Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill confirms that he complained about footballs used in the Bulldogs' game at Auburn on Oct. 9, but says he never accused the Tigers of using helium.
"I never asked the officials to check Auburn's ball for helium," Sherrill said Wednesday. "The only thing I asked the officials to check is that the balls were not legally inflated. The facts are the balls were not legal balls. The facts are the balls were taken out of the game."Several Alabama newspapers reported in Tuesday editions that Sherrill's charges had included the use of helium. None of the papers cited a source linking Sherrill with the helium charge, nor did they say whether the alleged charge was made to referees at the game.
Sherrill said the illegally under-inflated balls were the ones being used by Auburn's offense, not State's.
"The officials made Auburn use our balls until they had legal balls to put in the game," Sherrill said.
Southeastern Conference commissioner Roy Kramer refused to respond to Sherrill's comments.
"We've already issued our statement," he said, referring to a Tuesday statement that the matter is closed.