Florida football coach Urban Meyer has been fined $30,000 for criticizing Southeastern Conference officials, the league office announced Monday in a news release.
The fine is the first of its kind since all athletic directors in the SEC agreed to have all violations of SEC bylaw 10.5.4 carry a fine.
“Coach Meyer has violated the Southeastern Conference Code of Ethics,” SEC commissioner Mike Slive said in the release. “SEC Bylaw 10.5.4 clearly states that the coaches, players and support personnel shall refrain from public criticism of officials. The league’s Athletics Directors and Presidents and Chancellors have made it clear that negative public comments on officiating are not acceptable.”
Meyer said Wednesday that SEC officials missed a late-hit call in Florida’s 41-17 win against Georgia last Saturday when Bulldog linebacker Nick Williams knocked Gator senior quarterback Tim Tebow to the ground long after the ball was out of his hands.
“That should have been a penalty, in my opinion,” Meyer said in the SEC coaches’ teleconference Wednesday. “Obviously, it should have been. You’ve got to protect quarterbacks. That’s the whole purpose. It’s right in front of the referee. I’m not sure how they’re going to handle that, but … that was one of the plays we did send in.”
The SEC has also reprimanded Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen and Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino this season for criticizing officials. Those reprimands came before the SEC bylaws were amended Oct. 30.
 
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