Celebration penalty costs team a championship

[joseephuss]

I heard Scott Van Pelt talking about this on ESPN radio earlier.

http://hamptonroads.com/blogs/sports-buzz

Celebration penalty costs high school football team a state title

A Massachusetts high school lost a state championship game because a player raised his arm in triumph as he ran for what would have been a go-ahead touchdown.

The penalty for the gesture by Cathedral High School quarterback Matthew Owens in Saturday's Division 4A Super Bowl left the losing team Tuesday waiting for word from the state association on whether the school could challenge the referee's decision.

Blue Hills Regional Technical School won the game 16-14. That school's athletic director, Ed Catabia, told The Boston Globe that the referee made "a great call, the right call."

"We try and play by the rules, and the rule is 'no celebrating,'" he said.

“There was nothing dishonorable about the play," Owens' father, Kenneth, told the Boston Herald.

The referee was enforcing a sportsmanship rule that prohibits players from celebratory or taunting behavior while scoring a touchdown.

With Cathedral trailing 16-12, the 18-year-old senior was racing for a score with about six minutes left in the game. The penalty nullified the touchdown, and Owens threw an interception on the next play. Cathedral later got a safety and the ball back for one last chance, but lost the ball on downs.

[youtube]bP_mCEP-1z0[/youtube]

 

[burmafrd]

Sorry but that is a stupid ruling and rule.

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

That's just a stupid rule.

 

[Cythim]

Celebration penalties are getting more strict every year. Maybe the kids should act like they've been there before and save the celebrating for after the game.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Wow! What in the hell is wrong with these people!?

First the Johnathan Gray ejection for high stepping and now this?

This is stupid gone overboard. No excuse for grown people to create rules like this. I don't get it.

 

[casmith07]

When I played in high school, the opposing QB did an Irish jig after throwing a TD pass once. They were flagged and the ball brought back. He threw a pick six to me on the next play :laugh1:

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

Celebration penalties are getting more strict every year. Maybe the kids should act like they've been there before and save the celebrating for after the game.

Dude people do way worse **** than this. This is BS

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Stupid.

I'm sick of people putting these dumb penalities in there.

It's one thing if he's taunting someone or going overboard but these stupid penalties in place for crap like this.

I'll bet anything it's a moron who never scored a TD in their life that comes up with junk like this.

 

[Dallas]

Please keep it in perspective. Is it a terrible rule? Yes! Thing is you can't taunt/celebrate DURING the play and thats what he did.

Still...

Dumb rule but I see why the ref would call it.

 

[Stautner]

Even if you are going to call a penalty (which I see as very iffy in this case anyway), I see it as something that should be handled like the NFL. It shouldn't nullify the play, it should be enforced on the next play, which would be the kickoff. After all, it's an unsportsmanlike conduct type of infraction, and not an infraction that somehow gives the team an advantage on the field.

 

[Cythim]

The rules are stupid but they are there and the kids and coaches should know them. It is called discipline. It is a horrible way to lose the state championship but a valuable lesson was learned.

 

[yimyammer]

Even if you are going to call a penalty (which I see as very iffy in this case anyway), I see it as something that should be handled like the NFL. It shouldn't nullify the play, it should be enforced on the next play, which would be the kickoff. After all, it's an unsportsmanlike conduct type of infraction, and not an infraction that somehow gives the team an advantage on the field.

Agreed, who thinks this crap up?

SO ridiculous!

 

[peplaw06]

Celebration penalties are getting more strict every year. Maybe the kids should act like they've been there before and save the celebrating for after the game.

He probably hasn't been there before.

 

[cowboyeric8]

Wow that was just terrible. What a BS call.

I'm not a big fan of elaborate celebrations, but that wasn't even as bad as Troy Aikman holding up his fist pointing number 1 in the Super Bowl. And seriously who thought that was a sign of bad sportsmanship? Wow.

The kid was excited that he just won the game. There was no taunting there.

Complete bull.

 

[rkell87]

what is the point of playing this game again? oh thats right it is to have fun. stay in shape all summer, two a day practices in hundred degree heat two weeks before school starts, school for 7 hours then practice for 2+ hours a day 5 days a week and 1 hour work outs 5 days a weeks, busting your *** to contribute to the team as well as stay academically eligible along with, you know, being a kid growing up and your team has this magical season where your team makes it to the championship, a game you will remember for the rest of your life, for many their last game ever only to have it taken away from you for a foolish reason.

shame on the UIL, rule comity, and refs for stripping those kids of of what should be a moment of glory for them.

 

[joseephuss]

what is the point of playing this game again? oh thats right it is to have fun. stay in shape all summer, two a day practices in hundred degree heat two weeks before school starts, school for 7 hours then practice for 2+ hours a day 5 days a week and 1 hour work outs 5 days a weeks, busting your *** to contribute to the team as well as stay academically eligible along with, you know, being a kid growing up and your team has this magical season where your team makes it to the championship, a game you will remember for the rest of your life, for many their last game ever only to have it taken away from you for a foolish reason.

shame on the UIL, rule comity, and refs for stripping those kids of of what should be a moment of glory for them.

That is a bunch of bull. There is no way they were having 100 degree heat for two weeks in Massachusetts.

Found this nice article:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/bobcook...x-on-football-no-matter-what-bob-costas-says/

 

[WV Cowboy]

Stupid stupid rule, ... but I guess if it is a rule it has to be followed and enforced if broken.

Our society has decided to punish a high school kid for enjoying the biggest moment of his life, ... and yet we give spouse abusers, child abusers, child molesters, drunk drivers, etc., do-over after do-over.

This country is upside down.