Terry McAulay shreds reported permanent ban of SEC official Ken Williamson after controversial calls in Auburn vs. Georgia game

Following a report that the SEC has “permanently suspended” the referee who headed a crew calling the Auburn–Georgia game two weeks ago, veteran rules official Terry McAulay blasted the decision. He was not happy with the enforcement action.

McAulay, who has an extensive officiating background and serves as a rules analyst for NBC, bemoaned the decision in a lengthy Twitter post. He outlined his reasoning, calling the move “insane.”

“If this is solely based on that one game, then shame on everyone involved,” McAulay wrote. “It’s yet another reason why Conferences should not oversee officiating and will forever be a dark stain on college football.”

Terry McAulay pointed out that everyone has bad games, from players, to coaches, to officials. He argued that officials should be evaluated based on their entire body of work, not simply one game.

According to a report from YellowHammerNews.com, however, there were several officiating decisions in question during the Auburn-Georgia game. In total, there were eleven complaints made against veteran SEC official Ken Williamson and his crew, with nine of them validated by conference officials.

“Ken is a very good Referee and has been for a very long time,” McAulay wrote. “I’ve commented on the Ga/Auburn game and no, the crew did not have a very good game. It happens to officials, just as it happens to coaches and players.

“I look forward to the day an AD suspends his coach for, in a single game, poor clock management, allowing players to feign injury, bad play calls, etc. Or let’s permanently bench a QB for throwing a game ending interception regardless of his past performance.”

Various users on Twitter pushed back on Terry McAulay’s defense of the officials. He responded in kind, noting that he would like to see officials protest the enforcement decision.

“This won’t happen, but the entire SEC Officiating staff should delay starting every game this weekend in support of Ken,” McAulay wrote. “Check that, every crew in the country should do so.”

After one fan suggested a number of alternate potential penalties for Williamson, rather than a permanent suspension, Terry McAulay took aim at Auburn. Or, specifically, athletics director John Cohen.

“Unfortunately, the Auburn AD appears to have the power to end a career because he thinks his team was slighted,” McAulay wrote.