Kenny Dillingham of Arizona State faces a fine and public reprimand from the NCAA and Big 12 for his comments against the College Football Playoff.
The NCAA and the Big 12 Conference have disciplined Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham for comments he made about the controversial officiating during the College Football Playoff (CFP) Championship game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Dillingham has been penalised $25,000 and given a formal public reprimand for his remarks, which were judged improper and violated NCAA conduct guidelines.
During a news conference earlier this week, Dillingham expressed dissatisfaction with a key officiating decision in the CFP Championship game, calling it “a blatant missed call” and claiming that it altered the game’s outcome. His remarks immediately gained popularity online, eliciting applause from some fans but also garnering fire from league officials. The NCAA and Big 12 Conference, which oversaw key portions of the event, reacted quickly, emphasising their commitment to the integrity of college athletics.
In a joint statement, the NCAA and Big 12 declared, “Publicly criticising officiating decisions damages the game’s integrity and the hard-working officials who attempt to ensure fairness on the field. We have reminded Coach Dillingham of his responsibilities to follow NCAA criteria and behave himself in a way that reflects well on his school and collegiate football as a whole.”
Following the punitive actions, the Arizona State Sun Devils issued a statement accepting the NCAA’s decision and reaffirming their support for their head coach. “While we respect the governing bodies’ ruling, we stand behind Coach Dillingham and his passion for the game,” according to the statement.
Dillingham, who is in his first year as Sun Devils head coach, has established himself as an assertive and active leader. Following the news of the fine, Dillingham issued an apology, saying, “I let my emotions get the best of me, and I apologise for any inconvenience this has caused. I have the utmost regard for officials and the difficult job they perform. My concentration remains on leading the Sun Devils to victory.”
The debate comes at a time when major game officiating decisions are being scrutinised more closely, with fans and experts constantly questioning the role of human error in sport. While the CFP Championship game is now in the rearview mirror, the impact from Dillingham’s statements serves as a reminder that high-profile persons’ words have weight.
As the Sun Devils prepare for the rest of the season, the event shows the delicate balance that coaches must strike between expressing their opinions and meeting the requirements of their leadership responsibilities.