Max Wright scored a touchdown for Texas A&M against South Carolina on Saturday, but the referees overturned the call and Jimbo Fisher was not happy. He had every right to be upset, but the 58-year-old college football head coach could catch a fine for criticizing the officiating crew on national television.
Even if he was right— and he was right!
The questionable sequence took place with about three minutes left in the third quarter.
Wright was on the receiving end of a tight throw to the corner of the end zone. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound tight end stepped up to make the catch while falling out of bounds.
By all accounts, Wright’s right foot was inside the white line and he had pretty clear possession of the football. It should have been ruled a touchdown.
Unless he was wearing square-toed cleats, or cleats with a green tip, is hard to argue that Wright’s right toe did not tap the turf before his momentum carried him out of play. He was in bounds!
The toe drag swag was seriously impressive, and the Aggies should have been awarded six points.
Somehow, some way, the SEC officiating crew in College Station disagreed. They, with help from the crew back in Birmingham, ruled that Wright did not complete the catch.
Six points came off of the board. Texas A&M had to settle for a field goal.
Fisher, whose job security is in serious jeopardy, was furious with the decision.
He was right. The call was wrong.
However, college football coaches who criticize the officials are subject to a fine. Lane Kiffin received a $25,000 fine from the SEC for retweeting an anti-referee social media post in 2020.
Fisher offered his criticism during a live interview on ESPN.
Well we had ’em right back there for a touchdown and they didn’t give it to us. That was a touchdown!
— Jimbo Fisher
Although Jimbo Fisher was completely justified in his frustration, he did something that he cannot do. Even if/when the SEC admits it made the wrong call, the Aggies’ head coach should be fined.
But that would require the Southeastern Conference to be consistent…