Alabama's Quinton Dial won't be suspended by SEC

The SEC announced on Thursday that Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Quinton Dial will not receive a suspension following his controversial hit on Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Aaron Murray in the SEC title game, making him available for the BCS title game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Dial hit Murray after the quarterback tossed an interception, flattening him with a helmet-to-helmet blow. Video of the hit can be seen below:

Quinton Dial hit on Aaron Murray - SEC Championship (via seancreepy)

SEC coordinator of officials Steve Shaw admitted that Dial's hit on Murray should have drawn a flag, but deferred to commissioner Mike Slive's judgment on a suspension.

Slive suspended two SEC players, Mississippi Rebels defensive back Trae Elston and South Carolina safety D.J. Swearinger, earlier this season for flagrant hits. Slive used Rule 9-1-4 of the NCAA rulebook as justification for the suspensions, which reads:

"No player shall target and initiate contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, elbow or shoulder."

This post first appeared on SB Nation.