So Apparently A High School Football Player...

[Steely_Dan]

...makes a touchdown and then drops to his knees and then points to the heavens in a religious gesture. The referee throws a flag for excessive celebration.

Are you kidding me??? I completely disagree with the penalty and I am a devout atheist.

-P

[peace13]

1. At the OSU- MI game last week OSU got the same penalty for ..

touching their pointer fingers and thumbs together to make a block O that was designed into the glove! Go figure. I don't take this High School thing as a vote against god. The ref's are really getting zombie about the end zone!

[Renew Deal]

2. Do you have a video?

The rule generally is that you can't draw attention to yourself.

[Steely_Dan]

3. I Understand That....

...and on those grounds, I think that there is a solid argument for the penalty. However...the demonstration took less than two seconds. There was no delay. I think that we need to be careful here. There is the spirit of the rule and the literal application of the rule.

I see your point though.

-P

[SlimJimmy]

4. I'm with you on this one. I don't think it was excessive in any manner

whatsoever.

[Renew Deal]

14. I found the video

http://www.sportsgrid.com/media/watch-a-high-school-player-penalized-for-giving-props-to-jesus/

I don't think that's enough to call, but it fits the criteria of a "prolonged act that draws attention." The rule is: 9-5-1c "Any delayed, excessive, or prolonged act by which a player attempts to focus attention upon himself" is unsportsmanlike conduct.

The score ended up being 63-27. It might have more to do with that than anything else. There is no issue of religious oppression from the referees. They are technically correct.

[T Wolf]

5. HS kids do dumb things. And it does not stop there... "NFL Player Blames God For Loss"

http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2010/12/nfl_player_blames_god_for_loss.php

Maybe gawd was concerned about covering the spread.

[EOTE]

9. At least he's being consistent.

I find it refreshing that for once, an athlete blames God for his poor performance. It would seem to be rather hypocritical to credit God for all of one's successes and ignore him during leaner times. As a snake handler, I get really pissed off when I get bitten or sick from drinking venom. Dammit God, you were supposed to protect me!

[JonLP24]

20. Buffalo still covered

[Codeine]

6. I really dislike the excessive celebration rules.

Go nuts; you scored, you earned the right to jump around and act the fool for a bit.

[Sonoman]

7. He should be pointing at his coach.

Dog doesn't draw up the playbook.

Or he could point at his parents in the stands.

Sonoman

[trumad]

8. Yeah---and they didn't flag the oppossing player

who was on his knees giving God the finger.

[WolverineDG]

10. He violated the separation of church & state

so I'm sure there are those who think he should be taken out & shot.

dg

[enuegii]

17. No one has suggested taking the player out and having him shot but you...

Hmmmm...

[WolverineDG]

19. hang around, you'll see nt

[petronius]

11. I agree - 'excessive celebration' penalties should be reserved for the most

egregious cases only (like if the player whipped out a bunch of fireworks and shot them off or something). I'd be very strict on taunting, but 10 seconds of whatever is seems perfectly appropriate...

[WinkyDink]

12. Happiness is NOT allowed! Notice how all young athletes have unsmiling faces in their photos?

[AnArmyVeteran]

13. What gets me are the dolts who believe god cares if they score or not.

I've seen a pitcher make the sign of a cross just before he makes a pitch to a batter who also just made a short gesture to god. It's like they think god gives a shit if they get a strike or a hit. And if the pitcher strikes the batter out does that mean that god doesn't like the batter, or the batter didn't show enough reverence before trying to hit the ball? If god paid so much attention to detail then a case could be made that he is a premeditated murderer because if he knew how many hairs was on people's heads he would also know a baby is going to be ran over by a car, or 300 people are about to crash in an airplane. So if he knew that would mean he was at least negligent and therefore a negligent 'father'. If he was a human being he'd have his children taken away and he would be put in prison for child endangerment, child abuse and even murder. The entire notion of religion is pure lunacy (and 100% man made).

It's lunacy.

But your example is pure idiocy too. Notice how when defensive football players destroy an offensive player they jump all over the field in massive displays of exuberance and never get flagged, but if someone scores a touchdown they get a penalty for the slightest sign of joy. I say let them do anything they want. Hell, the guy scoring a touchdown could burn a cross in the end zone for all I care.

It's almost funny. Defensive players can knock out an offensive player and express unbridled joy around his lifeless body, but an offensive player is flagged for the slightest sign he is happy about scoring a touchdown. Totally bewildering...

[Hubert Flottz]

15. When my faith in Gawd or Football is shaken I turn here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COfL-jtdFWQ

[AnArmyVeteran]

16. Thanks, love that song and BMd the link!

[Steely_Dan]

18. This Reminds Me Of What Vince Lombardi (sp)...

had to say about celebrations.

Lombardi was talking to his players one day and he told them that he didn't want to see any celebrating in the end zone. This is just about the time that celebrating was starting to catch on. Some of the players asked him why they were not allowed to celebrate. Lombardi (in his best coach voice) said something along the lines of the following: Well boys, whenever you start celebrating a touchdown in the end zone you are sending the following message to your opponents...You are telling them that getting to the end zone is such a rare occurrence that you simply cannot control yourself. I would just prefer that you kindly hand the ball over to the ref. When you do, you are telling you opponent that you have been here many times and you plan on returning...preferably many times during the game. That's what you do boys.

Classic...absolutely classic.

-P

[trumad]

21. Ronnie Brown with the Phins does that...

Just runs over to the Ref and hands him the ball.

I think it's just as effective as a celebration.

[trotsky]

22. Who cares about the penalty? The kid is a bad Christian.

Jesus says so.

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." - Matthew 6:5-6