Danielson: "I don't think I crossed any lines"
CBS analyst Gary Danielson raised eyebrows when he revealed during Auburn’s Iron Bowl victory over Alabama that Georgia head coach Kirby Smart had contacted SEC officials regarding what he considered were defensive holding penalties that went uncalled when the Bulldogs and Tigers played on Nov. 11.
Smart had no comment when queried about it during Monday’s press conference to preview Saturday’s SEC Championship.
Wednesday, Danielson was asked if he felt he crossed the line, after mentioning during the telecast that he didn’t know if the conversation - which took place during the Friday production meeting - was off the record or not.
“Kirby and I do not talk on a regular basis. We don’t exchange numbers; we don’t text each other. I don’t do that with any of the coaches. I can only say I’m comfortable with the information that I presented during the game and I think Kirby will be, too. If he isn’t, that’s really not my problem,” Danielson said. “I work very hard on developing a trust with the coaches with what they tell me is fair game and the fine line of off the record and on the record sometimes gets uncomfortable. I don’t think I crossed any lines and I don’t think Kirby thinks I crossed any lines.”
On Monday, Bulldog wide receiver Terry Godwin suggested that Auburn held more than any team the Bulldogs faced this season.
“Football is physical and a contact sport so that’s something you’ve got to get used to,” Godwin said. “You’ve got to go with it. If the refs don’t call it, you’ve just got to keep playing your ball.”
It’s not unusual for coaches to contact the SEC over what they believe are incorrect calls. They just don’t usually become public and coaches rarely admit when they are.
“Yeah, no comment,” Smart said when asked on Monday.
Danielson did say he wished he crafted his words better. But otherwise there are no regrets.
"I thought the fans deserved, because of the next game, and it was a rematch. It wouldn't have come up if it wasn't a rematch," Danielson said. "That fans deserved to know that this was an issue. I didn't think that it should be kept in-house where only the officials and two coaches were aware of it. I think the fans have a right to know. And it wasn't anything that was hidden, in my humble opinion."