My mother used to say to me, "I don't care if you're right. Just stop talking." She still does, actually.

The Pac-10 and my mother have a lot in common: The Pac-10 has admitted that officials blew a critical face mask call against Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict with 6:14 remaining in the Sun Devils' tight game with No. 6 Stanford on Saturday, but it also reprimanded Erickson for pointing out the bad call after the game.

“Regardless of the circumstances, the Pac-10 has clear and specific rules that prohibit our coaches from making public comments about officiating,” Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott said in a press release. “There are protocols in place that provide our coaches with the opportunity to grade officials each week and to privately voice their concern to the conference office. We expect each Pac-10 coach to adhere to the conference protocol and policies.”

The penalty was critical because Burfict protested his innocence to the officials -- apparently with a potty mouth -- and was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.

"In reference to the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, the proper and correct call was made," the Pac-10 release said. "Profanity personally directed at an official is an automatic trigger for an unsportsmanlike penalty in every instance."

The combined penalties moved Stanford inside the Arizona State 10-yard line, and Owen Marecic later scored the game-winning touchdown on a 1-yard run.