I asked some officials a few questions.

 

It is enforced even if the player does not score.

 

Live ball penalty so it's enforced from the spot of the infraction.

 

Can be called on the defense but it doesn't appear it's called very often.

The problem with this approach is that it would go against the way all other penalties are enforced.

 

If a holding penalty happens during a play (even a TD), the play is penalized - no TD and -10 yards. If something happens after a TD, it's a dead ball foul and is assessed on the extra point or the kickoff. IMO, to be completely consistent, if the celebration begins before the TD (crossing the goal line) the TD should be taken away and yardage penalty enforced. If it happens after the TD, then assess it on the XP or kickoff. If it is not enforced this way, what do you do if the kid starts celebrating prematurely and then is tackled at the one yard line? I think enforcement should be based on when/where the penalty happens, just like all other penalties.

 

Good point, in order for the penalty to be assessed after the TD it would have to be a dead ball foul. However in the case of holding or a block in the back, the foul may have allowed the player to score, in the case of celebration the action in no way gave the offense an unfair advantage. That would be my reasoning for assessing the foul the same as a dead ball foul. Agree, it would inconsistent, but that inconsistency is no worse than the inconsistency of how penalties are sometimes called because of the subjective nature of officiating in general.

Our favorite guy debating it:

 

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7327363

On the Cathedral play, the refs blew it. Raising a fist out of excitement isn't unsportsmanlike conduct. That is the dumbest call I've seen in a long time. That ref should hang up his whistle permanently.

On the Cathedral play, the refs blew it. Raising a fist out of excitement isn't unsportsmanlike conduct.

 

Says who?

Says who?

 

Me in post #34.

 

Dumbest call I've ever seen at the high school level.

Me in post #34.

 

Dumbest call I've ever seen at the high school level.

 

So you want the official to hang up his whistle for enforcing the rules?

So you want the official to hang up his whistle for enforcing the rules?

 

No, I want him to hang up his whistle for not enforcing common sense.

No, I want him to hang up his whistle for not enforcing common sense.

 

What other rules should he not enforce?

What other rules should he not enforce?

 

I don't think any rules were broken in that video.

I don't think any rules were broken in that video.

 

In talking to football officials and reading their comments you would be incorrect. Apparently, this has been a hot topic nationally and they've decided it's a penalty. Same with the NCAA.

 

Hate the rule. Hate the directives given to the officials. Do not bang on the officials for doing what he was told to do.

LN

 

Bear Bryant lives in our household, parents graduated from Alabama in 1962.

It is such a social commentary when the powers that be make rules and tell officials to enforce them, then when a call costs a team a game everyone wants to blame the official. From frivolous lawsuits to Hurricane Katrina, it's always someone else's fault.

Maybe enforcement of the rule should be a judgement call by the refs. In both cases, flagging was ridiculous.

 

Side note, the coverage for the game in Texas is unreal. We need to pick it up.

The rule used in the Cathedral game was that of the NCAA. Are we certain that the NCAA rule includes a ban on "celebratory" as well as "taunting" gestures? The article I read yesterday, stated the new-for-this-year NCAA rule included a ban on only "taunting" gestures, which I would not consider the QB raising his arm to be.