Comments on: When Refs Become Judges

By: trey

trey — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 23:14:29 +0000

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.

By: JM

JM — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 22:19:21 +0000

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…

By: The Biscuit

The Biscuit — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 21:56:23 +0000

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.

By: tjak

tjak — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 21:51:30 +0000

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.

By: Craig

Craig — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 20:09:13 +0000

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.

By: Pat

Pat — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:14:48 +0000

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.

By: SDI

SDI — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:33:59 +0000

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.

By: domer.mq

domer.mq — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:23:44 +0000

Thank God those 2 are wearing skates, or we’d have just gotten most of our readership fired.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:00:14 +0000

At least Tom Hammond will be a little more comfortable calling the games…