Sports - Colleges - Mississippi State

Monday, Oct. 26, 2009

SEC hits MSU’s Mullen with reprimand

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen has been reprimanded by the SEC office after criticizing the replay official who worked the Bulldogs’ game against No. 1-ranked Florida on Saturday night in Starkville.

Mullen was highly critical of the SEC replay official who worked the game, Dan Dembinski, after viewing tape of the Gators’ last touchdown in State’s 29-19 loss.

Florida linebacker Dustin Doe intercepted a pass from the Bulldogs’ Tyson Lee and scored on a 26-yard return midway through the fourth quarter, but replays indicated he may have fumbled before crossing the goal line.

“I don’t even know why we have replay right now in the Southeastern Conference if they’re not going to use it,” Mullen said. “That’s twice now that they’ve blown calls on the replay with our games, resulting in big plays ... I hope (Dembinski) is severely punished if he ever works another SEC game again.”

Mullen, the Bulldogs’ first-year coach, wasn’t the only SEC coach reprimanded by league commissioner Mike Slive on Monday. Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin drew his second reprimand of the year, and Slive’s notice to him read he is “on notice that any violations of SEC policy will subject him to additional penalties including suspension.”

Mississippi State is on the road Saturday to play Kentucky.