(Not) Holding in the SEC

November 10, 2012; Columbia, SC, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks running back Jonathan Williams (32) is brought down by South Carolina Gamecocks linebacker Mason Harris (34) and South Carolina Gamecocks linebacker Damario Jeffery (33) in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-US PRESSWIRE

This is Garnet and Cocky’s final installment of “(Not) Holding in the SEC” this year.

Until yesterday, SEC offenses had been called for just one holding penalty against the Gamecocks defense IN THE PAST TWO COMBINED  SEASONS.

Yesterday, though, Arkansas was called for a hold after one of their linemen tackled Jadeveon Clowney. The officiating crew (the same one that blew a terrible call on D.J. Swearinger for an illegal hit) didn’t want to throw the flag, and the entire stadium was booing before Clowney got out from beneath the linemen and begged for it.

That brings the grand total of offensive holding penalties called against opposing SEC offenses since the start of the 2011 season to two. Yes. Two.

The Gamecocks have played 16 SEC games in that span, and run countless defensive plays, and just two resulted in a holding call against an opposing offensive player.

Overall (AKA including special teams plays) South Carolina’s SEC opponents have now been called for four holding penalties since 2011 began.

It’s almost unfathomable.

In that same time span, the Gamecocks have been called for 13 holding penalties.

In case you’re like me, and treat math like you treat the common cold, that’s pretty big disparity.

I don’t know if it’s a bias against the Gamecocks, an indictment on just how bad SEC referees are or a combination of the two, but this is a stat I’ve spent hours documenting, and it’s not a lie.

Clowney said after the game, that in order to draw a holding penalty in this league, you basically have to get tackled by an offensive linemen.

Since this is the last installment of this segment this year, I’ll repeat the most important thing to takeaway from it:

In the past 16 SEC games, South Carolina’s opponents have been called for just TWO (DOS, A COUPLE, 1+1, A PAIR) offensive holding penalties.