Flagged for Emotion

Join the forum discussion on this post - (2) Posts

There is less than two minutes left in a huge SEC game. A team scores what should probably be the winning touchdown. That would be an exciting moment right?  It would be cause for celebration right? Well apparently not. No celebrating allowed in this league. If you do, we’ll flag you 15 yards. Now instead of the other team getting the ball at the 30, needing a field goal to win, they will get it at the 45. And now your TD will go for naught. Because I, the all knowing zebra, with the aid of a bunch of suits, have decided who wins the game. It’s beyond ridiculous. If a guy scores a TD and taunts the other team, then throw a flag. But celebrating with his teammates?

I know. LSU had the same penalty called against them. I know. I’m not really even talking specifically about the LSU UGA game. I’m talking about the dozens of games I’ve seen this called. The dozens of future games it will be called in also. Georgia really can’t complain too much. The Scott run to win the game? He would have scored from 15 yards further out. It’s not like somebody was dragging him down at the goal line. And even if he didn’t score, all LSU needed was a field goal anyway. Also LSU was flagged for the same thing, giving UGA an opportunity to do to LSU, what was done to them. They could not.

But this rule is ridiculous. Football is perhaps THE most emotional game of all. Players must be “fired up” to compete at their best. They beat and bang on each other for over three hours and when it looks like all the hard work has paid off with a big win, oh wait…don’t celebrate. We don’t want a flag. This is beyond stupid.

About Jim: Thank you to the senior class of 2009!

Related posts:

1. SEC Ref-Gate
2. Mack Brown Not Swayed by Emotion
3. Striving for that Perfect Season
4. Ryan Mallett Looks Good on Paper
5. Florida Georgia Recap