Monday, October 5, 2009

A Little About Football

I am a girl who loves college football. More specifically, SEC football. Even more specifically, UGA football.

I'm not a big fan of professional football, or any professional sport for that matter. I love to watch kids playing the game. Kids who are playing because they love to play. They aren't in negotiations with owners and agents. They are playing because it is what they love to do. Yes, some are playing with hopes of obtaining contracts with professional teams. Some break our hearts by leaving school early to make millions of dollars. We don't blame them, but we do miss them (ahem, Knowshon).

I was born and raised in South Georgia where being a Dawg fan is not really an option. I wouldn't have it any other way. I have been to quite a few games 'between the hedges' in Athens. It's almost a religious experience. Hearing 85,000 Dawg fans shouting, "GOOOooooo Dawgs, sic em. Woof, woof, woof woof" can cause chill bumps.

Young boys dream of playing college football. What has me up in arms today is the realization that because of college football rules (NCAA Football Rule 9-2, Article 1(a)(1)(d) prohibits “Any delayed, excessive, prolonged or choreographed act by which a player (or players) attempts to focus attention upon himself (or themselves), when those same boys have realized that lifelong dream of scoring a touchdown in front of those 85,000 screaming fans, they aren't allowed to celebrate.

Are there times when unsportsmanlike penalties should be enforced? Absolutely. Taunting another player should never be allowed.

Even UGA fans admit that the penalty after the entire team stormed the field after UGA's first touchdown against the University of Florida in 2007 was well deserved.

But when a player makes an outstanding catch for what should have been a game winning touchdown and is then penalized for celebrating with his teammates, the rules have been taken too far.

Would LSU have ended up winning that game Saturday? Possibly. The defense was exhausted. They played almost every play of the first half when the offense couldn't get anything going. But I don't think the outcome of a game should be affected by what basically boils down to a judgment call by the referees.

I'll get off my soapbox now.

Thank you.

4 comments:

Tiffany Lockette said...

Yep, that rule absolutely stinks. I totally agree with you. I think Georgia definitely got a raw deal on Saturday, even though I am a die hard Auburn fan!!

Cecil said...

I am very impressed with your writing style as well as your analysis of the game.

Pajama Mama said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Pajama Mama said...

War Eagle girl married to a Roll Tide guy. How did that happen?

That said, we both agree that UGA's win was stolen from them.