We were the better team; got robbed by a blown replay call

Coach Mason said he was going to talk to Commissioner Sankey and Steve Shaw, head of SEC refs, about that blown overturn by the replay ref in our game with Auburn. The SEC has always strictly interpreted the “indisputable evidence,” rule in determining whether to  overturn the call on the field. There was no doubt that was not indisputable evidence that would lead to an overturn. I mean right as Kam Pettway was going to the ground he fumbled. Zach made another superb play. More on Zach later. It was pretty deflating and pretty hard to recover from when I was watching the game. I know it was hard on the players.

But it didn’t go our way. Still a phenomenal effort by our football team. Zach’s leaping block of Daniel Carlson’s field goal attempt with Auburn leading 23-16 and trying to put the game away, was as good as it gets in football. Kam Chancellor did that for the Seahawks back in 2013 when they won the Super Bowl. He did it a couple of times that year. He, Russell Wilson, Richard Sherman, Marshawn Lynch and all those superb players on the Seattle Seahawks were key to  the Seahawks winning Super Bowl 48. But Chancellor’s amazing play at safety and blocking field goals using that jumping over the center technique was off the charts football IQ and athletic ability. Zach has that phenomenal football intelligence and super gifted athletic ability as well. He’s amazin. He should be heavily considered for the Butkus award and Bednarik Awards. Zach is a sensational football player, a total game changer on defense. As safety Ryan White said after the game, “I’m glad he’s on our side.”

Our whole defense fought and Coach Ludwig called a super game on offense. Coach Cameron Norcross has done a tremendous job with our offensive line. He’s awesome. Our line is so good. Barrett Gouger, Will Holden, Justin Skule, Bruno Reagan, and Ean Pfeifer are awesome football players. 

Kyle Shurmur played a tremendous game. Kyle was pinpoint accurate with his passing. C.J. Duncan was terrific. Jared Pinkney caught a beautiful touchdown and made a super sprint into the end zone for a 7. Caleb Scott made some clutch catches. He played great. Trent Sherfield did some good things. Darrius Sims played well. Ralph and Khari had OK games, maybe not their best, but they ran hard against a good defensive front hard to run, and played their hearts out like the whole team did. They’re both due good games next week against Missouri.

Kyle’s interception was just a quarterback fighting hard to win a football game. That happens sometimes. I remember when I was a 7th grader, I was the quarterback for our team, and we were playing a rival to win our elementary championship. We were deep in our own territory with the ball, and I looked for my cousin, who was a very good wide receiver and whom I had hooked up with for six or seven TDs already that season. I didn’t see a taller linebacker in the area. He stepped in front of the pass and made a pick six. I was pretty devastated after the game. My dad, who didn’t say a lot, but always said something powerful and significant when he spoke, said to me after the loss, “You got a good arm.” It was nice to have a great father. My cousin and one of my other best friends, who played on the team, have always kidded me about saying the guy was “too tall.” It’s something we’ve laughed about through the years. 

So it didn’t work out this time. Kyle is still a superb quarterback with a tremendous future in the game. And we’ve got a Missouri game and two more, and most hopefully, three more games. So it’s time to put this behind us and get back to work.

But an awesome effort by our football team. We were better than Auburn yesterday, and I’m personally excited to see what our team can do the rest of this season. We’re @ Missouri next Saturday at 2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET on SEC Network. Time to get to work on the Mizzou Tigers this afternoon. Hope you had a great weekend. Have a piece coming up tomorrow on my conversation with our basketball coach, Bryce Drew.