The Southeastern Conference has suspended longtime referee Ken Williamson for the remainder of the season due to a poor performance in Georgia's 20-10 win over Auburn on Oct. 11, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.
Williamson, who was a captain in that game, told SEC officials before the opener that he would retire after this season, sources said.
The SEC declined to comment Thursday. “The SEC does not comment on personnel matters,” a league spokesman said.
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Williamson did not respond to a text message from ESPN.
Georgia's come-from-behind win at Jordan-Hare Stadium featured two controversial calls. Late in the first half, with the Tigers leading 10-0, Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold attempted a sneak score on a third-and-goal from the Georgia 1.
Georgia linebacker Raylon Wilson knocked the football out of Arnold's arm as he reached the end zone. Bulldogs safety Kellen Jones recovered the ball at first, and officials determined that Arnold dropped the ball before it reached the goal line.
After a lengthy delay, the replay official upheld the on-field ruling, giving the ball to the Bulldogs.
Georgia's 29-yard field goal cut Auburn's lead to 10-3 with 13 seconds left in the half.
As Williamson walked toward the locker room, he was met by Auburn athletic director John Cohen and football coach Hugh Freeze.
“I don't know how this doesn't destroy the plane, no clue,” Freeze told sideline reporter Molly McGrath at halftime. “Maybe, it's time for us to take a break, this is one of those damn moments.”
Williamson also missed a targeted penalty kick against Auburn cornerback Kayin Lee with 1:07 left in the first half. A review was initiated by the replay team and Lee was ejected from the game due to a helmet-to-helmet hit.
In the fourth quarter, with the Bulldogs leading 13-10, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart ran toward the linesman and appeared to call a timeout with his hands. The referee stopped the clock, and Smart argued that he simply told the officials that Auburn players clapped their hands to imitate Georgia's signal, which should have resulted in a penalty.
After a brief discussion, Georgia was not called a timeout and the game clock was reset to 25 seconds.
“Lip reading, because I was screaming and they were clapping,” Smart said after the game. “They were applauding. I didn't need a timeout because we were going to finish the game before the shot clock. It was 2,1. We were going to finish the game before the shot clock ended and I didn't need a timeout. In fact they were applauding. I wanted him to call it because it was a penalty kick.”
Longtime NFL official Terry McAulay, who served as coordinator of football officials for the Big East and American Athletic Conference, told ESPN on Thursday that he believed Williamson's punishment was too harsh.
“I think it does set a very dangerous precedent,” said McCauley, now a rules analyst for NBC Sports. “I mean, it's basically giving in to the crowd and they want every official at their post after a tough loss and maybe some controversial calls.
“I know the world doesn't think they're responsible, but they are. They've been working hard all season for the playoffs. [assignments] When they're in a situation like this, they're not going to get a playoff assignment. Sometimes they don't update. If they feel this rises to the level of necessary punishment, then surely there are lighter punishments that would be more appropriate than basically ending someone's career. “
The Yellowhammer News first reported Williamson's suspension.