Sports commentators called the penalty "pathetic" following the September 6, 2008 football game between the Washington Huskies and the BYU Cougars. Washington quarterback Jake Locker scored a touchdown with two seconds left in the game to pull the Huskies within one point. Locker threw the ball into the air in a moment of spontaneous celebration.
Washington Huskies BYU
Unfortunately for Washington, and fortunately for BYU, this is a violation of the new NCAA excessive celebration rule. Washington was assessed a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for the extra point that would tie the game and send it into overtime. The kick was blocked. The Huskies lost.
Quarterback Jake Locker
Immediately TV sports commentators sympathized with Locker and criticized the referees for calling the penalty. They assumed that the call cost Washington the game and said the officials should have "let it go" even though the throw was clearly against the rule that requires players to give an official the ball immediately upon scoring a touchdown or leave it where they were tackled.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct Penalty
Referee Larry Farina defended his call in a statement given to Washington coaches. "After scoring the touchdown, the player threw the ball into the air and we are required, by rule, to assess a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. It is a celebration rule that we are required to call. It was not a judgment call."
15 Yard Penalty
Brian Grummell of Fanhouse agrees with the outraged sports reporters. He says, "Part of the massive appeal of college football is the raw emotion and boundless energy of the players and coaches. There are certainly questionable celebrations that taunt and embarrass opponents or draw unnecessary attention to the player. This wasn't that kind of celebration however, and in my view Washington was unfairly punished in a manner that led directly to their defeat."
Blocked Extra Point
It is mistake to assume that the penalty cost Washington a victory. The extra point was blocked. Washington could have prevented that if they protected their kicker better. There is no evidence that the kick would have been successful if it was tried 15 yards closer. It Washington did make the extra point it would have sent the game into overtime. Either team could have won in overtime.
Excessive Celebration Rule
Sports commentators are like political commentators. If they don't have anything controversial to talk about they don't have anything to talk about. The TV reporters are out of line criticizing the officials. The referee in the Washington-BYU game made a call according to the way the rules are written. Saying the referee is "pathetic" and should have ignored the rule is ridiculous and borderline unethical.
The sports commentators seem to have a problem with the NCAA excessive celebration rule itself. The criticism should then be leveled against the rule, not the referees. The NCAA might respond to that criticism and change the rule next season.
Kent Ninomiya - Kent Ninomiya is a veteran journalist with more than 22 years experience as a television news anchor, reporter, writer and executive.
