Should College Football Players be Penalized for Celebration?

            The clock is winding down, the game is on the line, and the ball is on the 10-yard line. Unranked Tennessee has one more chance to get the ball across the goal line to defeat long time rival Alabama. The crowd sounds like a freight train, and the QB is pointing and shouting at his offense, lining them up in a victory formation.  The ball is snapped and the ball is handed off to the RB. He follows his tight end on an outside block, and sets his eyes on the far right pylon. Alabama’s secondary is sprinting at Tennessee’s RB serving as a last hope. The RB leaps at the three-yard line as time comes to a slow creep. The ball crosses the goal line, and the referee rules a touchdown. Neyland Stadium erupts in cheering and excitement. Tennessee’s RB jumps to his feet and flings the ball in the air as celebration. Then, the sideline referee throws a yellow flag. Tennessee’s sudden adrenaline rush comes to an alarming stop, and waits for the ruling. “Excessive celebration on the offense, 15 yard penalty, replay 3^rd down.”

            The next play, Alabama’s defense was ready, and stopped Tennessee. The parade nearly began in Knoxville, but a violation of the excessive celebration rule destroyed the upset. The game was lost due to the RB “excessively celebrating.”

            The NCAA has come down hard with restrictions on celebrating in the past several years. The rule states, "Any delayed, excessive, prolonged or choreographed act by which a player (or players) attempts to focus attention upon himself (or themselves).” Also, another rule states, "After a score or any other play, the player in possession immediately must return the ball to an official or leave it near the dead-ball spot." This rule was crated to bring more class to the game as well as more “professionalism”.

            In my opinion, I think the rule is not necessary. I’ve seen too many circumstances where a simple gesture was penalized. I once saw an Army player score a touchdown, and after the play he saluted to the crowd. The infamous yellow flag was thrown and the play was called back. Another instance was several years back, LSU went three and out, and sent the punt team out. The play was a fake, and the punter kept the ball and ran it all the way to the house. However, the last few steps he took, he lifted his arms out beside him, looking similar to a plane, and was called for excessive celebration. Both of these instances speak for themselves, and I do not believe it was the right call. If I could edit the rules for the college football, excessive celebration would be the first one out the window.