Comments on: It’s time to eliminate the “excessive celebration” rule

By: Get over it

Get over it — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:40:35 +0000

watching bowl games today, and seeing this call multiple times today in various games. Why not just let the coaches deal with the unsportsmanlike issues of players if they think it is so. Why penalize a good play even if a player is a jerk? Celebration of any kind of an individual is just that, a release of emotion; and any release of emotion of a good job done is unsportsmanlike like? Give me a break. That is stupid. There should be NO kind of unsportsmanlike like calls regardless. It should be up to the coaches to deal with it. so what if a guy goes into the end zone with no one in 30 yards and decides “heck, I might as well just stop and walk in; why should I run if they aren’t here to catch me?” Is that being a poor sport or just smart and relieved to be there alone. If they guy does a great job alone, then so what? Give it all up and give it back to the coaches to deal with. I’m tired of penalties on emotions. It’s on the verge of …. communistic. It’s like government trying to control what we do in our private lives. It just don’t feel right.

By: Criticizing SEC refs can now get you fined or suspended (unless you’re the SEC) | Florida Sports Net

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:49:36 +0000

[...] a rough month for SEC officials. We know because the SEC has told us so: When Georgia fans were up in arms over a phantom taunting call against A.J. Green following a late touchdown in the Bulldogs’ [...]

By: Criticizing SEC refs can now get you fined or suspended (unless you’re the SEC) | Sports News Images and Videos

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:52:30 +0000

By: Burned twice, SEC puts wayward officials on ice | Florida Sports Net

Burned twice, SEC puts wayward officials on ice | Florida Sports Net — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:56:28 +0000

[...] reviled calls in a three-week span on one of the sport’s most visible stages, prompting hyperbolic editorials and threatening their conference’s integrity by the sheer weight of public [...]

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Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:51:54 +0000

[...] against Washington earlier this month — would have been subject to a public outcry, editorials demanding accountability, threats against the officials themselves and ultimately been forced to suspend the crew in the [...]

By: Burned twice, SEC puts wayward officials on ice | Sports News Images and Videos

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:42:39 +0000

By: Burned twice, SEC puts wayward officials on ice | ReadSports.com - Your primary source for all sporting news

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:00:14 +0000

By: RGP

RGP — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:24:32 +0000

I agree with you on excessive celebration. All three of them should have been no calls. Poor judgement by officials. None of the players were drawing attention to themselves. They were excited which shouldnt be a penalty. UGA’s lack of running game, predictable play calling, and too many 3rd down and long yardage has hurt worse. Lack of offense in first half killed them.

By: DawgVoiceofReason

DawgVoiceofReason — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:53:26 +0000

G8TR “It’s incredible the way you people “remember” how the Gator players chomp after every play/score.” Perhaps it is you who misinterpret what people are saying. Yes he does not litterally do the “gator chomp” after every score, but he frequently individually celebrates his touchdowns or big plays, clearly worse than either Greene or Scott — look at some of the videos on youtube and see for yourself.

In response to your questioning why UGA fans remember the times we got ripped off or lost out on opportunities due to unfortunate circumstances. Of course we do; it’s human nature. We also remember the good times, but you wouldn’t notice that would you? Why? Because you are focusing on the negative too!! Duh!!!

By: DawgVoiceofReason

DawgVoiceofReason — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:38:32 +0000

From Wikipedia, the rule that all have been discussing, sometimes with “excessive ignorance”:

NCAA Football Rule 9-2, Article 1(a)(1)(d) prohibits “Any delayed, excessive, prolonged or choreographed act by which a player (or players) attempts to focus attention upon himself (or themselves)”; in addition, Rule 9-2, Article 1(a)(2) asserts that “After a score or any other play, the player in possession immediately must return the ball to an official or leave it near the dead-ball spot.”[2] Additionally, if a player’s actions is considered “unsportsmanlike conduct” the result is dead-ball foul; a “flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct” foul requires player ejection. If a player’s nonfootball-related act (e.g. taunting or cursing) causes an opponent to physically retaliate, it is considered fighting and both players are ejected.[3]

The call against Greene was not the worst ever, but clearly it was a terrible call that had a direct (if incalcuable) impact on the outcome of the game. The call against Scott was also an embarrasment.

It is also apparent that other clear violations of the rule, in both letter or spirit, by players in other situations are not called. There is something seriously wrong with either the referee’s instruction or their interpretation of the rule. As it is, it is a disaster. It is painfully ironic that Vince Dooley is one of the instigators of the rule. The rule was definitely needed at the time it was implemented, so I do give Coach Dooley credit but it needs revamping NOW!!!