By BRIAN LANDMAN, ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published December 2, 2003
Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley said Monday afternoon that poor officiating didn't cause the Gators to lose Saturday's game against Florida State, but he still wants officials from a neutral conference for the annual intrastate rivalry.
"That's (officiating) not why we lost the game," Foley said. "We obviously had our chances and didn't win. I don't want to take away anything from Florida State; they played a great game. But obviously I have some concerns about the way the game was called."
Foley and Florida State athletic director Dave Hart spoke by telephone Monday morning, when Foley expressed his desire to make the issue of neutral officials part of the next contract negotiation. He said he is not considering backing out of the annual game if the sides can't agree.
Under the contract that expires after the 2004 game in Tallahassee, the visiting team is responsible for securing officials from its conference. Foley would like to use officials from conferences other than the SEC or ACC, regardless of the road team.
At least five calls that went against the Gators in Saturday's game have come under heavy scrutiny from Foley and Gator fans, but Foley said Saturday's game was not the catalyst for his call for change.
"We've discussed the issue before; this is not the first time," he said. "We're just talking about maybe using some officials from another conference. Will we be able to get it done? I don't know that."
Hart said Monday he and Foley first discussed the issue several years ago, and he harbors the same concerns he had then.
"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Jeremy ... and I'm willing to talk about anything," Hart said. "He suggested it four years ago. I'm still willing to discuss anything, but I will land where I landed four years ago (against it) for a couple of reasons.
"First, we play the third week of November and I don't know what would make anyone think we would get one of another league's better crews. Secondly, what type of message do we send to the Southeastern Conference officials and the Atlantic Coast Conference officials? We'd be happy to have you call all of our conference games, but when we get to this grand game on a national stage, we don't want you to call the game?"
Hart said though the idea sounds "reasonable" on the surface, it doesn't negate those two "valid" concerns.
"I understand a level of frustration," he added. "I held my breath with one second left. It's unfortunate, such a phenomenal game, and people are talking about this (the calls)."
Foley admitted he hasn't had time to research the idea enough to know if it's something that can be achieved. But he feels strongly enough to look into it.
"I think people think because bowl games are all neutral crews, it should be simple, but if the Big Ten has a bunch of games, they won't have a crew to lend out. Or if the Big 12 has games, will they be willing to do that? I don't know. There are some logistics that have to be found out."
Foley said despite how it appears, the issue isn't about Florida State.
"If that was Florida-Tennessee, I would have had concerns," Foley said. "I had concerns about the officials in the Georgia game, which we won, and I expressed that to the league office, which is what you're supposed to do. The bottom line is officials have to be held accountable."
Conference officials will examine tape from Saturday's game, as they would do normally.
UF's Martin may transfer
Ingle Martin began the season as Florida's starting quarterback. He'll end it looking for somewhere else to play.
Monday, Martin asked coach Ron Zook for a release from his scholarship so he can transfer at the end of the season. His list includes Furman, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Samford and Yale. He will be eligible to play at those schools because NCAA rules allow players who transfer from a I-A to a I-AA school to play without sitting out a year.
The former Parade All-American from Nashville said he felt he had no choice based on what has transpired this season. The redshirt sophomore alternated at quarterback with freshman Chris Leak for four games before Leak was named the starter for the remainder of the season.
"I want to play quarterback, and I think they made the decision of who they want to play quarterback," Martin said. "I've got to accept that and do what's best for myself in terms of playing quarterback. Obviously I think that's going to be somewhere else."
In four games, Martin was 47-of-77 for 654 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. ALL APOLOGIES: Hart apologized to Foley for the postgame brawl that marred one of the most thrilling games in the intrastate rivalry.
"As I told Jeremy, it is absolutely unacceptable for anyone on our team to run to the logo, the symbol of the opposing team, and dance on it," Hart said. "If you put the shoe on the other foot, we would not want any opposing team doing that here at Doak Campbell. That should not, and I can assure you will not, occur again."
He said after watching replays with coach Bobby Bowden, both are "very much on the same page" that there are plenty of places to celebrate a win other than the midfield emblem.
Hart, echoing what Bowden said Sunday, pledged the Seminoles would develop a postgame plan to achieve that goal, much as they did to avoid pregame problems after a well-publicized brawl with UF in 1998.
As far as meting out discipline, Hart said he is going to wait until officials at the ACC and SEC review the tape. Though much of the action was pushing and shoving, he did see some helmet wielding, which can be dangerous. Matt Delancy, a member of the UF strength and conditioning staff who was knocked down, is fine, UF officials said.
"If (disciplinary action) is warranted, we'll take it at the appropriate time," Hart said.
Foley said Florida will discipline any players found to be involved but said he doesn't expect any to be suspended.
TWO 'NOLES HONORED: Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, who had seven tackles and forced a fumble against UF, was named the ACC's defensive lineman of the week. Leon Washington, who returned five kicks for 126 yards and added 65 yards rushing, was named the ACC's specialist of the week.
