Paul Finebaum is a lightning rod for criticism for almost every fan base in college football, especially when it comes to the SEC. The journalist and long-time radio and TV show host has ample time to express his views on issues in college athletics five days a week, and during that time, he will test some nerves.
But even Auburn fans, who aren't exactly fans of the Birmingham-based host, can agree with what he said on Wednesday.
“I have never, in all the years I’ve covered college football, seen a program more vulnerable to unimaginable calls than we have seen this year,” Finebaum said. “We all know about the Oklahoma game. The Georgia game was the same. Had that call been played correctly, Auburn would have gone up 17-0 and would have won the game.”
Let's start with the call that cost Hugh Freeze's team a touchdown against the Bulldogs. Already up 10-0 and with all the momentum in their favor, the Tigers seemed to score when Jackson Arnold took a quarterback sneak over the offensive line. On replay, it showed that the Auburn quarterback had the ball in his hands when it crossed the goal line; therefore, it should have been a touchdown.
Not so fast, said SEC officials. Ruling it a fumble, the call was upheld despite all evidence and the ball was given to Georgia.
Tough luck, right?
Well, not if you have been paying attention to Auburn games this fall. As Finebaum mentioned, the Tigers were on the wrong side of two calls in the 24-17 loss to Oklahoma last month. The first came on a fumble that was recovered and returned for a touchdown. Upon review, SEC officials ruled that the Sooners' receiver never had possession.
It's the second call —the one that led to an Oklahoma touchdown —that was the most egregious, though. A Sooner receiver feigned injury and walked toward the OU sidelines, only to stop, take part in the play and end up wide open for the touchdown catch. SEC officiating later issued a statement saying that the Sooners should have been called for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty, and that the touchdown should not have counted.
You know Auburn is having a rough season when even Finebaum is feeling bad for them.