I was afraid of this and I see this ruining some games and puts too much power in the refs hands on a subjective matter. Why would anyone think that taking away a touchdown on something like this is a good idea?
The new taunting penalty...
- Thread starter Incognegro
- Start date
I agree with you. I don't like taunting or celebration penalties period. Get rid of them all in my opinion, but I certainly don't like them being used to take away touchdowns.
Given the way UT lost to LSU and UNC last year, my bet is UT loses to Alabama this year when they score a game-winning TD on the final play of regulation only to have it taken away by a taunting penalty, awarding Alabama a victory.
Honestly, I expect this rule to have about the same life span as the rule a few years back that started the clock on kickoffs when the ball was kicked, not when it was received.
Given the way UT lost to LSU and UNC last year, my bet is UT loses to Alabama this year when they score a game-winning TD on the final play of regulation only to have it taken away by a taunting penalty, awarding Alabama a victory.
Honestly, I expect this rule to have about the same life span as the rule a few years back that started the clock on kickoffs when the ball was kicked, not when it was received.
"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; ">awarding Alabama a victory."</span>
One of our guys breaks past all the defenders on a long run and is almost to the endzone. He looks back, sees no defenders behind him, and slows down. The ref throws a flag saying his slowing down was taunting a defender. Crowd boos wildly. We lose. SEC officials privately apologize to us in a letter and send Dan Mullen a fine of $50,000 because he said in a press conference that he didn't think our player was taunting.
I have two sides of me on this issue. The first is that I get really angry with our players when they do something to earn a taunting penalty because it's a rule, and I want them to follow it.
However, I'm also a proponent of making rules ONLY apply to situations when safety or gaining an unfair advantage are at stake. Almost all penalties are one or the other. Even the new horse collar rules, like the facemask rule, is primarily a safety related rule, and I'm fine with that. Holding, offsides, clipping, illegal formation, intentional grounding, all of those are either rules preventing a team from gaining an unfair advantage or keeping players safe. I even get the sideline warning penalties, because that's a safety issue ultimately.
The only penalty I can think of that punishes players for something that has zero effect on the actual play are the celebration and taunting rules. A guy doing a jig in the endzone had zero impact on the play or the actual game. I don't like too much individuality in a football game, but that's a personal taste issue for me, and I don't think it's something worthy of punishing. Just my opinion.
However, I'm also a proponent of making rules ONLY apply to situations when safety or gaining an unfair advantage are at stake. Almost all penalties are one or the other. Even the new horse collar rules, like the facemask rule, is primarily a safety related rule, and I'm fine with that. Holding, offsides, clipping, illegal formation, intentional grounding, all of those are either rules preventing a team from gaining an unfair advantage or keeping players safe. I even get the sideline warning penalties, because that's a safety issue ultimately.
The only penalty I can think of that punishes players for something that has zero effect on the actual play are the celebration and taunting rules. A guy doing a jig in the endzone had zero impact on the play or the actual game. I don't like too much individuality in a football game, but that's a personal taste issue for me, and I don't think it's something worthy of punishing. Just my opinion.
In theory, I've got no problem with taking a TD away from a player who is a complete jackass. But it's a judgment call, andsomebody's going to get a TD takenaway unfairly.It'll probably cost someone a game this season. It's not like we didn't already have a very stiff penalty for this. Kicking off from the 15-yard line gives your opponent the ball at mid-field. I was OK with the old rule, but this is overkill.
Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but with how fickle refs can be, I wouldn't be surprised if they would consider actions like this as taunting:<div><span> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_x-VyXj9FJI?f=videos&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355" allowScriptAccess="never" ></embed> </span>
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</span></div><div><span>Even though all he's doing is nodding his head in excitement, the fact he's doing it before he reaches the endzone could be considered taunting depending on which ref is looking. I just don't like the thought that any show of excitement is potentially seen as a bad thing.</span></div>
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</span></div><div><span>Even though all he's doing is nodding his head in excitement, the fact he's doing it before he reaches the endzone could be considered taunting depending on which ref is looking. I just don't like the thought that any show of excitement is potentially seen as a bad thing.</span></div>
Where does celebration end and taunting begin??
I personally think that the NCAA is trying to take the fun out of the game. I am not for blatant taunting but I love a good celebration. This isn't the NFL... These kids (I know... rule whatever violation) are playing a game. Let them have some good clean fun. In the NFL, its the players JOB to score. I have no problem with them being "professional" about a TD, hand the ball to the zebra, and go about his business. But they should let the college, high school, and pewee kids have a good time playing their GAME.
Like you guys are saying, I think this rule is going to cost a big team in a high profile contest a game. I don't look for it to last long.
I personally think that the NCAA is trying to take the fun out of the game. I am not for blatant taunting but I love a good celebration. This isn't the NFL... These kids (I know... rule whatever violation) are playing a game. Let them have some good clean fun. In the NFL, its the players JOB to score. I have no problem with them being "professional" about a TD, hand the ball to the zebra, and go about his business. But they should let the college, high school, and pewee kids have a good time playing their GAME.
Like you guys are saying, I think this rule is going to cost a big team in a high profile contest a game. I don't look for it to last long.
So many times I've seen the ref stare down the player while throwing the flag.
And yes, college players should not be treated like its their job like NFL players. Bu the thing is, NFL celebration rules are way less strict than college. There's so much celebration that goes uncalled on Sundays that would get a penalty in the college game.
And yes, college players should not be treated like its their job like NFL players. Bu the thing is, NFL celebration rules are way less strict than college. There's so much celebration that goes uncalled on Sundays that would get a penalty in the college game.
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