Coach's Outburst: Officiating Under Fire After Game

Middle Tennessee coach Derek Mason faced a formal reprimand for his strong post-game remarks regarding the officiating during his team's 23-13 home loss to Jacksonville State on Saturday. Mason expressed significant frustration, stating he was "tired of the bull-(expletive)" and demanding that referees "show up and do their damn job."

Mason specifically highlighted at least 17 instances where he believed Jacksonville State should have been penalized for holding. In contrast, the Gamecocks received only three penalties throughout the entire game, none of which were for holding. This disparity fueled Mason's criticism.

When questioned about the officiating, Jacksonville State coach Charles Kelly stated he had no arguments with the calls made during the game. He explained his team's protocol for addressing officiating queries and clarified that he submits plays primarily for instructional purposes for his players, regardless of whether a foul was called.

Kelly asserted that the officials were correct when calls were made against his team. While acknowledging that differing opinions on officiating are common and that Coach Mason likely saw things his way, Kelly emphasized that he did not want to detract from his players' performance, whom he believed played exceptionally well against a formidable opponent.