The NCAA issued some new rules, the latest in a string of purely stupid rules that only make the game less fun and serve to make refs into judges.
Currently, players who are penalized for taunting on their way to the end zone draw a 15-yard penalty on the extra point attempt, 2-point conversion attempt or the ensuing kickoff.
Beginning in 2011, live-ball penalties will be assessed from the spot of the foul and eliminate the score. Examples include players finishing touchdown runs by high-stepping into the end zone or pointing the ball toward an opponent.
Celebration penalties following a score will continue to be assessed on conversion attempts or the ensuing kickoff.
First I don’t like the idea behind the rules. That base idea is that everyone on a football field has to be nice and friendly and help one another up after a hit and bow to one another before and after plays. This is BS. While I don’t think people should be trying to blind one another (I’m looking at you, Florida), I don’t think we all have to be best friends before, during and after plays either. And talking a little shit should be allowed too. But, I can live with the idea if I have to. I dont like it, but I understand it.
It’s the execution that’s freaking impossible, and makes the entire set of rules absurd.
We’re asking Refs to become judges. And what do you get when you have judges instead of refs?
Effing Ice Dancing.
Or this…
There’s literally no way to do this consistently. Unsportsmanlike has been so amazingly controversial – inconsistently applied, often very conveniently applied to help the home team, and sometimes resulting in game-changing decisions that literally has the ref CHOOSING who should win the game based on something he FELT was inappropriate. This isnt “See X, Call Y”. It’s not enforcement of a rule, but judgment of ‘how far along the line’ the player is. “Well, now that look there, that was okay, he just sorta looked a little triumphant…but THAT LOOK? WHOOOOAAAA, hold on there buddy, that’s fifteen freaking yards.” /FLAGfansyellingatrefsandtvsandgoodlordwhatshappeningitwasthesamedamn
thingyouignoredoneplayagoyoudouchebag
Give me a break, NCAA. This is impossible, and you’re making things worse.
Here’s a quick example. You know how some players jump/dive into the endzone? Well, which one is that? Is that celebrating before the score? Or after? Because if it’s before, the score is negated. If it’s after, the penalty is applied on the kickoff. So which is it? Does it depend on where he jumps from? How high he jumps? If it’s higher and that means that the score is negated, are we now penalizing dudes just because they have serious hops? Or is this act of ‘taunting’ (I’d say it’s celebration, but whatever) done DURING the act of scoring, which means we’ve found a loophole? NOBODY EFFING KNOWS, WHICH IS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM. It will change from game to game, play to play, player to player, and Judge to respected Judge.
EDSBS has the best rant on this possible. Ignore Voltaire and just go straight to FireHorse. I’d be yelling crazily in ALL CAPS non-stop here if it hadnt already been done for me in such a fantastic way.
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME YOU NANNYING FUCKBAGS? FIREHORSE IS COMING TO YOUR TOWNS TO RUN THROUGH YOUR DRAPES AND SET YOUR PRECIOUS LINENS ABLAZE!!!
In short, I can’t wait to see Lane Kiffin’s squad’s scores this year. I hope they botch their short program. A 7.2 would be quite delightful.
EDIT: In the comments section at EDSBS, I found the NCAA’s PR Office’s phone number. We recommend calling them to voice your displeasure: 317-917-6762
Don't take me, yourself, or life so seriously. This is supposed to be fun.
Biscuit co-founded HerLoyalSons in partnership with his ND roommate (Dillon Hall baby!), MQ, in 2006 and has been ranting about ND Football and everything Notre Dame since. He strongly believes in the mission of ND and its football program. Biscuit expects logic and data in arguments and will absolutely crush you if you come to a debate missing one or the other. He despises everything Michigan, and his favorite pastime is mocking Purdue.
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At least Tom Hammond will be a little more comfortable calling the games…
Thank God those 2 are wearing skates, or we’d have just gotten most of our readership fired.
I actually like this rule but agree that the implementation will be problematic at best. A 15 yard penalty is really a non-deterrent unless the game is really close. Taking away a score could be more effective. We can only hope that the refs give concrete examples to the coaches before the season and then enforce only those examples of taunting–i.e. pointing at the defender as you cross the goal line.
Way back in the day ND lost a TD in a close game on a TD pass against Missouri (I think) that they ended up losing. Hopefully that won’t happen again. I’m guessing BK won’t have a problem getting the point across about taunting to the team. I don’t think he will tolerate taunting anyway.
I agree that these rule changes are garbage. They are applied in a completely arbitrary way, and now it looks to only get worse.
I’ve seen Notre Dame get hit with a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the Big House that ended up costing the Irish the game. Even after watching the replays multiple times, it was much ado about nothing. Infuriating. These type of things shouldn’t decide outcomes of games. And, besides, God forbid a 19 or 20 year old kid is excited and does some celebrating with his teammates after putting up the go-ahead score in front of 100,000 people. The athletic talent of these kids is exploited to the tune of millions of dollars, but then the NCAA tries to suppress their emotions in the name of sportsmanship? Give me a break.
The idea is not that you have to be nice to your opponents, the idea is that you are not to show your opponents up in a way that is calculated to frustrate and humiliate (and thus might be a flash point for extracurriculars later).
In the abstract, I don’t disapprove, but I’m sure there will be ample issues in the actual implementation.
I will never forget watching John Carlson get a big gain down the middle from Jimmy to around the 3 yard line during the Duke game in our horrible 3-9 season. Carlson gave the first down wave and was given a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty. The penalty killed our momentum in a season where we desparately needed some. The kicker is that I watched at least three other players for other teams in other college games that day do the exact same thing and and nary a penalty was called. This rule is bs. Flag the kid for unsportmanlike conduct, but a score should not be taken off of the board.
tjak, that’s really the point – that it CAN’T be implemented consistently across tons of crews in tons of games across different conferences, etc. it’s a joke. a facemask is a facemask, but when is standing up over another player unsportsmanlike, vs just standing? who can tell the difference? it’s a joke.
I love the fact that last year, this rule was in the spotlight because of the Georgia / LSU game. AJ Green gets flagged, LSU gets better field position and ends up winning. Solution? Let’s make it worse! Now we take away the touchdown!
unbelievable…
I’ve never liked this stupid rule in the first place, and now they’re making it even MORE stupid. Turning football into a damn basketball game with this one.