Sports - Colleges - Mississippi State

Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009

Mullen believes replay official got TD call wrong

MSU coach said it is ‘inexcusable’

By JIM MASHEK

jwmashek@sunherald.com

Upon further review, Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen believes the SEC replay official working the Bulldogs’ game with No. 1-ranked Florida got it wrong.

The Bulldogs’ first-year coach said a blown call on Florida’s interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter should result in disciplinary action, which happened after the Gators outlasted Arkansas 23-20 on Oct. 17. Mississippi State gave up 14 points in the fourth-quarter on Saturday night in losing to Florida 29-19.

“I don’t even know why we have replay right now in the Southeastern Conference if they’re not going to utilize it,” Mullen said. “That’s twice now that they’ve blown calls on the replay with our games, resulting in big plays, and I think that’s inexcusable for that official.

“I hope he’s severely punished if he ever works another SEC game again, because I think it’s completely unacceptable.”

The play came midway through the fourth quarter with the Bulldogs trailing 23-13. MSU quarterback Tyson Lee was hit and intercepted by the Gators’ Dustin Doe, who found a seam on the right sideline and scored on a 26-yard return. As Doe approached the goal line, MSU’s Brandon McRae closed in, and replays showed McRae might have stripped the ball before the celebrating linebacker got in the end zone.

The play was reviewed by replay officials in the press box and confirmed, putting Florida in front 29-13. If the play had been ruled a fumble, it would have been a touchback, giving State the ball at the 20-yard line.

“I’m going to find out who that video replay (official) was,” Mullen said. “I’ve seen it over and over, views of the ball being out of (Doe’s) hand before he crossed the goal line.”

Mullen said he watched the replays of the play “all night” and compared it to a similar play in a 31-24 loss to Houston earlier this year in Starkville.

“There’s no excuse for a guy who has that amount of time to replay the video, to make sure they get it right,” Mullen said. “That’s why we have instant replay and I think it’s embarrassing that they blew the call. I’ve seen still shots of the ball out of (Doe’s) hand. I don’t think that’s acceptable.”

Mullen could face disciplinary action from the SEC office for his comments. The league reprimanded Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino for criticizing the officials after the Razorbacks’ loss to Florida.

State (3-5, 1-3 in the SEC) is on the road Saturday to play Kentucky.