SEC Officiating: Ban Marc Curles From Arkansas

I am not going to be doing a “blame the ref” article every week but something needs to be done. Especially about Marc Curles.

Marc Curles is infamous in Arkansas. If you have lived under a rock or for whatever reason, don’t know who he is, let me share some information about him. As well, I am saying he shouldn’t be in another Arkansas game the rest of his career.

In 2009, Curles was a 41-year-old financial planner and a part-time SEC referee. The matchup was an unranked Arkansas going into the Swamp to take on number one Florida. Arkansas was in the lead and could have very well taken down the Gators until Mr. Curles decided to absolutely give Florida the game.

Due to his involvement in the worst officiated game of Arkansas history, the SEC actually suspended he and his crew. Thus the SEC knew there were issues and took action to rectify the situation, however, it doesn’t change the fact the Hogs were robbed.

Now how do you think Marc handled knowing that, for the remainder of his days, his name would pop up in Google as the ref who was suspended for screwing over Arkansas? I bet he doesn’t like that one bit. According to AL.com, Curles said after that game,

"“Since (last) Saturday night, as soon as I saw the play in question on the DVD after the game, I knew then that the call was not a good one. It’s been eating at me ever since.”"

“He Should Be Banned From Arkansas Games!”

I hear this all the time and think to myself, “Yeah he probably should.” Last year when the Hogs played the Vols, Brandon Allen took 3 hits out of bounds and there wasn’t a call till the fourth time. Wouldn’t you know it, it was a Marc Curles crew. The whole game was blown call after blown call. This is the case for every game he officiates for Arkansas.

This past week was no exception to the Curles conspiracy. In key moments of the game, calls were being made that would endanger the Razorbacks chances of getting the victory. One important one was a complete garbage pass interference call on Jeremy Sprinkle.

The list goes on and on.

I could get into the targeting call that WAS NOT TARGETING. I could get into one Rebel defender clotheslining Austin Allen, blatantly trying to hurt him and remaining in the game. Let’s zoom out and look at the bigger issue here.

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The bigger issue is Curles himself. It seems clear that he DOES hold animosity for his suspension back in 2009 and calls terrible games for Arkansas just out of spite. So should he be banned from exacting his revenge on the Hogs? Yes and we as Arkansas fans can be the change. I’ve started a petition just for this. Let’s get Curles out of our games once and for all. Woo Pig!