Former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White was puzzled by an officiating call or two during the Tennessee-Georgia game Saturday night on ABC.
White even offered that “nobody would beat Georgia” with the calls that were made in Sanford Stadium.
While it’s unclear which specific plays White is referring to, the four-time Pro Bowl selection took to X at 11:00 p.m. ET to share his thoughts.
“I feel bad for Tennessee these (penalties) that (were) called on them tonight was some bs,” White posted at X. “Nobody would beat Georgia with these calls.”
I feel bad for Tennessee these penalizes that where called on them tonight was some bs. Nobody would beat Georgia with these calls.
— Roddy White (@roddywhiteTV) November 17, 2024
Tennessee fans, Georgia fans, and college football fans alike weighed in as the post received more than 126 replies and garnered 225,ooo+ views at the time of this publication on Sunday morning.
“You know ball Roddy,” one Tennessee fan replied.
It wasn’t all in agreement, though.
“The one where Tennessee was allowed to run into the kicker and hit the return man who signaled fair catch? Those penalties?” another user commented.
FOX Sports host Colin Cowherd also weighed in right at 11:00 p.m. ET on Saturday night.
“College football officiating is easily the worst officiating of any sport,” Cowherd wrote on social media.
It’s unclear as to what exactly Cowherd is referring to, as Tennessee-Georgia wasn’t the only game going on Saturday night. But it was the most prominent.
Straight awful it’s the ncaa fault though cause these guys got to get other jobs. If this was there only job they could focus on this one things and be great at it and not terrible. The amount of money they make this should be a 6 figure job. https://t.co/6yh00n1Atg
— Roddy White (@roddywhiteTV) November 17, 2024
More from RTI: PFF Grades: Tennessee at Georgia
The officiating in Saturday’s game earned so much attention from fans online that X’s AI service Grok turned posts about officiating into its own explore page section late Sunday night and early Sunday morning. As of Sunday morning, that looks to have shifted to just overall conversation about the game.
The section was titled, “SEC Officiating Controversy: Tennessee vs. Georgia Game Sparks Outrage.”
Tennessee was flagged nine times for 70 yards while Georgia was flagged seven times for 59 yards on Saturday night in Athens. As most reading this know, though, it’s also about what flags you don’t get called for, too.
Might have moved a little early herepic.twitter.com/PQSswem2uC
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 17, 2024
Officiating will continue to be a story online in the aftermath of Tennessee’s loss, but the fact of the matter is that the Vols didn’t do enough in the four-quarter game to pick up the win and put themselves in a driver’s seat for the playoff race ahead. Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider as we continue breaking down all angles of the game – on and off this field – this weekend and throughout the week.
Josh Heupel didn’t hold back his frustration about two particular calls from the game during his postgame press conference. To see more on what Heupel said, check out Rocky Top Insider’s story here.
3 Responses
This just breaks my heart so no Bama fan ever! Now Tennessee knows how it feels to be flagged for phantom penalties. We have been a victim of phantom penalties the past two times in Neyland stadium. Would we have won if they had not been called? Maybe not, but then maybe we would have, can’t live in the past. Just got on here to say Tennessee that what’s good for the goose is good for the gander! Karma got you!
What do you mean *NOW* Tennessee knows what it’s like? There hasn’t been a bigger phantom penalty than the 3rd down roughing the passer on Mac Jones.
It’s not like Georgia needed help from the officials. They were the more physical team but they did get help in the most critical times of this game.I feel Nico will be one of the great quarterbacks in the SEC in the near future but he has to mature in that progression. He’s not quite there yet. Tennessee is a good football team and deserve to be in the CFB playoffs.