By: Tom Korun
WFTS-TV
I've seen enough. It's time coaches on both the pro and college levels stand behind the right of freedom of speech.
Fining anyone for their opinion is a violation of the Constitution in my book.
Questioning officiating is a right. Since when are they immune to criticism.
The latest example comes with the $30,000 fine levied against Florida Head Coach Urban Meyer for telling reporters that the refs in the Georgia game missed a late hit on Quarterback Tim Tebow.
Even Georgia Head Coach Mark Reicht said it could have been a penalty. But that's not the point.
Where the heck does any conference or league get off on fining coaches for their public opinions. Who gave them the right to muzzle anyone.
In the above case, the SEC should be challenged in court for even allowing the freedom of speech to be violated in any capacity. Furthermore, the courts should extend their judgment to all levels.
Are you telling me I can point out on a weekly basis mistakes made by refs, without reprimand or fine, but the coaches who are graded on wins and loses can't.
Why do you think there is an increasing amount of criticism coming from coaches, particularly in the SEC. Maybe it has to do with sub-level officiating!
Maybe the SEC needs to do a quick and thorough evaluation of the men in stripes and kick the ones that stink out, right now.
Then offer an apology to all the coaches in the conference for telling like it is, which is their right!
This is not an all out attack on officiating. It is bringing out the simple fact that there seems to an increasing amount of questionable calls, and no-calls.
In the NFL, how many times have we seen an official get in the way of a play the past few weeks. Oh, the mightier-than-thou league says maybe we will put helmets on the umpire for protection.
Are you kidding me. The speed of the game is far beyond protecting some of these pudge-bellied refs. They will never been able to protect themselves. These incidents make for great bloopers. But, how many of them actually turned the course of the game around?
How many passes were deflected off the noggin of a ref? How many refs got in the way of a receivers route?
I don't want to hear "the officials have a thankless job." They get paid well for what they do. Officials should be applauded for a good job, and open for discussion when they don't.
I have so much respect for MLB Umpire Tim McClelland. He faced the firing squad after making two bad calls in the playoffs, in one game. He admitted it.
Now that's a man who gets a standing 'O' from me. He goes right to the top of the list of officials in my book.
Back to my point. Officiating should be open to discussion, without penalty. Our Constitution allows that. You can't quiet coaches. It's not right, and it challenges the very right we all have........freedom of speech.
