By Jimmy Hyams

SANDESTIN, Fla. – It’s easy to criticize football officials, especially if the call goes against your favorite team.

Or the team you bet on.

SEC officials seem to catch the brunt of the criticism. Perhaps it’s because all of their games are televised. Or because many of the teams are ranked. Or because it just means more.

The more meaning, the more important the game, the more important the call.

The SEC has done its due diligence in terms of scouting for the best officials, grading officials and holding them accountable – even if it’s not public accountability.

SEC and national coordinator of officials Steve Shaw said the SEC lost eight officials from last year: three to the NFL and five to retirement or performance.

Shaw said that in the last five years, the SEC has lost more officials to the NFL than any other conference. That’s worth bragging about – just like having the most players drafted by the NFL.

Of the eight new officials hired, five are minorities.

That’s not because the SEC has a quota. It’s because the five minorities are the best candidates, Shaw said.

The SEC and Big Ten have conducted minority/female football officiating clinics the past three years, going to an SEC site one year and a Big Ten site the next. Vanderbilt and Ohio State have been the hosts. That has opened the door for more minorities to be hired by both leagues.

About 48 officials are invited each year — 24 from the SEC, 24 from the Big Ten.

The initiative is supported by SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, Shaw said.

The impact has apparently already been felt.

In another note, Shaw said media were invited to help officiate the South Carolina spring game. The media refs included Mike Golic Jr., Cole Cubelic, Booger McFarland, Jordan Rodgers and Laura Rutledge, among others.

They found the physical demands to be difficult. The ability to make a quick call to be challenging. The task of getting in the right position to be tough. And the job thankless.

Whether that will entice them to go easier on officials this fall remains to be seen.

But whether you take shots at officials or support the calls, the one thing the media has an obligation to do is learn the rules.

You might not score 100 percent if given a test, but a score in the 90s wouldn’t hurt before you rant.

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