So... During our shootout with MSU, Trey Williams returned a kick 103 yards for a TD. But the refs felt his dive at the end was unsportsmanlike and took the points off the board. I get why the rule was created - I remember guys strutting, and holding out the ball taunting defenders that weren't going to catch up. BUT... I question if this dive was that kind of act. The kid had just run 100 yards weaving around at the beginning... and did have a defender directly behind. What do you guys think of the call?
The move was bush league. I don't care if he had just run 1,000 yards. It clearly was unsportsmanlike. You asked for opinions. That's mine.
I think that there a some specific performances that are specifically designated as unsportsmanship. Seems Jake Locher threw the ball up in the air after a TD and it was an automatic penalty. It's possible that the dive is on the list.
As soon as he did it I knew the TD was coming back and so did Kevin Sumlin if you watched him talking to the kid after he came off the field. I personally don't think what he did was "unsportsmanlike" but it was a clear violation of a dumb rule.
I think we get carried away with what is called unsportsmanlike. I don't see that move as any big deal but I guess it had to be called. It wasn't taunting so what did it hurt?
:roll: I agree with Sid's comment that it was "Bush League," but I don't believe in taking away a TD from a kid. Many years (27) ago, in a high school playoff game, South Hills HS kicked off to Damien HS and the ball was fielded by a Damien linebacker. He ran around, through and over the entire South Hills team to score a TD on the return. Five yards from the goal (all alone) he held up the ball to celebrate and the refs tossed a flag at that point to nullify the TD and tack on a 15 yard penalty... 1. It was the only time in his HS career that he ever touched the ball. 2. He lived across the street from South Hills HS and the kids at that public school had been taunting him for four years about playing for Damien. 3. The next morning's LA Times had a picture in the sport's section showing a player for Westminster HS holding up the ball as he crossed the goal on a kickoff return and no flag was thrown. It's just my opinion, but we need to keep the refs out of the business of taking points off the scoreboard. Let the kids play.
If the runner had gotten pancaked on the return the defensive player would no doubt have made some display as a result. I don't like it but is it any different than anything Manziel does almost every time he makes a play?