I think the Alabama v LSU game Saturday let the Southeastern Conference reach its annual allotment of reviewed plays.

I did not keep up with how many calls were reviewed, but it seemed that most went against LSU. It is a fact that LSU came into the game as the most penalized team in the SEC and the Tigers did nothing to dispute that honor.

For some reason, right or wrong, it has been the general perception since Coach Bryant’s days that Alabama gets officiating breaks.

Though the SEC conference office is in Birmingham, I have never heard a word about calls against or for Alabama.

When Coach Stallings took over at Alabama in 1990, he spoke to the officials (I was then an observer and no longer officiating on the field) and made it clear that officiating calls against his team must never be wrong.

A few years before that time, the SEC hired a new Commissioner. He had been athletic director at Vanderbilt and had come to believe that the Commodores always lost because of officiating.

In his first meeting with the officials, at our August clinic, he said that in any dispute between an official and a coach he would always come down on the coach’s side.

It did not take long for him to realize that Vandy lost because they were not very good, and they were often penalized for that same reason.

Coach Steve Spurrier, who has South Carolina playing good but not great, coached at Florida when the Gators were the most penalized team in the conference. He had such great players that his teams were able to suffer those penalties and to win anyway.

LSU now holds that distinction and the Tigers’ players seem to be able to win in spite of the penalties. I don’t think they can continue to live on the edge all the way to another National Championship.

For your information, none of the officials (nor the replay official) in the LSU v Alabama game now lives in Alabama. By rule none went to either Alabama or LSU, nor did they play with any of the coaches in the game.

In my SEC officiating career, I probably officiated with over 200 different officials. Never did I see or know of an official who actually favored one team over the other. Some were over their heads and were intimidated by a crowd or coach, and would tend to over officiate or draw a blank.

Those should never have advanced to the major college level of officiating, and some of them had actually played football in the SEC.

I have a few more words on instant replay as the NCAA Football Rule Book calls it. Knowledgeable fans know the types of plays that are subject to review, but a reminder is due.

Plays governed by the side line, goal line, and end line are reviewable. Pass plays such as first touching, forward-backward, complete-incomplete, are reviewable. Judgement calls (pass interference, holding, etc.) are not subject to review. Rule 12, Section 3, Article 4 says: “No other plays or officiating decisions are reviewable.”

I look forward to hearing from the SEC about why video used by replay officials to overturn on-field decisions is not made public. If the evidence, as by rule, is indisputable why not let the public see it?

Congratulations to Trinity for their perfect season. I wish them and Ferriday, along with Huntington (if they make it) success in the playoffs.

I was tickled to see that grandson Andrew Beesley had a great game in the AYA Championship. I know Craig is ready for him now.

And, That’s Official

Al Graning writes a weekly column for The Democrat. He can be reached at AlanWard39157@aol.com.