SOUR GRAPES

Spurrier reprimanded by SEC for comments

PETE IACOBELLI

Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Steve Spurrier insists he's done talking about Southeastern Conference officials. And that's just the way the league wants it.

The South Carolina coach was reprimanded by SEC commissioner Mike Slive on Monday for criticizing SEC officials during his call-in radio show last week.

"I deserved it," Spurrier said. "I'm glad I got it. And I'm not talking about the refereeing anymore this year."

Slive said Spurrier violated the SEC rule that "clearly states that the coaches, players and support personnel shall refrain from public criticism of officials."

"I have reminded coach Spurrier of his responsibility to comply with the policies of the SEC and this rule," Slive said.

Spurrier complained to his audience about several bad calls he said the Gamecocks have gotten. Spurrier continued by saying that an official who lives in the Southeast might have a bias against some teams.

"In the SEC, I know how these guys are. They go out and have a beer with their buddies and they say, 'Man, you stuck it to them last week, you really got Spurrier and them Gamecocks, didn't you?'" Spurrier said.

"Everybody says that doesn't happen. But I think it does happen. I'm in favor of referees who don't even know who you are and they come from different parts of the country," Spurrier said, according to media reports.

After practice Monday night, Spurrier said he was trying to defend his players and sometimes that gets a reprimand.

"So it's not the first one I've ever had," he said. "I hope it's the last."

The Gamecocks lost 17-16 at Florida on Saturday, leaving them 5-5 overall and 3-5 in the SEC.

It was the second time this season Spurrier talked about officiating on his call-in show.

In September, Spurrier recounted a conversation with the SEC's coordinator of officials after an 18-0 loss to Georgia.

"I heard our fans booing a lot the other night and later in the week I learned that Georgia should've been called for about 12, 13 clips or holds during that game that wasn't called," Spurrier said then.

"I'm not berating the officials, but we learned later the head of officials said, 'Hey, those should've been called,'" Spurrier said.

SEC spokesman Charles Bloom said he did not know whether Spurrier got a call from Slive after those comments.

Slive, in a statement Monday, said further violations "of conference policies of this nature may result in additional penalties."

Well, no one ever accused him of having any class...