Gene Steratore says officials cost Georgia in SEC championship

The first half of the SEC Championship game ended with an Alabama touchdown drive to extend its lead to 17-7. The drive was sparked by a big gain on third-and-long, and then a conversion on fourth-and-four. Jalen Milroe completed a pass to wide receiver Isiah Bond, but CBS broadcaster and former NFL official Gene Steratore said that the officials cost Georgia on that play.

Former referees are hesitant to criticize the game-day officiating crew, but Steratore was in the booth with Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson as they came back from halftime to explain the situation.

Of the situation on that fourth-and-four completion, Steratore said “Replay officials are no different than officials on the field. In those situations with the clock running and things moving so fast, the team coming up to snap the football a replay official has to feel in real time that there is the potential that this may be something that it doesn’t appear to be.”

Danielson then asked Steratore point blank if the replay official should have stopped play to review the completion.

“That’s my opinion,” Steratore said.

The former official then went on to explain why the play did not appear to be a completed pass because the ground aided in the process of the catch.

Gary Danielson then explained how this officiating blunder could have cost Georgia at least a 10-point swing. Alabama went down and scored a touchdown, but if it was ruled incomplete, Georgia would have been set up with great field position to tie the game with a field goal before the half, or even more.

Instead of 17-7, the game could have easily been tied 10-10.