A.J. Green's spectacular late touchdown wan't enough.
Big time college football is an exciting experience. Anyone who has been to a meaningful game knows just how special those moments are as they are unfolding and eventually end up in the record books. I’ve been at a few major chapters in Nebraska history. The 1995 national championship game when the Huskers defeated the Florida Gators by more than a few touchdowns. I was at former quarterback Eric Crouch’s “Heisman moment” back in 2001 where he caught a touchdown pass on a reverse to defeat rival Oklahoma.
Key moments and plays in big time games happen. A lot is on the line and hundreds of hours of preparation go into said moments. So when kids in college who let loose after a big time defensive stop or touchdown are releasing a fair amount of emotion. So why in the world, after the months of toil, the beating up of your teammates in 100 degree August weather and late nights in film rooms, would an official feel justified in pulling a flag because of some end zone celebration?
Last weekend in Athens, Ga. a big time college football game in the Southeastern Conference, the current top conference in the country for football, the outcome of the game was directly impacted by just such a decision by an SEC official. Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green was penalized after scoring late against conference foe Louisiana State. The 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty cost the Bulldogs on the ensuing kickoff, which the Tigers return man promptly brought back in to Georgia Territory.
Now it could be argued that LSU would have scored whether or not the penalty after the Green touchdown. However, it cannot be argued that the Tiger’s drive was significantly helped by the referee’s decision to throw a little laundry on to the field. I know the officials have a tough job in front of 90,000 plus rabid and possibly inebriated fans, but it’s a job you choose to do.
The idea that an entity that is designed to enforce the rules of the game, that are mostly black and white, can decide the outcome of a hard fought contest is a little disheartening. If the penalty did not come down after Green’s touchdown, would LSU have folded and not tried to score? Would they have been so discouraged by his celebration they simply would have just thrown in the towel? No, that’s not what good teams do. They fight, scratch and claw their way back.
SEC officials after the game said they decided it was the right call because the player “drew attention to himself.” Well, of course he did. What would these gentlemen do if they had to if they had to officiate a soccer match?
This is an issue that happens at least once or twice a year. Last time it made big news it cost a team its entire season. Not because it was a pivotal game at the end of the season for the conference championship, or a significant bowl win. It was only the second game of the year, and it was enough to shatter a team’s confidence in itself. Washington was about to tie the game against ranked Brigham Young after a touchdown by then sophomore quarterback Jake Locker. After the emotional play, he spiked the ball and celebrated with his team. A long story short, he and the Huskies were penalized and had to kick the extra point from the 25 rather than the seven yard line. The kick was blocked and Washington lost a game that should have gone to overtime. The Huskies went on to lose every single game that year and Coach Tyrone Willingham eventually was fired. Was it all because of the official’s decision? Probably not, but many experts and writers point to that situation as a turning point in their season.
Georgia has a small consolation from their situation that happened on Saturday afternoon. SEC coordinator of officials Rogers Redding stated on Monday that after reviewing the infraction, from a different angle, that Green did nothing improper.
So the question remains, why are officials so concerned after a touchdown or big play so concerned with the emotional response from the player or players? Why do we not want to see these young men celebrate with each other, so long as no excessive taunting is taking place?
Redding said he will use the blown call as an opportunity to educate his officiating crews, but who gives the win and all that hard work back to the players? I could hardly imagine that officials in their fifties and sixties learning how to properly throw a penalty flag in these situations will do anything for the Georgia players.
