Don’t bet on fans missing Wagers much

Referees are universally disliked by fans, and when it comes to the SEC, perhaps none drew more ire than veteran head official Penn Wagers.

Well, there is a reason to rejoice this Memorial Day weekend. Wagers and fellow SEC referee Matt Moore have decided to retire, according to league communications director Chuck Dunlap.

Here are three examples of why Wagers is disliked:

In 2007, he was the man in charge when the defending national champion Florida Gators were embarrassed early in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party after the Georgia Bulldogs emptied their bench following the first score of the game. The total penalty assessed? Two unsportsmanlike conducts, resulting in a deep kickoff. Florida never recovered, and Georgia won in a rout.

In 2013, Wagers assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Georgia Coach Mark Richt. Instead of walking away from a confrontation with Richt, Wagers stepped to him. Richt turned away to avoid the penalty and to speak with another official. Wager’s response? The only unsportsmanlike conduct flag of Richt’s 14-year career with the Bulldogs.

In 2014, Wagers messed up the end of Alabama’s 14-13 victory against Arkansas. After Crimson Tide guard Arie Kouandijio was called for a false start on third and 2 with 1:01 remaining, Wagers reset and ran the game clock immediately rather than, as rules dictate, waiting for the ball to be snapped. The Razorbacks came up with a third-down stop but saw the remaining time tick away. Had Wagers followed the rule book — the SEC admitted that he did not — Arkansas would have had at least one additional play (whether a punt return or a chance for a turnover) in its bid for an upset over the top team in the nation at the time. Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema also expressed his displeasure over not getting a crucial timeout called before the Tide’s game-winning touchdown.