The Sun Belt Conference announced today that two replay officials have been reprimanded.

Here is the official release:

NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference serves official notice that two of the league’s instant replay officials are hereby reprimanded.

During the Louisiana-Monroe at Arkansas State game on Thursday, November 8, a touchdown was ruled on the field on a play in which the ASU quarterback ran the ball for a significant gain along the sideline.  There was no stoppage between the ruling of a touchdown and the ensuing try for an extra point.

However, a stoppage in play should have occurred to allow for a full video review.

Shortly after the extra point was made, video became available that showed that the runner clearly stepped out of bounds inside the two yard line as he dove for the goal line.  The instant replay official should have stopped play to review the play.  Had this been done the call on the field would have been reversed and the ASU would have had possession with first and goal to go.

A second incident took place during the South Alabama at North Texas football game on Saturday, November 10 as USA intercepted a pass and the ensuing return resulted in a fumble by the returner at the NT goal line.  The ruling on the field was that the ball was fumbled and hit the end zone pylon – resulting in a touchback.  The play was reviewed by the instant replay official and the call on the field was confirmed.

Video evidence later showed that the USA player fumbled the ball and the ball proceeded to go out of bounds – short of the goal line.  The ball should have been spotted at the one yard line with a first and goal for South Alabama.

The two instant replay officials will be placed on probation and will be removed from consideration to work a postseason bowl game.

“Instant replay was established to ‘get calls right’ that are questionable on the field,” said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson. “Our coaches, student athletes and fans deserve quality performance in the instant replay booth just like they do from the officials on the field. South Alabama and ULM have received apologies and the two instant replay officials are hereby reprimanded.”

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Western Kentucky also announced the suspension of defensive back Tyree Robinson.

From the conference:

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Western Kentucky  University has suspended Tyree Robinson for the first half of the Hilltoppers upcoming game at Louisiana-Lafayette.  The decision was announced Tuesday.

“Coach Taggart and I are self-imposing a first half suspension on Tyree Robinson due to the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty he received for a hit above the shoulders during the fourth quarter of our game this past Saturday against Florida Atlantic,” said WKU Athletic Director Todd Stewart.  “Tyree did not have any malicious intent, but we all support the heightened sensitivity on tackles of this nature.  The suspension will be served during the first half of this Saturday’s game at Louisiana-Lafayette.”

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By my count, Western Kentucky has sidelined three quarterbacks this season, Southern Miss’ Chris Campbell, Troy’s Corey Robinson and Florida International’s Jake Medlock.