(VIDEO) Refs Blow Helmet-to-Helmet Call Against Alabama in SEC Title Game

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Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports

We’ve seen blown calls all year long in both the NFL and in college, but none were quite as bad as the hit that Quinton Dial put on Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray that not only rocked the Bulldogs signal caller, but helped lead to points before the half for Alabama.

On the play, Murray threw a deep ball that ended up being intercepted by the Crimson Tide but it was the hit that Dial put on Murray that was the talk of the play. On a previous drive, Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron was knocked a little late on a play and lobbied for a flag, getting one that moved the Crimson Tide up to the goal line.

But on the later play, right in front of a referee, Dial blasted Murray on a vicious and completely unnecessary hit that would have warranted a fine in the NFL. Dial lowered his head, launched his body and lead his head into that of Murray’s in brutal form.

The next question is, as obvious as the hit was, will Dial be suspended for the National Championship game or whatever bowl game Alabama ends up playing in? The NCAA has cracked down hard on helmet-to-helmet hits this year with next game suspensions being given to those who violate the rule in place.

Should Dial be suspended, his loss would be more than notable for the Crimson Tide. And if he’s not, the credibility of the NCAA needs to be called into serious question. Crimson Tide fans will disagree, more sensical people won’t, which is why hope that the NCAA will suspend Dial is low at this point, despite the fact it’s the right thing to do.

Topics: Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs, NCAA, Sec

http://www.facebook.com/mona.bagot Mona Martinez Bagot

Get over it. This is football. It’s a passionate game. They are playing with intensity. The QB is fine.

http://www.facebook.com/NOhandl3bars Philip Michael Ashley

Passion is one thing. Dirty and dangerous is another.

Seth

Was it helmet to helmet sure, with just enough shoulder for them not to disqualify him. However it looks like a late hit at the least. If this would have been LSU playing & doing this to Bama’s or any other qb, everyone would be calling him a thug & what not.

Bob Papadazzio

You might want to consult a rulebook. He’d just thrown a pick and was wandering toward the return like a lot child. Dial’s head was to the inside and he led with the shoulder.

The reason it wasn’t called wasn’t because it wasn’t a late hit, it was because at the time he got hit he technically a defensive player.

russell

Alabama fan here; suspend him. That was about as unclassy as it gets and definently not what we’re about. I say roll tide but agree 100% that the hit was uncalled for.
http://www.facebook.com/whjordanjr William H. Jordan Jr.

I too think he should be suspended. The hit would have been legal if not for the helmet. There should have been a flag for the helmet to helmet. But a quarterback should know better to be walking around not paying attention after an interception.

http://www.facebook.com/brad.erthal Brad Erthal

Shoulder hits first. Helmet hits second. Helmets contact each other on blocks all the time (see: every running play ever).

http://www.facebook.com/jeff.yates.714 Jeff Yates

Right in front of a Ref. but a lot of
hold & blocks in the back were too but it is a sin for a SEC Ref. to throw a flag against a Nick Saban team
disqus_MhnQ7fZ0N2

If a penalty would have been called then it would be the ref who’d be at risk of suspension. Why? The rules, that’s why. Murray was on defense at that point having just thrown an interception. So, there can be no late hit called. As far as the helmet to helmet call, it wasn’t quite helmet to helmet by definition so you can’t call that either. Murray should have continued playing rather than spectating. The lick he took was 100% legal and was 100% his fault as well. There were bad calls (and bad ball spots) in this game but most went in favor of GA.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1591513996 Hubert Barnes

Its been perfectly obvious all season that the SEC powers that be are not only condoning such one sided officiating, but must be responsible for it. IMO The SEC has been using officiating to stack their conference deck for years now. Bama never even had a penalty called on them until late in the 3rd quarter and finished the game with only 2 penalties total for 16 yrds. In Bama’s opening drive there was an “EASY TO SEE” block in the back followed by another very obvious Holding, 2 plays later and neither were called. There was a lot of holding (including “take downs”) by Bama the entire game, which I’m sure attributed to Bama’s 350 yrds rushing, but it was never called. Though it pains me to say so, Bama’s winning record this season is no more credible than Notre Dame’s. Both teams are where they are mostly due to Crooked officiating and “football politics”. Its all on video, easy to prove or disprove and even Bama’s seasonal stats for penalties is less than 4 flags per game. I’ve watched them play every single game and they are no where near a “4 flag a game” team. As good and competitive as our conference is, its a shame and a travesty that the SEC does this, or in the very least, they allow it to take place.

http://www.facebook.com/brad.erthal Brad Erthal

Yes, because Georgia, which wins the East frequently, is not a power in the conference and is therefore clearly out of favor with the refs.

mike

Anybody that says that hit on the Georgia q.b. would have changed the game obviously doesn’t know the rules.. Once the ball was intercepted the quarterback becomes fair game to hit.. The reason being is because he then becomes a tackler.. so the “no call” was absolutely the right call.. I don’t believe he lead with his helmet on purpose, it was incidental. No suspension seeing as how that was a perfectly legal hit. The person that wrote this article needs to do some research before he writes something as stupid as this.
Bob Papadazzio

Vicious? Sure, I’ll give you that. Unnecessary? He just threw an interception and was moving toward the play while Clinton-Dix was still returning the ball.

Hard hit, but you seem to be implying it was a late hit, which it wasn’t.