Most folks reading this column will remember the epic spaghetti Western movie – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
For Auburn athletics, it was that kind of weekend … and more.
So, with all due respect to Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach ands Lee Van Cleef, let’s look back over those past few days.
The Good – The on-court record and personal legacy of Auburn head basketball coach Bruce Pearl was acknowledged regionally and nationally.
Pearl had long been acknowledged as one of college basketball’s best head coaches, but not to the magnitude of this past week’s recognition. In 33 years as a collegiate top man, his teams went 706-269, a 72.5 winning percentage, ranking No. 70 among all-time coaches with at least 600 wins, a higher percentage than Steve Alford, Denny Crum, Lon Kruger, Ralph Miller, Gene Bartow and others on that list.
But his greatest success has come at Auburn. In 11 seasons there, he was named Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year four times and his teams won the conference regular season title and/or the league tournament championship five times. He has won the most basketball games as the Auburn head coach, passing Sonny Smith and Joel Eaves along the way.
His Auburn teams have played six times in the NCAA Tournament and twice in the six most recent Final Fours. Only five teams in SEC history (Kentucky, Arkansas, LSU, Oklahoma and Texas) have played in more Final Fours than Bruce Pearl teams. In the past seven seasons (2018-19 through 2024-25), Coach Pearl’s teams have more overall wins than any SEC team. Ironically, Tennessee is only one win behind Auburn and no other team is really even close.
As outstanding as Pearl’s on-court record has been, his off-the-court legacy may be even more impressive.
He has actively promoted national causes, such as the Coaches vs. Cancer campaign, and organizations which may be lesser-known, such as The Will Bright Foundation, which combats addiction. He strongly stands for God, family and patriotism; teaches and expects high character from his players; and In recent years, has been outspoken in support of traditional values and against unlawfulness, anti-Semitism, and attacks by terrorists and invaders around the world.
Bruce Pearl has been the right man in the right place at the right time and many have acknowledged just that.
The Sad – Bruce Pearl Retired.
Bruce Pearl has been a breath of fresh air for all of sports, not just college basketball. He will be hard to replace and will be missed by all of college basketball, by fans of the Southeastern Conference and especially by Auburn people.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey probably expressed it best.
“Bruce Pearl has played an important role in elevating the competitive level and popularity of men’s basketball in the Southeastern Conference,” he said. “His dynamic leadership, relentless energy, and forward-thinking vision have helped transform the sport across the conference.
“While his on-court achievements are well documented, it is his genuine connection with fans, media and the broader community that truly distinguishes his impact. His active presence in campus life and unwavering dedication to student-athletes, staff, and the university community further reflect the depth and lasting significance of his influence.”
That pretty much says it all … appreciation and sadness.
The Realllly Bad – Did you see the Oklahoma-Auburn football game?
Before Saturday, I had never attended/covered a football game at the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium. It had been on my bucket list; checked off now.
On the positive side, the people in Norman and Oklahoma City were friendly, welcoming. It was a pleasure to work with Eric Hollier and the Sooner athletic staff. They’re good folks out there.
Before Saturday, I had attended/covered around 700 college football games over my 50-plus years in this business. Before that day, I could not have answered the question, “What is worst officiated college football game that you’ve ever seen?”
I can answer it now.
Did you see the Oklahoma-Auburn football game?
There were three specific calls (or “no-calls”) about which national sportscasters and writers, as well as almost any objective football observer, and especially Auburn people, have discussed since the game ended. Opinions have been virtually unanimous.
At game’s end, Oklahoma had more points, 24-17.
The first game-determining play being discussed was not really “controversial.” Not much disagreement about what happened, only disagreement on how it should have been handled.
An Oklahoma receiver caught a pass, went a couple of steps with the ball which came loose when he was hit. The ball was gathered in-air by an Auburn defender with the ball having not hit the turf, and was run into the end zone.
Sitting next to me on the front row of the press box was an ESPN staffer. There were replay screens all around the box. “Scoop and Score,” he immediately said, but then after a long delay, the play was reviewed. Few, if any, upstairs expressed the “no-score” opinion, and upon seeing the replay screen, that conclusion seemed to be validated. But, the replay overturned the Auburn touchdown, took the score off the board. Eight plays later Oklahoma was ahead 3-0, rather than behind 7-0. That was a 10-point swing.
In another play, in the fourth quarter Auburn receiver Cam Coleman ran a deep pattern into Sooner territory. The pass coming his way was ruled incomplete despite the receiver being fully wrapped up by an Oklahoma defender. The replay showed Coleman being held back by a defender looking like a dad trying to keep his child from running into traffic.
You can’t be sure that Coleman would have caught that pass if not being held. And, if he did catch it, you can’t be sure that Auburn would have scored a touchdown or even a field goal. But, one thing is sure. They didn’t get the chance, and they should have.
These two officiating errors were bad, but the next one was really, really bad. And, it again was not a controversial play … it was cut-and-dried.
Oklahoma was given a touchdown on an illegal play. Everyone knows it was an illegal play. Competent officials would have stopped the play. If not doing that, competent officials would have thrown a flag, penalized Oklahoma 15 yards, taken the score off the board, and proceeded. Four days have passed since that game concluded, and as of my writing this column, no announcement has been made regarding penalties against that officiating crew.
Even worse reports have surfaced regarding the play.
According to the The Oklahoman, former head coach Bob Stoops said that the Sooners had practiced the play all week. That was verified by others. Another report, from Sooners Wire, said that the Sooners made officials aware of the play in advance. but it was still allowed.
Hopefully neither of these reports are true, but they do appear to come from reputable sources. Accidentally missing a call, while not acceptable, can happen, although usually not several times in the same game with all going against the same team.
But, intentionally practicing and using a “trick” play known to be illegal and/or informing officials in advance that an illegal play will be run and it still being allowed to count, would cross the line of ethics and honesty and should be dealt with harshly, if true.
The ABC Rules analyst said at that point during the national broadcast that it was illegal and should have not been allowed.
“Auburn was robbed,” said more than one national commentator.
When there is a 17-point swing caused by blown calls by an officiating crew in a game decided by only seven points, it’s hard to disagree with that observation.
There aren’t any rules that allow a score to be reversed after a game is concluded and I agree that should be the case. But, situations like this one just can’t continue to happen.
According to Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze, in a conversation with SEC commissioner Sankey after the game, the SEC head man said that he “felt bad.” That’s nice and I’m sure that he was sincere.
But, that response won’t help any team that has been victimized by this type of incompetence or worse. That extra loss could keep a team from becoming bowl eligible. It could keep a team from being considered for a more impressive, profitable postseason bowl game or even consideration for a CFP spot.
Hopefully, no other SEC team has to suffer through an experience like the one on the field in Norman on Saturday. It is embarrassing, humiliating for the Southeastern Conference; frustrating for league coaches and athletes; unfair to fans of every team.
The “worst ever” officiating question has been answered and that bar has been set mighty high. Let’s hope no other crew is able to leap over that bar. Things this blatant should never happen again.