Stop the unsportsmanlike madness
by cocknfire
on Sep 7, 2008 1:00 AM EDT
in Football
If there is a single penalty in college football that C&F really, really hates, it's the unsportsmanlike penalty call for excessive celebration. And a flag against Jake Locker during the BYU-Washington game is a perfect example of why.
Following the penalty, BYU blocked Washington's point-after attempt, winning the game. The flag cost the Huskies a chance to win the game in overtime.
Now, you can make a reasonable argument that, by throwing the ball in the air, Locker did violate the rule and thus should have been flagged. Which is insane. But that's the rule.
This is hardly the first time the rule has been shown to be a farce in late-game situations. The college football world was denied a potentially thrilling upset in 2005 when Vanderbilt scored a last-minute TD against Florida and was ready to for two to win the game. But the Dores were flagged for celebration, took the single point and lost the game in overtime. It didn't help that the call was horribly overblown; the penalty never should have been called in the first place.
The biggest problem I have with the rule is that the penalty is far, far too harsh. By making it a personal foul and a 15-yarder, the NCAA is essentially saying that celebrating too much is as bad as pulling someone down by the facemask, hammering the quarterback after he's thrown the ball, hitting a player late or leading with the helmet. In other words, infractions that can cause injuries.
Last time I checked, the only thing excessive celebration can hurt is someone's feelings.
A call that is so subjective and so inane should not change the face of a game. I still question whether any celebration but the most Chad Johnson-esque should be punished at all. But if a player is going to be flagged every time he tosses the ball in the air, it certainly shouldn't be 15 yards.
Players are going to celebrate. College football is an emotional game, and it should be. To try to rip out the heart of the game, as this rule does, is an insult to fans and players.
If you want a game without heart, without a the kind of spirit that occasionally produces a celebration, watch croquet. But leave football alone.
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Yeah...
Can’t think of any worse way for the refs to control the outcome of a game. That Florida-Vandy match-up was ruined due to refs looking out for the Gators. Pathetic.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Sep 7, 2008 11:07 AM EDT 0 recs
I understand all the complaints about the penalty, but everyone seems to ignore the fact that BYU still had to BLOCK the PAT to earn the win. The flag didn’t cost the Huskies, the blocked kick cost the Huskies.
by Snead on Sep 8, 2008 7:44 AM EDT 0 recs
Well...
I agree that the Huskies should have made that kick, but the call still affected the game. First of all, it probably affected Washington mentally. Second of all, a kicker can put higher arch on a PAT than on a kick from further out, making it difficult to block.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Sep 8, 2008 1:11 PM EDT 0 recs
Good Point
On the arch of the ball. A 28-yarder is more difficult.
Just another reason to hate kickers.
by Snead on Sep 9, 2008 11:37 AM EDT 0 recs
100% agreed
I don’t understand folks that whine about celebration, even when it is “excessive”. But definitely not when its just a guy having fun. Has the NCAA forgotten that these guys are playing a game? Its utterly ridiculous.
But you have to remember that none of the new rules have anything to do with preventing injuries. If they wanted to prevent injuries, they would have kept the 5 yard facemasks. The 15 yard for all just encourages people to never let go if they happen to brush it a bit.
I think we’ve taken gigantic leaps backwards in both areas.
by jsight on Sep 9, 2008 9:06 PM EDT 0 recs
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