Will they try to fine us for this too?

To our Florida Gator fans in the area: You won't see too many editorials here taking up for Urban Meyer. So enjoy this one with our compliments!

The thing is, not even Georgia Bulldog fans should be buoyed by the Southeastern Conference's massive $30,000 fine against the Gators' coach for merely criticizing game officials.

The SEC, through its commissioner Mike Slive, has taken a new, hard line against coaches criticizing officials after games, as Meyer did recently. After the Oct. 31 Georgia-Florida game, Meyer said officials appeared to have missed a late hit on Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.

So what does the SEC do? Check to see if he's right? Fine or suspend the officials in question? Nope. They fine Meyer.

How sad.

Being free to express oneself -- and, in particular, to question authority -- runs deep within the American tradition. The SEC's draconian rule runs totally counter to that.

Moreover, how can the SEC possibly pretend to consider its officials beyond question or reproach? Especially after having had to suspend an entire officiating crew for blowing big calls in multiple games -- including calling an "excessive celebration" penalty against a Georgia player for merely getting excited after scoring a late touchdown Oct. 3? The horrible call helped Louisiana State University get great field position on the ensuing kickoff, and LSU went on to win.

If game officials are beyond question, then why is there instant replay? Hey, let's fine coaches for asking for an instant replay -- because, after all, that's questioning the officials, isn't it?

Why is it OK to question officials during the game, but not after?

This may not be the weightiest issue of the day, but it's nonetheless deeply troubling. We live in a free society with free speech in which not even our president is above criticism. Yet, the SEC and its commissioner have set themselves and their officials imperiously above it all. That stinks as much as bad officiating.

Get off your high horse, Commissioner Slive, and accept legitimate criticism like a man -- and like all other institutions in our free society.

A few years ago, college football decided to start identifying the player involved in a penalty on the field. Previously, officials wouldn't single out the player -- and would just cite the team. Somewhere along the line, they decided, quite rightly, that 300-pound college athletes are big enough to accept a little critical scrutiny.

Why aren't the grown-ups?