If the SEC chooses to fine us, ... flip the script. Get out in front of it, today!
Get thru the part that has to be said. We all know that: cant tolerate it, cant be repeated, yada yada.
"Now, as head of the AD at this LEGACY member institution (since it was formed), let me share with EVERYONE (including our SEC league officials) of where I am at, and where this institution will be going forward":
*Yeah, some misbehaved -- maybe they were Tennessee fans... but maybe not. Cant really get in the business of proving who was really a fan and who wasnt. Not gonna happen. However we have to take responsibility for what goes on in the stadium, full stop. (see above)
*HOWEVER..... While maybe some of them misbehaved.... 100k's others DIDNT... and even more were at home that were fed up.... and for all those folks, those last few calls were the straw that broke the camels back. I wont allow others to shift or miss the plot here. That was a poorly officiated game and our fans, yes including the drunk ones, werent just going to sit there and not be heard. Theyve seen it over the years, and as consumers... all of them spoke -- some of them in ways we dont agree or will tolerate, but nonetheless they spoke too, and Im not going to just sit here and choke it down. Sorry, not gonna happen. Something is going to change around here, and its going to start right here.
The SEC is a MULTI-BILLION dollar a year product!!! Billions with a very large "B". Gone are the days when sh***y officiating, by some shady dudes as refs, who are alums at member schools and have some shady connections is going to be tolerated any longer. Its time to move to a league that has minimum standards of neutrality, professionalism, and transparency, and quite frankly, our fans felt like that standard wasn't there all night.
So as AD, he should be happy to discuss paying any fines IF AND ONLY WHEN the league moved to a) full-time professional referees given the team and league revenues, b) that the offices for league officials be located in a more neutral site, central to all member institutions (I would say Atlanta, Charlotte or Nashville), and c) that the league agree to an outside referee council of non-affiliated referees from both other leagues and the pro's to review and grade EVERY game/officiating crew in the SEC --- and that allows that panel to have some input regarding their annual reviews and continued employment as refs in the league... and that their reviews/findings on every game are transparent to every school.
* as AD I would remind every sanctimonious official/reporter that we probably also have some more egregious infractions that have yet to be formally discusses by the SEC or any other member institutions, that linger and are still unresolved more than 3-4 yrs later. Maybe we might want to start with the FRONT OF THE LINE, first. (ahem, LSU) Yeah, thats what I thought.
So thats where we will be going forward as an institution. I've got a blank check right here that Im just itching to send to you.
Your move. Thank you very much... now will somebody come over and help me carry this very large set of brass ones Ive got out of this room!
Get thru the part that has to be said. We all know that: cant tolerate it, cant be repeated, yada yada.
"Now, as head of the AD at this LEGACY member institution (since it was formed), let me share with EVERYONE (including our SEC league officials) of where I am at, and where this institution will be going forward":
*Yeah, some misbehaved -- maybe they were Tennessee fans... but maybe not. Cant really get in the business of proving who was really a fan and who wasnt. Not gonna happen. However we have to take responsibility for what goes on in the stadium, full stop. (see above)
*HOWEVER..... While maybe some of them misbehaved.... 100k's others DIDNT... and even more were at home that were fed up.... and for all those folks, those last few calls were the straw that broke the camels back. I wont allow others to shift or miss the plot here. That was a poorly officiated game and our fans, yes including the drunk ones, werent just going to sit there and not be heard. Theyve seen it over the years, and as consumers... all of them spoke -- some of them in ways we dont agree or will tolerate, but nonetheless they spoke too, and Im not going to just sit here and choke it down. Sorry, not gonna happen. Something is going to change around here, and its going to start right here.
The SEC is a MULTI-BILLION dollar a year product!!! Billions with a very large "B". Gone are the days when sh***y officiating, by some shady dudes as refs, who are alums at member schools and have some shady connections is going to be tolerated any longer. Its time to move to a league that has minimum standards of neutrality, professionalism, and transparency, and quite frankly, our fans felt like that standard wasn't there all night.
So as AD, he should be happy to discuss paying any fines IF AND ONLY WHEN the league moved to a) full-time professional referees given the team and league revenues, b) that the offices for league officials be located in a more neutral site, central to all member institutions (I would say Atlanta, Charlotte or Nashville), and c) that the league agree to an outside referee council of non-affiliated referees from both other leagues and the pro's to review and grade EVERY game/officiating crew in the SEC --- and that allows that panel to have some input regarding their annual reviews and continued employment as refs in the league... and that their reviews/findings on every game are transparent to every school.
* as AD I would remind every sanctimonious official/reporter that we probably also have some more egregious infractions that have yet to be formally discusses by the SEC or any other member institutions, that linger and are still unresolved more than 3-4 yrs later. Maybe we might want to start with the FRONT OF THE LINE, first. (ahem, LSU) Yeah, thats what I thought.
So thats where we will be going forward as an institution. I've got a blank check right here that Im just itching to send to you.
Your move. Thank you very much... now will somebody come over and help me carry this very large set of brass ones Ive got out of this room!
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