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, southerners have a reason to rejoice ahead of Memorial Day Weekend as Wagers (and fellow SEC referee Matt Moore) have decided to retire, according to league communications director Chuck Dunlap.
Why is Wagers so disliked? Here are just a few examples:
• 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. UF never recovered and UGA won in a rout.
• In 2013, Georgia got a taste of its own medicine -- so to speak -- from Wagers when the referee assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on coach Mark Richt. Instead of walking away from a confrontation with Richt, Wagers stepped to him; Richt was turned away to avoid the penalty and speak with another official. Wager's response? The only unsportsmanlike conduct flag of Richt's 14-year career with the Bulldogs.
Via SBNation
• In 2014, Wagers screwed up the end of the Alabama's 14-13 win against Arkansas. After Crimson Tide guard Arie Kouandijio was called for false start on 3rd 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 got 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 at least had one additional play (whether a punt return or chance for a turnover) in its bid for an upset over the top team in the nation at the time. Hogs coach Bret Bielema also expressed his displeasure over not getting a crucial timeout called before the Tide's game-winning touchdown.
The conspiracy theories run far and wide with Wagers with most Georgia fans steadfastly believing they never got a fair shake when he was on a crew officiating their games.
The Bulldogs and the rest of the SEC -- Auburn fans also had multiple issues with Wagers -- can now rest easy, as can Wagers, who no longer has to deal with fanatical college football supporters on a weekly basis this fall.
