the LSU-MSU game: offensive pass interference. Here's what Shaw said: "Anytime we have offensive pass interference, that's a tough judgment call. The rule states it's the job of the offensive player to avoid opponents: he knows his route, the defender doesn't know where he's going. ...Typically, guys look at if the receiver goes right at the defender and initiates contact with him, that's what gets the alert of the official. It's dependent on how the player kind of finesses that. If they're seeing out that contact, by rule, that's a foul."
- Shaw added that offensive pass interference has not a bigger emphasis for officials this season than it has been in the past. He said offensive and defensive pass interference is always a big talking point with officials positioned deep downfield, but offensive pass interference wasn't prioritized more than normal.
- Shaw said SEC officials have had five targeting calls and all five were confirmed, with two of those five being initiated by the replay booth. "I think the rule is still working very well. We've seen the player behavior change."
- Shaw said officials are taking the 20-minute halftime seriously. He says schools, bands and coaches have adapted to the hard 20-minute cap and joked, "we may be pushing you in the press box to get your food and get back."
From the Mississippi State Sports Blog
