New details emerge on SEC referee's reported suspension

The Southeastern Conference's reported decision to suspend referee Ken Williamson gained some new context and some strong reaction. The suspension was first reported by Yellowhammer News.

ESPN's Mark Schlaback and Pete Thamel wrote on Thursday that Williamson "told SEC officials prior to the opening game that he was going to retire after this season."

The SEC declined to offer a statement, citing that the conference does not comment on personnel matters. ESPN's attempts to get a statement from Williamson also reportedly went unanswered.

Williamson's Issues

The controversy surrounding Williamson, who was the crew chief for the Georgia-Auburn game in Week 7, surrounded a handful of questionable calls.

Most notably, on a play just before halftime, with Auburn leading 10-0, Tigers QB Jackson Arnold appeared to extend the football over the goal line for a touchdown. When officials did not rule the play a touchdown, Georgia jarred the ball loose and returned it for an apparent touchdown.

Somehow, neither touchdown counted, with Georgia ruled to have recovered a fumble but been down at their own 1-yard line.

Later in the game, Kirby Smart ran toward a side judge and appeared to call a timeout. Smart subsequently made a display of clapping and apparently claimed that he was telling the officials that Auburn players were illegally clapping their hands to simulate Georgia's signals.

Georgia wasn't ultimately charged a timeout, but the play clock was reset.

Another game-changing decision occurred on Georgia's scoring drive right before halftime, when the officials reviewed a catch along Georgia's sideline. Not only did the catch stand, but the officials also ejected Auburn cornerback Kayin Lee on a questionable targeting call.

The teams combined for 17 penalties, including 11 on Auburn for over 100 yards of penalties.

Kirk Herbstreit Weighs In

The announcement of Williamson's suspension has drawn some strident criticism around college football.

ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit weighed in on the controversy on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday. Herbstreit was very critical of the reported discipline against Williamson, calling it "groundbreaking."

"I don't mind the human error," said Herbstreit. "And I've had my teams that I cheer for get the bad end of that, but I think... that's part of the game.... That's kind of the way I always grew up. It's part of the game. I hate blaming referees or umpires."

Given reports of Williamson's imminent retirement, the SEC may have opened itself to even more criticism, particularly if Herbstreit's reaction is any indication.