Isn't football suppose to be a game? When you do something great, like scoring a touchdown, should you get punished by getting a personal foul for celebrating? By now, you have heard about the controversial penalty that was called in the Washington-BYU game. Washington Quarterback Jake Locker scored from 3-yards out with two seconds remaining to put his team within an extra point of forcing halftime. However, the officials penalized Locker for unsportsmanlike conduct. The extra point was pushed back 15-yards, and was blocked by BYU. The rule is clear cut, but should the refs determine a game because of a player's excitement and reaction to possibly tieing the game?
In my opinion, no they should not. While the rule does say "throw the ball in the air," Locker did not throw the ball in a taunting manner, and it did not land very far from where he was at. It was pure emotion. It was more like a flip, and was not very taunting. Should refs be more lenient on emotional moments, such as this play? I think even though this rule is black and white, there should be some "wiggle" room for situations like this. The game was not delayed by the throw, it did not end up in the crowd, it was taunting, and the ball did not hit any other player. I hate to see a game decided by a call that had no effect on play, and I don't think I am not the only one.
While I disagree with the call, the refs did enforce the rules. In fact, the rule needs to be looked at to keep the emotion in college football.
I read a column earlier this week by Chattanooga Times Free Press' Ward Gossett on an overzealous ref enforcing the new sideline rules. In his column (that link will take you to his column), he makes a point that really good officials blend into the game, and not become a primary part of it. I second that idea. We have some great officials in this area, and I bet almost everyone of them wants the game to be decided by the teams on the field and not the refs.
