The Southeastern Conference officiating crew which worked the Continental Tire Bowl game Saturday did a remarkable job.

Loser Pittsburgh was penalized but once, for five yards. Winner Virginia was only flagged five times. The crew truly let the teams play.

Though referee Penn Wagers has only worked in the SEC for two years he is a veteran college official.

Umpire Mike Wallace, Linesman Lane Thomas, Back Judge Prince Pollard and Field Judge Gearld Hodges have officiated in the SEC for many years.

I actually officiated with all four of those guys and my last year on the field was 1989.

If I could wish for anything new in college football in 2004 it would be that more coaches would operate disciplined programs.

The fight after the end of the Houston vs. Hawaii game the other night in the Hawaii Bowl is an example of two groups of individual players as opposed to two teams of team players.

I am sure that when the two conferences involved finish reviewing the tape a number of players and coaches from both teams will miss playing time next fall. It is a shame the seniors will pay no penalty.

There can never be an excuse for a fight before, during or after a game and it does not happen among well-disciplined teams.

There is never an upside to a fight among players, and the downside is severe, including loss of eligibility for the remainder of that game and all or part of the following game, even if it is next season. Good coaches just do not let that happen.

The gap in the rule is that there is no punishment for the player who fights in the final game of his career.

My suggestion would be that any fight suspensions would also involve the head coach. When all is said and done he has the ultimate responsibility for the behavior of his players.

There have been many college (and high school) coaches who have taught tough, aggressive football but whose players seldom stepped over the line and got into fights.

These coaches made their players realize that football is a team game and that stupid and useless penalties cost the team and not the individual.

An overly aggressive team can be successful as long as it has superior players. When the talent level drops off the wins fail to come while the penalties continue to pile up.

A perfect example os this is a major college team from Mississippi which dropped from being a regular winner and bowl participant to becoming the doormat of the Western Division of the SEC, and the blame has to lie on the coaching staff for failing to recruit players with self-discipline and failing to instill team discipline.

There is a strong feeling that the new coach at that institution will not make that same mistake.

I well remember officiating scrimmages at another school where he was an assistant coach. He was very intense and brooked no nonsense.

It was a pleasure to officiate for that kind of coach because you knew his players would give you no trouble and if the coach called you to task he did so with a solid knowledge of the rules.

And, That’s Official!

Al Graning is a former SEC official and former Natchez resident. He can be reached at

AlanWard39157@aol.com.