Sports

South Carolina Football Fan Starts Petition To Investigate SEC Refs After Loss To LSU

#South Carolina Gamecocks
by Last Updated
A penalty flag on the football field.

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The South Carolina Gamecocks dropped a heartbreaking football game against LSU on Saturday, falling 36-33 in Columbia. Many are blaming officials for influencing the outcome of the game.

One Gamecock fan took things a step further, starting a petition to have the crew investigated.

Williams-Brice Stadium was rocking this weekend with College Gameday in town. It appeared the home crowd would go home happy after seeing South Carolina jump out to an early 17-0 lead.

LSU stormed back, though, taking their first lead in the fourth quarter. The Gamecocks regained the advantage briefly before the Tigers scored with just over a minute left on the clock.

South Carolina’s last gasp drive ended with a missed 49-yard field goal that would’ve sent the game into overtime.

Disappointment quickly swept across the stadium, as is normal when you see your team blow a three-score advantage. Gamecock fans, however, felt that their opponent had help in sparking that comeback.

South Carolina had a pair of pick-sixes called back for penalties, one of which would’ve all but ended the game.

There was also an offensive pass interference call that wiped out 30-yard completion into LSU territory. The broadcast booth struggled to locate which player the foul was against, and even the officiating crew couldn’t decide on the player’s number.

The Gamecocks would fumble two plays later to set the Tigers up in the redzone.

Bias towards one side? South Carolina believes so!

Shane Beamer contacted the SEC office shortly after the game’s conclusion to inquire about a few of those questionable calls.

While the Gamecocks were certainly more negatively affected by the officiating, Brian Kelly called the crew out after the game, too.

The LSU head coach said that one of South Carolina’s touchdowns should’ve been wiped out as it was set up by an “illegal” blocked punt.

In all, more than 20 flags were thrown causing the game to eclipse four hours.

It was bad all around!

The South Carolina-LSU refs have a history with SEC football fans…

And it’s not a good one!

This same crew was suspended in 2020 after stripping Arkansas of a win over Auburn. In that instance, it botched a decisive call in the final seconds to allow the Tigers to escape with a win.

Head referee Jason Autrey was also on hand for the Alabama-Tennessee game in 2022, where he was seen pumping his fist after announcing a call that favored the Volunteers.

This was also the crew that called last year’s Iron Bowl. That game ended the 2023 regular season. Not three weeks into 2024, he’s back in the spotlight.

More on Autrey from Southbound and Down:

Autrey, the Okaloosa County Public Works Director, started his officiating career running a clock during middle school games, and ultimately ended up as a head official in the SEC with no experience at that level. His calls and non-calls can’t help but show. And the complaints keep piling up.

One South Carolina fan saw enough on Saturday. He’s now started a petition calling for the SEC to take a closer look at his officiating!

South Carolina fans are upset, as are many other football viewers around the SEC with referees throughout the league.

In the Gamecocks’ case, blowing a 17-point lead is inexcusable. But with the officiating crew overturning so many of the game’s biggest plays to favor one side, those frustrations are certainly understandable.