Kentucky Files Grievance Against Tennessee with SEC League Office
While it had no bearing on Kentucky’s 28-18 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops disclosed during an SEC coaches teleconference that there was a moment from that game that didn’t sit right with him.
On a play during the first quarter, UK quarterback Brock Vandagriff scrambled out of bounds on a QB run, and as he crossed onto the sideline, UT defensive lineman Omarr Norman-Lott threw his hands out to stop Vandagriff from running into him, which caused the 22-year-old signal caller to fall to the turf.
While nothing terribly egregious happened and Vandagriff wasn’t injured, the optics weren't great for Tennessee. Norman-Lott connected with Vandagriff’s head, which snapped back as he awkwardly tumbled to the ground.
No flag was thrown on the play, which didn’t sit right with Stoops, who took his complaint high up the chain.
Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops vs. Tennessee.
Angelina Alcantar/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
“It is something I sent into the SEC office,” Stoops told reporters. “That’s it. I can’t even tell you what was said or the information that I got back. I’ll just say, in general, not about that player but in general, there is no place for anybody striking anybody in the head at any place. Before, after, during — anytime during a game.”
Norman-Lott and the Vols were lucky not to draw a flag on the play, especially with the increased emphasis on protecting quarterbacks.
Even SEC Network broadcasters Tom Hart and Jordan Rodgers wondered how UT was lucky enough to not get flagged on the play after watching a replay of what happened.
“That is a big miss by this officiating crew,” Hart said, to which Rodgers agreed, stating “I’m a little surprised a flag wasn’t thrown here. You got to flag that. It wasn’t ‘You ran into my extended hands.’ He was extending the hands.”
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