It’s low-hanging fruit to blame the refs for a loss or near-loss, but Georgia football fans may have had a legitimate beef with the crew in their game against the Missouri Tigers.
Officiating — both bad and good — is part of sports, and when calls are missed or bad calls are made it can infuriate fans (not to mention coaches). But when it consistently mars a game, that’s when fans lose it.
It seems Georgia’s game against Missouri is one of those games with a lot of suspect officiating going on, and in the eyes of Georgia football fans, these bad calls and non-calls kept Missouri hanging around in the game.
There have been some blatant holds by the Missouri offensive line that refs have turned a blind eye to, a DPI call against Georgia that even the announcers questioned (and a play just like it going the other way that didn’t get called), and some flip-flopping by the officials as to whether or not a penalty occurred.
A sampling of the grumbles from the Bulldog Nation, and some neutral parties, paints a pretty clear picture.
I don't know what prompted the refs to silently call PI on a ball that was massively overthrown. Refs call OPI on Georgia's RB on the next play. What's the deal?
— Chris Kwiecinski (@OchoK_) November 4, 2023
Great catch for Delp, but Mizzou definitely got away with a face mask. These refs. #MIZvsUGA #Missouri #Mizzou #Tigers #Georgia #UGA #GoDawgs #SEC #CFB
— Abbey Giese (@Abbey_Giese) November 4, 2023
Refs giving Georgia a flag on that is hilarious dude wtf
— . (@BrodieKnowsBall) November 4, 2023
These refs have been absolutely terrible in this Mizzou/Georgia game.
— Ballot or the Bullet (@JJones816) November 4, 2023
Refs in this Missouri/Georgia game just being dickheads and making up calls on both sides.
— CFBLIVE247 (@CFBLive247_) November 4, 2023
I see what’s happening
Georgia FINALLY got a pass interference called on Missouri. #GoDawgs
— 960 The Ref (@960theref) November 4, 2023
Of course, not everyone sees it the same way, but it seems to be unanimous that these refs have been pure trash today.
As a neutral fan, I must say, Mizzou is getting absolutely rigged by these refs. Some of the worst calls I’ve ever seen.#mizzou #georgia
— Alex Rainbolt // Zeebruh (@AlexRainbolt) November 4, 2023
Refs to Georgia today pic.twitter.com/k10xYpr3Ni
— Cards are a$$ (Walker SZN) (@Caden48811764) November 4, 2023
Georgia is leading 30-21 with just under four minutes left in the game. If this finish comes down to a call by the officials, things could get ugly in the Twitterverse…and Sanford Stadium.