The SEC's admitting that Penn Wagers didn't follow the conference rules by starting the clock with 1:01 to play in Arkansas' 14-13 loss to Alabama on Saturday was the right thing to do.
The clock, according to rule 3-4-3, should start on the snap. Wagers, whose name was not used in the statement, started it on his command.
Alabama had to run just one play to run out the clock and seal the victory.
The SEC refused to comment on whether Wagers would be reprimanded or disciplined.
Just as it did when he got into two arguments with Georgia Coach Mark Richt -- yes, two -- during one timeout.
This is the same guy who made himself an instant joke in the 2011 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl for reviewing a play and calling it a touchdown, then reviewing it a second time and saying the ball was actually on the 6-inch line.
For the record, there is no 6-inch line.
Those are just a few of the things that have made Wagers one of the most well-known guys in a field where you are supposed to be anonymous.
In all honesty, Arkansas probably wasn't going to score even if it got the ball with 20 or 30 seconds left, but the official is supposed to know the rules and at least give a team its shot.
Especially an official who has been calling football for more than 30 years, including the past 12 as a head official for SEC football games.
He's probably a good guy. The native of Summerville, S.C., has a wife, kids and a grandkid he calls his pride and joy.
In an interview seven years ago, he admitted he makes mistakes because everyone is human, but to either not know the rules or, worse, to ignore them is ridiculous. He gets paid by the game, not by the hour.
The statement that came from the SEC about the mistake came after our man Tom Murphy made an official inquiry about the rule to the SEC.
Despite Wagers' mistake, the Razorbacks probably weren't going to find a miracle way to win.
Maybe they need to know it is not against SEC rules to field a punt and even return it.
It is not against the rules to make interceptions. The Razorbacks have dropped at least five this season, including two against Alabama.
It is not against the rules to beat SEC teams that are ranked.
In other words, it is still hard to determine exactly how the Razorbacks lost their past two games.
They were clearly better than Texas A&M, and for most of 60 cold and rainy minutes last Saturday, they were better than Alabama.
If they had taken care of business, the Razorbacks would be 5-1 and headed to Little Rock this weekend to play Georgia with a head of steam instead of another question mark. Representatives of major bowls would have been at War Memorial Stadium.
After the heart-breaking loss to Texas A&M, Coach Bret Bielema and his staff found a way to get their team to improve, which is something they have been doing since the day they arrived on campus.
If the Hogs improve again, Saturday will be an incredibly interesting game. It might take staying with their bread and butter -- the running game -- more in the second half. In the final 30 minutes against Alabama, Arkansas had 5 yards rushing.
If they are totally focused on the Bulldogs and not on the past, the Razorbacks can still get bowl eligible.
Arkansas needs to get to the place where a blown call by an official doesn't cost it a chance at a victory.
...
The Georgia game would probably sell out if Arkansas would release the remaining end zone tickets to War Memorial Stadium.
This is perhaps going to be the final sellout at War Memorial for a game involving the Razorbacks, and UA needs to do its part.
Sports on 10/15/2014