Middle Tennessee head coach Derek Mason criticizes officiating; reprimanded by CUSA

Middle Tennessee head coach Derek Mason wasn’t shy about his feeling toward the Conference USA officiating crew after his Blue Raiders’ 23-13 loss at Jacksonville State in Week 4.

Mason opened his Monday press conference criticizing the officials, stating they missed 17 holding calls on Jax State.

“I just got off the phone with (Conference USA Associate Commissioner) Tre (Stallings). I just had some serious dialogue about the referre calls in this damn ballgame,” Mason said. “I’m tired of the bulls**t. Excuse my French. I’m tired. At the end of the day man, we gotta get to a point where these damn referees show up and do their damn job. Okay, man, there’s over 17 submitted holding calls against a really good Jax State team that were ready and available and they were at the point of confrontation. I thought it was straight up bull.”

The Gamecocks were flagged three times for 30 penalties, while Mason’s Blue Raiders committed seven penalties for 55 yards.

“I don’t mind a loss, and I’m not one to ever get in front of the media and talk about these types of things,” Mason said. “But at the end of the day, these referees have to be better. They have to do their damn job and be better. Okay, man, and that’s the message going out to everybody who refs these damn games. Be better.”

Later on Monday, Conference USA released an official statement reprimanding Mason for his comments:

“Middle Tennessee head coach Derek Mason has been formally reprimanded by Conference USA for violating the league’s sportsmanship policy. Mason publicly criticized the conference’s football officiating during the Blue Raiders’ Conference USA opener against Jacksonville State during his press conference on Monday. Conference USA bylaws state that comments on officiating are to be directed only to the Conference office, and public comments by institutional personnel criticizing officials are prohibited. Conference USA will have no further comment on the incident.”

Middle Tennessee (2-2, 0-1 CUSA) concludes its non-conference slate Saturday at Kansas, before continuing its run through CUSA play. Mason’s improved Blue Raiders team is already one victory away from matching its 2025 win total.