Kentucky running back Benny Snell was upset with what he thought should have been a late hit during the second quarter of the Music City Bowl in Nashville.
Then, the referee tried to help Snell up and he wasn't having it — fair enough. Except, the referee threw a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected him from the game.
This is why Benny Snell was ejected. pic.twitter.com/QVFczR8anz
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) December 29, 2017
The Wildcats trailed 10-7 and had driven inside Northwestern territory before Snell's ejection. The penalty set them back 10 yards and the drive ended with a punt.
Snell will be a big loss for Kentucky the rest of the game: he is the Wildcats' starter and has rushed for 1318 yards this season and with 18 touchdowns.
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Viewers vilified the referee on Twitter after the play.
That is an outrageous call by the officials ejecting Benny Snell
— Dr. Saturday (@YahooDrSaturday) December 29, 2017
Benny Snell was just ejected from the game for this. Refusing a refs help up?!? Never seen anything like it pic.twitter.com/MX1rMaOglJ
— B1G Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) December 29, 2017
twitter of the day: Benny snell ejected for hurting the referee’s feelings. 😂😂😂
— J. Nuno Norberto (@jezimar) December 29, 2017
What just happened to Benny Snell for UK in #MusicCityBowl is atrocious and is a microcosm of the state of NCAA officiating, these refs think the game is about them
— Raining Js (@J_Money8287) December 29, 2017
@NCAAFootball needs to have Benny Snell reinstated for the second half and that ref ejected. #MusicCityBowl
— Josh Taylor (@uacpa12) December 29, 2017