Former Alabama players didn’t hide their frustration after Georgia’s 20-17 win over No. 6 Alabama, and the late no-call on the sideline became the flashpoint.
Former quarterback Jake Coker was among those blasting the officiating after Alabama believed it should have had pass interference with 3:28 remaining and Georgia up by three. Keelon Russell’s throw to Rico Scott down the right sideline was ruled a pass breakup by Georgia’s KJ Bolden, but Alabama and coach Kalen DeBoer wanted a flag.
“Hate to complain about officiating, but it is hard to put into words how bad tonight has been,” former Alabama quarterback Jake Coker posted. “Unbelievable. Proud of this team no matter what.”
Alphonse Taylor, another former Alabama player, put it even more bluntly.
“Crazy we don’t get the PI call there,” Alphonse Taylor, former offensive lineman, posted.
Former Alabama defensive back Will Lowery also weighed in.
“That’s one of the most egregious missed calls I’ve ever seen,” Lowery said.
On the ABC broadcast, rules analyst Matt Austin sided with the Crimson Tide’s view of the play.
“4 is not playing the ball,” rules analyst Matt Austin said during the broadcast. “He gets there early.
The ball hits him in the back. It should have been a pass interference.”
The ending got even messier for Alabama when Dijon Lee hit a Georgia player after the whistle, drawing a 15-yard penalty that handed Georgia the winning first down. Former Alabama receiver Marquis Maze called out Lee on social media after the loss.
“Dijon Lee again smh he should’ve been pulled now he has single handily cost us this game,” former Alabama receiver Marquis Maze said. “A rough night cause him to make a bone head decision late in the game. I think he threatened to transfer this offseason we should’ve let him walk it out.”
Georgia made the most of the chaos and powered to its biggest road win of the season behind Dwight Phillips Jr., who ran for 120 yards, and Bo Walker, who added 69 more. Gunnar Stockton accounted for both touchdowns, throwing one and running for another.
The second-ranked Bulldogs finished with 206 rushing yards even without leading rusher Nate Frazier. The victory was Georgia’s third over Alabama in the last 11 meetings, and its first regular-season win in the series since 2007.
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