Of Tom Ritter and Bama

This season, like all others have been filled with incessant bitching by about the refs - and in particular that Tom Ritter is dirty. There's even a Change.org petition started by Auburn fans to get Ritter banned from calling future Auburn games.

In a thread yesterday, I pointed out that Ritter has been the ref in more Bama SEC losses than all other crews combined. Aubie AA7 gave a tongue in cheek reply that it was because Ritter called pretty much every Bama game. He was joking, but others are far more serious with their Ritter conspiracy theories.

Well folks, the mystery is over. Here are the numbers for all the SEC referees that have called Bama games since Saban arrived in 2007 (conference & title games only):

Austin
10-2 83% wins
Bama Penalties/Yds: 4.25 / 31.75
Foe Penalties/Yds: 5.33 / 41.83

Moore
9-1 90% wins
Bama Penalties/Yds: 5.11 / 40.67
Foe Penalties/Yds: 4.22 / 33.67

Owens
11-1 92% wins
Bama Penalties/Yds: 5.09 / 41.27
Foe Penalties/Yds: 7.09 / 63.36

Wagers
9-0 100% wins
Bama Penalties/Yds: 4.22 / 31.22
Foe Penalties/Yds: 4.78 / 41.56

Williamson
8-0 100% wins
Bama Penalties/Yds: 4.88 / 39.38
Foe Penalties/Yds: 4.5 / 42.38

Curles & Others
7-2 78% wins
Bama Penalties/Yds: 4.38 / 34.25
Foe Penalties/Yds: 5.38 / 39.13

Ritter
11-7 61% wins
Bama Penalties/Yds: 5.74 / 46.89
Foe Penalties/Yds: 5.68 / 46.63

Tom Ritter is clearly involved in a conspiracy involving Bama. The Tide only wins 61% of their conference games with him on the field - a full 17% worse than the next crew and nowhere near the 90-100% expected. Further, whereas every other crew except Moore (got to work on him) hits Bama's foes with either more flags or yardage (usually both), Mr. Ritter has the audacity to call a virtually even game with a slight lean to Bama's foes. Ritter's also been the ref on the field in four of Bama's biggest losses in the Saban tenure (Camback, 9-6, 2008 SECCG. and JFF 2012).

You just can't deny it any longer. Ritter's clearly being placed in big Bama games to keep the Tide from totally and completely dominating this conference.

Y'all were right, I was wrong. Ritter's clearly got to go. Let's make it happen.