Auburn seemed to get lucky again with the fate of SEC officiating on Saturday.
Trailing 28-27 in the fourth quarter, Shaun Shivers went to return a kick but let it roll into the end zone for a touchback. It looked as if the ball had nicked one of Shivers’ fingers, and an Ole Miss player jumped on the ball thinking he had a touchdown. The ball was called a touchback instead, and, looking for a review of the play, Rebels coach Lane Kiffin got into a discussion with the referees on the sideline. He was told it had already been reviewed.
When asked about the call on Monday, Kiffin gave a little more detail, including the fact he had just gotten off the phone with the SEC office.
“Well, I was late to this because I was on the phone with (the SEC head of officials),” Kiffin said. “I really struggled with this. A lot. I just had the conversation with him. He called to explain what happened. I really wish for our players, for our fans, that they could hear what I was just told. I think they deserve to.
“I asked and they made sure to tell me there’s a policy. I can’t tell you, the players or the fans what their, if you want to call it ‘explanation’ for that situation and how the TV copy, everyone in the country could see it hit him. And I asked the side judge, ‘Why aren’t they replaying it? Do I need to challenge?’ He said, ‘They’ve already looked at it, there’s nothing there.’
“So, I’m not allowed to say anything about the conversation, but I really wish our fans and players could hear what I was told.”
Lane Kiffin calls out SEC policy, credit the Ole Miss coach for sticking up for his team.
“I really wish for our players, for our fans, that they could hear what I was just told. I think they deserve to.” pic.twitter.com/KM3I3lkoYq
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) October 26, 2020
The non-call turned out to be a major one. After forcing a punt from Ole Miss on its next defensive possession, Auburn drove down the field and scored the winning touchdown on a 58-yard pass from Bo Nix to Seth Williams for the 35-28 victory.
Kiffin, still miffed about the call, went on about the league’s silence.
“I’ve had to take a five-minute like power yoga class before I walked in and said what I really want to,” Kiffin said. “You know what I’d like? I’d really like when you guys ask me questions about managing the game or how I play players to say that’s a personal thing and I can’t discuss it with you.
“I’d really like to be able to answer those questions like that.”