Hugh Freeze reveals he spoke to Greg Sankey, SEC over officiating complaints from Georgia game

To hear an Auburn fan tell it, SEC referees clearly have it out for the Tigers this season. At least that’s the prevailing perception on The Plains after multiple questionable calls have seemingly gone against Auburn (3-3, 0-3 SEC) amid a winless start to conference play.

That included a highly-controversial lost fumble on what initially appeared to be a one-yard touchdown dive for Tigers junior quarterback Jackson Arnold in the first half of last weekend’s 20-10 home loss to No. 10 Georgia. On a second-quarter third-and-goal from the 1-yard-line, Arnold attempted to extend the ball across the goal line to go ahead 16-0. But after a lengthy review process, SEC officials ruled Bulldogs linebacker Raylen Wilson punched the ball loose prior to it crossing the goal line, resulting in a lost fumble. Georgia subsequently rolled off 20 unanswered points to claim the road win.

Third-year Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze lamented what has seemingly become a disturbing trend on Tuesday while discussing extensive conversations he’d had with SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and other SEC officials following Saturday’s loss. Freeze specifically made it clear he believes some of these questionable calls have negatively impacted the Tigers’ win-loss record.

“I was on the phone quite a bit this weekend, had a conversation with Commissioner Sankey and the (SEC) director of officials, John McDaid, and explained how I felt,” Freeze said during Tuesday’s weekly press conference with reporters. “They listened. Obviously, they want their group to get it right all the time, and it’s just there were some they did not get right in my opinion. And they can disagree with me. But it’s hurting our football team, and it’s hurt, in my opinion, our record.

“Some of it has to do with us, for sure, also. … Commissioner Sankey has always been one that I could talk to whether I enjoyed the conversation or not. But he’s a man that I think has great care for the people in this conference and our feelings and what we’re going through. I enjoyed my conversation with him. He understands,” Freeze continued. “They get frustrated when things aren’t done right also, but unfortunately it really doesn’t help us when there’s really nothing you can go back and do. But I did have good conversations with them and I know that their intent is to do the best job possible that they can and it be equal for all that are playing this game in this great conference.”

Of course, this isn’t the first time Freeze and Sankey have discussed detrimental calls that have gone against the Tigers this season. The SEC was forced to issue a rare apology three weeks ago after Oklahoma scored a touchdown on a trick play that the league later deemed “unfair tactics” after Sooners receiver Isaiah Sategna feigned subbing out before hauling in a wide-open score in last month’s 24-17 win in Norman. Sankey even made it a point to personally apologize to Freeze for the officiating gaffes.

“It’s just felt like the last few weeks we can’t get a break that goes our way, and some sure looked like they should in my opinion, and in many others’ opinions,” Freeze added Monday. “But at the end of the day, you trust that everybody wants to do the best that they can, and I’m confident after my conversations with them that’s still their goal. And again, it doesn’t really help my feelings or the feelings of the Auburn fans or our locker room and our kids, but you’re definitely going to have those conversations to try to plead your case and defend when (there are) things you felt like could’ve been done differently.”