That kid for Florida gets hurt on a play that would be a horse collar in any other game of the season. UF gets an INT when the DB goes through the WR at the goal line before the ball gets there. UF's safety goes helmet to helmet on an OU WR early. no call... OU's OL are taking some chippy and cheap shots low... Other than the early holding call, the trenches have become a 'no holds barred' wrestling zone... These are 2 great teams who are just mauling each other. They are going to take whatever they can get and these officials are letting them get away with it all... Which is odd because there have been a ton of stoppages and flags.
These guys are ACC officials, be thankful that they didn't have Jack Childress there. I do think they called the game consistent.
Yeah...they were consistent with the unsportsmanlike penalties on Florida. I'll bet that's the first one Tebow has ever received. :roll:
MCG, That one I could see, the earlier one on the UF receiver for doing the first down thing was BS. Early I thought OU was getting the shaft but it evened out later and there were bad or missed calls on both teams. I hate the way the "under review" thing breaks up the game. With OU's hurry up style, there were a couple of instances in the first quarter where they were slowed down by the review. Also I know how the NCAA can cut 10 minutes off of every game...eliminate 1 commercial per half. I think it gets worse every year. And by the way who in the hell were those announcers? Man they just talked to add some noise to the game. No value added at all. Other than that, good game. :lol:
That penalty on Murphy for the first down gesture was one of the very few times I ever seen it called for that gesture and to have it called in the middle of a national title game was B/S. Otherwise....of course I probably wasn't looking to see if Fla did it but I did see OU linemen holding our pass rushers on several occasions with only one or two being called. They weren't perfect but the refs as Bill said were not Jack Childress and his robber crew either.
The game was called just fine. The unsportsmanlike call on Tebow was just fine also. He did the Gator chomp in the face of the DB who had said Teobow would only be the 4th best QB in the league. I don't doubt for one minute that if do something like the Gator chomp in the face of an opponent after making the first down that will end the game you get that call. Big deal all the way around. For the most the refs let them play. They kind of sent the message that the celebration things weren't going to be allowed and then called a couple, big deal. Actually with my thoughts about ACC refs I have watched this head official in the ACC call the last two Gator games in Tally and now the National Championship game. He's ok in this Gaotors book.
I've seen that first down called a lot of times, but I've also seen it not called. It's very inconsistently applied. But that said if I'm a coach I'm really pissed at any of my players who do that since I don't know if the officals will call it or not.
I agree with Bill. No problem with the unsportsmanlike calls. There is an element among fandom that thinks those calls are over the top. Lord help us if that kind of hotdoggery would be allowed to prevail in college football.
I agree with that to an extent, Sid. I don't think celebrations should detract from the game and degrade the opponent. The Atlanta Falcons' dirty bird dance comes to mind. However, I think you have to remember that these are 18-22 year old kids for the most part. I think you have to let kids have fun. IMO, the first down thing is harmless as long as it's not overexaggerated.
It's bound to frustrate coaches when they have a big play and the kid then gets called for one of these unsportsmanlike celebration penalties. You have to know that all coaches must address this with the kids and let them know that they just can't hurt the team and do things like that. But when they do it what can the coach do? Usually it's a kid he can't afford to just tell to take off your helmet and go sit on the bench for the rest of the game. Kids can always say they're sorry and they were just excited and having fun, what's a coach to do. I don't want college football to become like the NFL with regards to this, but I hate the uneveness that the rule is enforced.
There are two ways to do that first down move...the one is kind of like you just do it for yourself, like I do when I'm sitting at home watching the tube... The other is where you do it as an in-your-face production...like when I'm in a bar and Cleveland makes a first down and I go over to the Steeler fan and give an exaggerated prolonged first down sign...just before getting my @ss kicked.
Aquila, I think it's an age thing regarding my opinion vs. yours. I'm old school (and old). I believe that teaching your players not to make hot dog or taunting gestures is part of instilling team discipline. The current generation thinking is a bit more liberal in this regard. My son is in his mid 30s and is closer to your line of thought than mine. I understand the fun part, but rules is rules.
Sid, As soon as he popped up and postured as he gave the first down indication, I told Cindy, "That's gotta be a flag." ... and it was. I do think that some of the taunting rules go a little too far. However, when the rule is in place, you follow it or get penalized. These young kids need to learn that it is better to play by the rules than it is to get too excited and cost your team 15 yards.
The play on both sides was chippy and they let the mouth-action get carried away. Both teams were jawing after every play and that carried over into the physical action as well. It went both ways so one can't really complain. I just don't like to see kids get hurt because the official decided not to stand up and enforce the rules.
On the winning drive in the Texas-Ohio State game Quan Cosby dove into the endzone unnecessarily, willingly drawing a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Then, when the sportsreporterbabething interviewed him after the game he led off with, "First, I'd like to give glory to God". It was a nice gesture and all, but I couldn't help but notice the incongruity between his actions and words.
C'mon guys, these are just college kids. They can have some fun every once and a while whether that's diving into the endzone or giving a first down gesture. Just because they do those things, it doesn't make them thugs. Even Tebow had to give a little Gator Chomp last night.
On OU's first touchdown drive, #95 Torrey Davis for the Gators received a 15 yard unsportsmanlike call and there was no physical contact made between players. It must have been strictly a verbal "exchange" and I say exchange.....which is between two players....not one. That penalty turned 2nd and 7 from the OU 37 into 1st and 10 past mid-field and OU scored about 4 plays later. I did a little burn on that one.
I probably use the term thug a little more loosely than you, Rick. I guess I should have been more clear. I don't think diving into the endzone to score a winning touchdown in celebration necessarily means the kid doesn't have a relationship with God. I can definitely understand diving into the endzone on that sort of play. Perhaps, like Sid said, it's a generational thing with me. I understand not making a complete idiot of yourself by celebrating (a la TO and some of his stunts) but a little dive into the endzone?? Harmless, IMO.