Sports

High School QB’s Game-Winning, Title-Clinching Run Negated for…Lifting His Arm in Celebration

Matthew Owens Flagged For Raising Arm in Championship GameSome of you may side with the referee on this — there’s just no room for breaking the rules, and kids must learn to abide by them. Others of you will side with the young, high school quarterback — he had a normal reaction and there was nothing unsportsmanlike in what he did.

Here‘s what I’m talking about.

On Saturday, Matthew Owens was playing in the state championship football game for Boston’s Cathedral High School. Near the end of the game, he ran a quarterback draw to the right. As he swept around the tackle, he saw nothing but green. He ran. And ran. And ran. All the way to the endzone. He scored the game-winning, title-clinching touchdown.

Or did he.

There was a flag on the play. Owens was accused of unsportsmanlike conduct. His crime? In the spur of the moment, at about the 20 yard line, he raised his arm for a split second in joy. That was enough for the ref. The touchdown was negated. Flustered, Owens threw an interception on the next play, and his team lost 16-14.

Video of the incident has been going viral:

Jimmy Lynch, the school’s athletic director, spoke to Foxnews.com. Not surprisingly, he disagreed with the call:

Jimmy Lynch, athletic director of Cathedral High School, said the “misinterpreted” call cost his team the state title, but noted how proud he was of his football team’s sportsmanship following the controversial call.

“If there’s a lesson to be learned, it’s that our kids are unbelievable kids, and that we haven’t been unsportsmanlike,” Lynch told FoxNews.com. “What people don’t realize is that no matter what, our kids tried hard for the rest of the game.”

And despite the agonizing loss, Lynch said Cathedral players willfully congratulated their opponents after the game.

“That’s what sportsmanship is all about,” he said.

Owens, who could not be reached for comment on Tuesday, did not “high-step, strut or slow down” as he ran for a late fourth-quarter touchdown during the game at Bentley University, Lynch said.

“I think it was just pure player excitement,” he continued. “I don‘t think that’s excessive celebration … it’s a shame the call had to be misinterpreted.”

Owens’s father agreed in an interview with the Boston Herald:

“He raised his hand because he knew was going to the pinnacle,” Kenneth Owens told the Herald, his voice seared with emotion and anger at times.

“There was nothing dishonorable about the play. There was no doubt it was a touchdown. He gets 20 yards in — and he’s not thinking about the rule — and he just raised his hand.”

Later in the interview, however, Kenneth seemed to give some conflicting information when he claimed the move was in glory to God.

“He goes to a Catholic school where they are taught that their God is in the sky,” his father said. “So I know when he raised his hand, he was thanking his Lord for what happened to him today. Football is a team sport. There’s lot of kids that are hurting today.”

As for the ref, the school‘s athletic governing body said the game is over and there’s no way to reverse the call or to believe that a wrong call was made.

“We can all look back at anytime in your life and say ‘I had a boss who made a bad decision,‘ or things happen that go against you and you have to learn to accept it if there isn’t anything you can do to change it,” Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association spokesman Paul Wetzel said. “Accept it and move on, that’s part of life.”

What do you think?

 

Comments (303)

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  • Hephzibah
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:55am

    THAT was the excessive celebration??? Disgusting stupid libs. We should have ignored this PC stuff from the first time they tried it.

    Report Post » Hephzibah  
    • Blackhawk1
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:03am

      We can’t make the losers feel bad by celebrating.

      Report Post » Blackhawk1  
    • SpankDaMonkey
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:15am

      .
      Get the Rope and alot of it…………..

      Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • cessna152
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:21am

      NFL is infiltrating the high school level and there are too many “discretionary” calls! Meaning, the outcome of the games rely solely on the Referees discretion. I hate these “personal fouls” because they are BS and decide the outcome of the game.
      As much as I LOVE watching football I am totally fed up with the discretionary calls that change or fix the game. I am just about done watching football…

      Report Post » cessna152  
    • Smallgovernment
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:42am

      I‘m surprised at the rosponses I’m seeing. We conservatives continually complain about this me,me, me generation. In sports all you see is look at me, I’m the greatest. Get a sack and act like you discovered a cure for cancer. Gotta get up after making a first down and point to the world that you made a first down. You’d think he just won the game. Celebrating a win is great and you should be able to do that with great joy, adulation and with sportsmanship. Do I think it’s a tough way to lose the game, sure! But they make these rules so that the players don’t act like complete buffoons. He knows the rules. All he had to do was finish running to the end zone then celebrate with his teammates. I just read all these comments on the story about the house that the fireman allowed to burn down and everyone said rules are rules. Now the rules don’t matter.

      Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:43am

      Rules are rules, but the problem is that that Socialist‘ rule shouldn’t be there to begin with. “Oh, we don‘t want to make other players feel bad that it wasn’t them running the ball, or that they weren’t able to stop the run, or that other player’s skills might not be as well.”

      Report Post »  
    • turkey13
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:44am

      All the players should get a trophy that states they scored the winning touchdown! You have to be fair.

      Report Post »  
    • stifroc
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:45am

      too late to turn back the clock and prevent PC. All we can do is what they did to us. Infiltrate the system and change it! Get off the couch. Get off the internet. Get elected to the school board, city council, and mayor. Get into the system. Take over the system. Change the system! It will take time, but are we as committed as the libs are?

      Report Post » stifroc  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:46am

      You can not merely dismiss Liberals by saying “Well just ignore their political correctness” because they are making it into the rules and the law, and then you become a law-breaker if you ignore it, and it is like that that they are making people into the criminals. No, the rules have to be changed back to what they once were.

      Report Post »  
    • SLAPTHELEFT
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:49am

      Congrats to you young man. No matter what happened no one can take away the fact that your team won.

      This is the work of atheists and progressives. You must be knocked down for success and religion. The referees suck really bad and want to influence outcomes of games. If you were a muslim school youd be on your way to state.

      Report Post » SLAPTHELEFT  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:50am

      And when the majority of people are disgusted enough to legally change the rules back to what they should be, and then it will be that the Liberals will be the ones to break the law to stop the majority from changing things back to it’s original state, and then the just and reasonable will have the law, and the high moral ground on their side.

      Report Post »  
    • 50BMG
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:54am

      No joke. This political correctness has gone right over the edge.

      So does this mean that the ******** will be calling for a do-over on the Arab Spring? Every video I’ve seen of Tahir Square shows thousands and thousands of arabs with their fists in the air.

      Report Post » 50BMG  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:54am

      And if the majority of people who I know are actually the just and the reasonable are not willing to do the hard thing of turning the rules back to where they should be, then it will be that you will become out-raged and instead reach a breaking point, and you will be crushed by the machine.

      Report Post »  
    • Smallgovernment
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:00am

      So you agree that the players should be acting like idiots every time they make an average play. Talk about the liberal way. Me, Me , and Me. No, evryone should not get a trophy and they should get over it if they lose and are embarrased by a spanking. But please stop with the look at me crap. I’m thinking a little humility is a nice Christian value. Run to the end zone, drop the ball and celebrate like hell with your teammates. Once again, he knows if he does that he’s looking at a penalty. Doesn‘t say much for his smarts and hi teammates probably aren’t real happy with him no matter they say to the press.

      Report Post »  
    • ITGuy
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:01am

      I would have just walked off the field. Then I would quit football. What‘s the use in playing a game if you can’t get excited about winning or doing an awesome play. If i were on the other team i would refuse to play because I we lost. That victory would feel worthless and stolen to me.

      Report Post »  
    • black9897
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:19am

      sigh. Started in the NFL, now it’s gotten worse other places. Give me a break!

      Report Post » black9897  
    • Marine 1
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:27am

      If I had been the coach from the Blue Hills team I would have walked over and handed the trophy to the Cathedral coach and team. I would not have said one word to that ignorant ref. There is much to be said for honor in a game and in life.

      Political correctness is part of what is ruining this nation. That is a socialistic idea and it is being forced down the throats of all of us. Well, I for one, am done with it. I was done with it a long time ago. We all should be done with it.

      A game, like life, is meant to be one and not lost. War — a good example. Don’t fight it unless you plan on kicking the $#!^ out of the OPFOR and raising OUR flag on the property. That’s the way it should be done. Instead, we waste time and lives doing what? Not a damn thing except wasting lives and time.

      being PC is a joke and is killing the United States. We need to train our young people that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. That’s freaking life! get a grip and move on.

      I really like the “Old Corps” as there was no PC to even deal with. Now, even our military personnel are afraid to say what they really think of Obamao. Well, most anyway. many would kick the $#!^ out of him if they ever had the chance. Now that would be the politically correct thing to do!
      ~Semper Fi ~

      Report Post »  
    • SimpleTruths
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:43am

      Another example of how ultra-right wing conservatives are destroying this country. A liberal would have allowed the play and the touchdown.

      Report Post » SimpleTruths  
    • sawbuck
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:22am

      How about this “ REF”…
      YOU THREW A FLAG ON A GUY WITH A BALL IN HIS ONE HAND
      AND WITH HIS OTHER HAND IN THE AIR…..
      HOW DO YOU KNOW IF NO BALL WAS IN HIS HANDS,
      HE WOULDNT HAVE HAD BOTH HANDS IN THE AIR….?
      SIGNIFYING……………….. A TOUCHDOWN..?
      Maybe the players need to stuff the ball in their shirt ,
      so they praise God.. “in code”…!
      kind of like drawing a fish in the sand, to show your a Christian ….!
      Big difference between a mistake and a huge fricken screw-up …!
      Fire the PC jerk REF…
      Like any JOB would for not having a lick of common sense …!
      Or are the refs going to use another way to signify a touchdown and field goals..????
      TWO HANDS IN THE AIR….means your really praising God…!!!!!
      Nothing to see here ….
      Just another step closer toward a Godless America…!!!!!!!

      People>>>>>> YOU BETTER START STANDING FOR SOMETHING …!!!!!!!!
      you are …….FALLING FOR ANYTHING…..!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post » sawbuck  
    • justneedaname
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 12:24pm

      smallgovernment,
      You’re an idiot

      Report Post »  
    • The10thAmendment
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:08pm

      I vote that first we take the refs of that game out and kick their communist teeth out of their mouths. Then we pay a visit to the idiots on the board, and to the Massachusetts HS Athletic Conference and deal with them in like manner.

      Report Post » The10thAmendment  
    • RabidPatriot
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:12pm

      This does not have anything to do with liberals and conservatives. Excessive celebrations and unsportsmanlike conduct would start these uncontrollable riots on the field. They tried giving the officials discretion on calls of celebrations “during” a scoring play but they were inconsistent with the calls which would start conflicts about bias. So they installed these no exception rules about these “non-football moves” of celebration while the play is in progress. If you want to blame someone, blame the A-holes that take things to far and start these on-field riots with their narcissistic, in your face celebrations. This is high school where they are supposed to be learning the concepts of team, sportsmanship and playing within the rules.

      Report Post » RabidPatriot  
    • aggiebrewer
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:41pm

      While I agree with the PC 12th place trophys being worthless the call was technically correct. Hard to swallow and I would not have thrown the flag but the back judge was not wrong to throw his flag.

      As an football official I can tell you that the rule is to flag “taunting”. In the past few years it has been 15 yards dead ball foul. This means it is enforced on either the extra point try or the kickoff at the discretion of the offended team. The score would stand last season.
      This season, that enforcement was changed to a live ball foul. That means it is in effect a spot foul 15 yards and the score is negated. In this instance it would have been 1st down for that QB’s team at the 35 yard line going in. This QB knew the rule, period. This is the championship game. I am certain this has been illustrated to them in other games and they have been informed. If not, it is the coaches fault.

      HERE IS THE KICKER: It is purely up to the official to call or ignore the single finger #1 like this player did as taunting. Some officials call it others do not. In the NCAA rules taunting is not defined to include this action. It must be a taunt directed at an opposing player.
      I would not have hit him for that personally, nor would anyone on my crew.

      Report Post »  
    • CultureWarriors
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:00pm

      If I were the coach my team would no longer participate until the ref was fired or I was fired. If I was the coach for other team I wouldn’t accept the victory either. The ref is waste of air. We all would be better off if he would leave the country. We don’t need morons like him around.

      Report Post » CultureWarriors  
    • The10thAmendment
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:18pm

      @ aggiebrewer
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:41pm

      While I agree with the PC 12th place trophys being worthless the call was technically correct. Hard to swallow and I would not have thrown the flag but the back judge was not wrong to throw his flag.
      —————————————————————————————————————————
      Um, no, it’s not “technically,” or otherwise correct.

      There’s an excessive celebration (personal foul), and an unsportsmanship like conduct (taunting). Your rendering of the rule is as braindead as the referee who threw the flag.

      That kid didn’t taunt a single player. They were too busy trying to catch him, his arm was raised going in for a touchdown that those chasing him could only wish they had the athletic talent to accomplish.

      If you’re a referee, you are part of the problem with the garbage rules. You’re probably also in favor of the house of idiots known as the NCAA and their 4 inch thick rules, laws, and bylaws, and their utter corruption.

      You should resign any and all association with HS athletics because you don’t have the mental capacity to keep politics out of a GAME.

      Report Post » The10thAmendment  
    • The10thAmendment
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:23pm

      @ RabidPatriot
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:12pm

      This does not have anything to do with liberals and conservatives. Excessive celebrations and unsportsmanlike conduct would start these uncontrollable riots on the field. They tried giving the officials discretion on calls of celebrations “during” a scoring play but they were inconsistent with the calls which would start conflicts about bias. So they installed these no exception rules about these “non-football moves” of celebration while the play is in progress. If you want to blame someone, blame the A-holes that take things to far and start these on-field riots with their narcissistic, in your face celebrations. This is high school where they are supposed to be learning the concepts of team, sportsmanship and playing within the rules.
      ————————————————————————————————————–
      The idiocy contained in your post is mid boggling. It’s obvious you have never played a sport, but harbor an insane jealousy.

      Oh I know, you’re going to come back and try to thump your pigeon chest about your supposed athletic prowess. Spare this forum the laughter. You’re a jealous little bookworm whose entire athletic prowess is getting pinned by your chihuahua, and losing a best 2 out of 3 to your pillow.

      Report Post » The10thAmendment  
    • The10thAmendment
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:25pm

      @ Marine 1
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:27am
      —————————————————————————————————-
      I’m blowing your post up and putting it on the bulletin board at work. Brilliantly done post!

      Report Post » The10thAmendment  
    • jb.kibs
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:29pm

      yep… i agree, i say we start hanging people who want to infringe on others liberties and property.
      how was this guy infringing on anothers liberty or property by raising his arm? he wasn’t.
      now they want to infringe on his right to raise his arm in celebration? illegal, immoral and unconstitutional. tyranny is tyranny.

      Report Post »  
    • EchoHawk
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:41pm

      Your fired, watch that door on your way out, it’ll hammer ya if your not paying attention.

      Report Post »  
    • aggiebrewer
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:12pm

      10th Amendment…you are so wrong. You are like most fans and a large percentage of coaches that only THINK they know the rules and more importantly the application of the rules and enforcement. Sophmoric to say the least. You don’t have a clue what you are talking about. I could give you specific rules but it would be lost on you as you dont even know what rule to look at for this LIVE BALL FOUL.

      Report Post »  
    • Jade402
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:19pm

      Hephzibah, I agree with you 100%! This lousy pc foolishness has gotten out of hand to where a person can’t even express their feelings without being called on the carpet for it. Raising his had to God or not, the kid is entitled to express a feeling of elation. Why is it prohobited? Because it might “offend” someone on the opposite side? In the REAL world you win some and you lose some. How can the kids learn to deal with it in a mature way if they are pampered and coddled at every turn that goes against them. I‘m glad I didn’t grow up in such a world . Arrrrgh!

      Report Post »  
    • Anne
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:28pm

      I can barely take this anymore. This country is definitely going downhill if raising your arm is considered grandstanding. Even our kids have to worry about being politically correct. I can’t imagine what lesson that team learned. We have put regulations on everything including being happy.

      Report Post »  
    • sWampy
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:38pm

      Liberals don’t understand reproduction, don’t understand the economy, don’t understand right from wrong, why would you expect them to understand sportsmanship?

      Report Post »  
    • Servant Of YHVH
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:15pm

      That was in no way excessive anything! At least from what I read Boston Cathedral High School’s coach and team acted honorably which is a lot more than that ref did. I wonder if they have checked into whether or not he had a bet on the game and if so who did he bet on? Let’s see; Boston Cathedral High School: acted honorably and honestly, Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association referee: honorably? NOPE honestly? NOPE Well I guess that shows us what is what. As far as the quarterback’s action, I would like to see in the rule book where it says that a player is not allowed to throw his arm up in the air.

      SHAME SHAME Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association

      Report Post » Servant Of YHVH  
    • Trueblazer
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:15pm

      @ Rabidpatriot – you said: ” Excessive celebrations and unsportsmanlike conduct would start these uncontrollable riots on the field.”

      @ Aggiebrewer- you said: “It is purely up to the official to call or ignore the single finger #1 like this player did as taunting.

      You are mischaracterizing the actions of the QB. His fist pump could at worst be considered a mild “premature” celebratory act, which there is no rule against.

      When a D-back swats a pass to the ground on 3rd down, ending an offensive drive, and fist pumps in celebration, without having scored a single point, should the ref throw a flag? At least the QB was a second from the end zone.

      It was NOT a taunt by any stretch of the imagination. He was not even looking at an opposing player. The NCAA clearly states the obvious when defining a taunt as a gesture directed at an opposing player. To say that in the case of HS football it is “purely up to the official” to arbitrarily decide what is or is not a taunt according to whim, under the guise of discretion, is disingenuous, and not pure at all. A taunt is a taunt. A celebratory gesture is just that.

      The fact that crybabies may be offended by a celebratory gesture is not reason to prohibit the natural emotional response to a winning move, which is celebration. This was not excessive celebration by any means. Any reasonable non-envious person would reject this call as excessive stupidity and flag the ref.

      Report Post »  
    • The10thAmendment
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:22pm

      @ aggiebrewer
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:12pm

      10th Amendment…you are so wrong. You are like most fans and a large percentage of coaches that only THINK they know the rules and more importantly the application of the rules and enforcement. Sophmoric to say the least. You don’t have a clue what you are talking about. I could give you specific rules but it would be lost on you as you dont even know what rule to look at for this LIVE BALL FOUL.
      ——————————————————————————————————————————————-
      Right I don‘t know what I’m talking about.

      I played football and basketball from Middle School thru High School, and played Division 1A Basketball at Ohio State. I spend several months a year working with Christian Athletes in Action, which includes being a referee.

      Sophomoric would be your interpretation of the rules. There is nothing in what this player did that was taunting, except in the deluded mind of a ref who should never be allowed to see a field again in any capacity. Had the kid turned around and taunted it would have been a personal foul. People like you who take their mitigating fair play to the political correctness level have no business working around a sport where competitive adrenalin flows.

      Report Post » The10thAmendment  
    • VoteBushIn12
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:29pm

      @TrueBlazer

      “When a D-back swats a pass to the ground on 3rd down, ending an offensive drive, and fist pumps in celebration, without having scored a single point, should the ref throw a flag? At least the QB was a second from the end zone.”

      When a D-back does that he ends the play. The play is over by the time he is fist pumping.

      This isn’t a NEW rule. You cannot celebrate while the game is in play. This is true of every sport at the High School level, the College level, and the Professional level.

      People who participated in competitive athletics, or a familiar with them, understands the importance of this rule. @Rabidpatriot is right.

      Report Post » VoteBushIn12  
    • The10thAmendment
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:39pm

      @ VoteBushIn12
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:29pm

      @TrueBlazer

      “When a D-back swats a pass to the ground on 3rd down, ending an offensive drive, and fist pumps in celebration, without having scored a single point, should the ref throw a flag? At least the QB was a second from the end zone.”

      When a D-back does that he ends the play. The play is over by the time he is fist pumping.

      This isn’t a NEW rule. You cannot celebrate while the game is in play. This is true of every sport at the High School level, the College level, and the Professional level.

      People who participated in competitive athletics, or a familiar with them, understands the importance of this rule. @Rabidpatriot is right.
      ———————————————————————————————————————————–
      It, if the PC kooks and rigid ideologues with whistles, is still a dead ball personal foul. So no, they are not right. Conduct for a sporting event begins when the teams enter the complex for the sporting event, and doesn’t end until they have left the grounds. On the field of play there are penalties for live play fouls, and dead ball fouls.

      Report Post » The10thAmendment  
    • The10thAmendment
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:42pm

      The wrong questions are being asked.

      The right question should be how much money this referee had on either a point spread or a specific team winning.

      Report Post » The10thAmendment  
    • JRook
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:56pm

      How exactly do you make the leap that this has anything to do with liberals. It was a stupid call by a stupid official. High School football games are full of bad calls by young and stupid officials. This one certainly should be used as a symbol of how ridiculous the rules and officiating have gotten. But it starts in the NFL where you not allowed to actually hit receivers anymore and certainly not the high paid quarterbacks. Physical force and intimidation are part of football and I personally would have preferred someone laying the kid out while his hand was up and causing a fumble. Now that is how this should have played out other than the touchdown he deserved.

      Report Post »  
    • The10thAmendment
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 5:08pm

      @ JRook
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:56pm

      How exactly do you make the leap that this has anything to do with liberals.
      ————————————————————————————————————————————————
      At the very least this is an extraordinarily liberal and broad application interpretation of a rule. One of the things we are instructed on before even a CAA (Christian Athletes in Action) event is to apply the rules fairly, and to make ourselves “small”. Small meaning that we don’t allow our personal bias to interfere with the progress of the game, or to influence the outcome. We should have the commonsense (and I KNOW CERTAINLY that officials from Pop Warner League to the Pro’s are given this talk) to know the difference between taunting (excessive celebration) and normal celebration.

      This referee intentionally inserted himself with a pathetic rule interpretation, which certainly influenced the outcome of the event.

      Report Post » The10thAmendment  
    • rogers2012
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 6:13pm

      A simple solution would be to just quit keeping scire, Just let the boys have fun without knowing who won the game.

      Report Post » rogers2012  
    • QuietBeige
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:09pm

      I agree. The excessive celebration stuff started at the profession level of US Football and it really was excessive. I mean jerks that would plan ahead of time on how they would do a little dance that included other a-hole rich players or do really stupid stunts like hiding a cell phone in the padding on the goal post so they could pretend to call their Mom on national TV.

      These are just kids! They get excited when they do well and feel bad when they don’t. The pro players don’t feel bad when they do poorly. They blame blame blame.

      Leave the kids alone is what I say. They should be “allowed” to have some small enjoyment in victory…

      Report Post »  
    • Trueblazer
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:25pm

      @ VoteBushIn12

      You said. “This isn’t a NEW rule. You cannot celebrate while the game is in play”

      Live ball celebration in Football normally only occurs when team members are watching their fellow scampering unhindered toward a sure touchdown.

      Of course You will usually only see fist-pumping or fist raising, and won’t know whether they are only cheering him on or whether they know it is a done deal and are celebrating the imminent score. Unless you listen to what they are shouting. Perhaps they should all be miked and we should hire officials to sit in a sound room and police their intentions.

      Of course better not pat the QB on the back for a nice toss until the WR hits the endzone properly.

      You are a fool to support such biased and foolish interpretation of excessive celebration/ taunting rules. People like you strangle the good spirit of life.

      Report Post »  
    • BLACKDIAMONDSKIER
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:13pm

      Simply put…if the interpretation of rules take into consideration Luke 6:31 which is…”Do to others as you would have them do to you,” the correct decision would already have been made. I wonder how much money this ref was given to throw the game? Maybe not…..but even the most hardcore progressive would have a hard time justifying raising your arm for 1 sec as unsportsmanlike conduct. In Texas things are a little different. You have to take your helmet off and start hitting an opposing player 10-20 times with it while kicking them in the ribs to get unsportsmanlike conduct called (just kidding……it’s only 4-5 times). We don’t make calls based on hurting the other teams FEELINGS. We make calls based on actual unsportsmanlike conduct.

      Report Post »  
    • rcattrell
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:12pm

      As a former High School football official, Unless they have changed how this rule violationb is enforced, it was done imporoperly, even if it was “unsportsmanlike”. When I was officiating 20 years ago, an action such as this had to be directed towards an apponent to be considered unsportsmanlike. And then i was treated as a dead ball foul and enforced at the end of the play. This would have been a touchdown and the opponent could have chosen for the try for extra point play to go from the 18 yard line or to move the kickoff back 15 yads.

      Report Post »  
    • The10thAmendment
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:53pm

      Once again the BLAZE moderation N A Z I ‘ S are at it.

      Stop your garbage brained political correct trolling of people’s posts (interpreted deleting or editing). If you don’t want views and interaction that offends just get yourselves dressed up in little ballerina outfits and sell your chicken little asses on 5th avenue to the highest bidder.

      Report Post » The10thAmendment  
    • JJ Coolay
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 2:05am

      ‘I‘m surprised at the rosponses I’m seeing. We conservatives continually complain about this me,me, me generation. In sports all you see is look at me, I’m the greatest…..”
      ______________
      Small Gov’t… there is a HUGE difference in the “me, me” mentality and the joy of winning a title and being overwhelmed for 1 second by that emotion so as to raise your hand in triumph.
      Come on, use some common sense. This is part of the BS pc world we live in. Evening the playing field by taking away from the winners and giving to the losers. I HATE WHAT WE HAVE BECOME!!

      Report Post » JJ Coolay  
    • blamb61
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:15am

      SIMPLETRUTH

      or the ref thought he was praising God and was a liberal and called the penalty because he couldn’t stand the kid giving praise to God? I don’t know why the ref called it, but I think it was an error in judgement.

      Report Post »  
    • Protoham
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 12:08pm

      I can only suggest one thing. Next year tell the coach you don’t want to play. They can take their stupid game and shove it!

      Oh, that is right, the government will be able to force you to play as it will effect commerce.

      Report Post »  
    • aggiebrewer
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 1:02pm

      10th Amendment !

      I never said it SHOULD HAVE BEEN FLAGGED. I addressed your statement that the penalty should have been a dead ball status foul. You stated the score should have counted and penalty assessed on kick. THAT IS WRONG. But since you played middle school ball you know more than me I am sure. Why don’t you actually look at the rules instead of assuming you know what you are talking about.
      NCAA rule 9-2-1a1 is the specific rule that applies. What can you provide in the way of actual rules that are applicable? Your sophmoric rant is typical of those that cloud issues with emotional outbursts rather than FACTS.

      Division 1 player. 5 years football coach (5A in Texas) 7 years as a Football Official. Yea. I am clueless.

      Report Post »  
    • The10thAmendment
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:25pm

      @ aggiebrewer
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 1:02pm

      10th Amendment !

      I never said it SHOULD HAVE BEEN FLAGGED. I addressed your statement that the penalty should have been a dead ball status foul. You stated the score should have counted and penalty assessed on kick. THAT IS WRONG.
      ————————————————————————————————————————————-
      I never said anything of the kind.

      I said there were live ball and dead ball fouls, but never said anything about an enforcement. Is that the same way you referee a game? Take a play, think you know a rule and apply what you want it to say so that you can intentionally insert yourself into the flow of the game?

      My only dead ball reference was to BushIn12 comments concerning a DB celebrating a play after the whistle.

      That you can defend what this referee did at all shows a hive mentality and it’s eroding the competitive nature of the game.

      Report Post » The10thAmendment  
  • NewLife56
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:54am

    I wonder if the authorities realize what a total bunch of stupid idiots they are? How stupid they look? What total baffons they really are?

    It the Liberasl way of course. Stpidity

    Report Post » NewLife56  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:12am

      So nobodys allowed to be better or do better or celebrate being better…. Or have more than anyone else, and everyone gets the same trophy… Sounds like more lefty crap… Im convinced these leftys were the kids who didnt get picked for dodgeball, or were picked on as a child, and now they are in positions of authority, and its payback time for all the skinny boys and homely girls… I mean just look at these people, Elana Kagan ? Big sis Napolitano ? Barney Frank , Hillary Clinton ? Obama ? They are all angry , jealous , leftys……

      Report Post »  
  • b00x
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:53am

    Take away the passion. Take away the spirit. Everyone wins and no one loses . . . except, of course, our nation. It’s the new American way, and it’s one of the reasons this country is sliding into a miasma of politically correct mediocrity. What a sad, sad shame.

    Report Post »  
    • countryfirst
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 12:54pm

      A new rule “ the ball carrier after passing the line of scrimmage must maintain a minimum distance of 2 yard from the opponent “

      Next will come before kick off all scores will be set at 21 to 21. Everyone ties

      Report Post » countryfirst  
  • Cape_Lookout_RW_Extremist
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:52am

    This was personal joy and excitement…no taunting another player.

    Report Post » Cape_Lookout_RW_Extremist  
    • aggiebrewer
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:43pm

      As a football official I can say that you actually get it. You are one of the few on this story that do.

      Report Post »  
  • SmallGovBigGuns
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:52am

    i was a linebacker in high school and i remember touchdown celebrations were not allowed at all in colorado. but people still kneeled and prayed or ran around like an airplane, nothing too crazy and never got called. i always thought they could have techincally flagged that but they shouldnt because if i made a tackle in the backfield or fumble recovery ect. i celebrated my a$$ off. let the kids play. that was nothing

    Report Post »  
  • longun45
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:50am

    The survey leaves out one choice – too many rules.

    Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:49am

    Wow, no more happiness for a job well done. No more childlike exuberance from a healthy young man.
    We must all become robotic, wipe the smile from our faces lest someone be offended.
    The liberal left, the PC crowd and Satan have been working overtime in this country and they are winning. I’ll bet they are all grinning like monkeys as they congratulate themselves on another victory.

    Report Post »  
    • LibertyFirst
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:46pm

      I agree with you wholeheartedly! PC be damned! It’s a voluntary forfeiture of our 1st amendment. We’ve become too complacent and lazy to stand up for rights. They just keep cramming it down our throats and we just keep taking it. When will enough be enough?

      No scores for peewee football, T-ball, soccer. Gonna make sure everyone’s equal!

      Report Post »  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:45am

    We will all be made equal come hell or high water! Brought to you by progressives for over a century,yes folks our society is infected with followers of Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels.It took a century to get to this point,a kid can’t celebrate a touchdown in a football game because little johnny might be upset and have his feelings hurt.

    These are the same people who are concerned about the guy who just chopped up twenty women into bits,how did you feel when you sawed off her head? These people are insane and it’s going to take time to root them out of government and society in general.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • Smoovious
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 6:51pm

      um… wow…

      …

      you have issues, seriously…

      get some therapy…

      just…

      wow…

      – Smoov

      Report Post » Smoovious  
  • Drum Man
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:43am

    PC Police at it again. ********…

    Report Post » Drum Man  
  • Tepeyac
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:41am

    Wow!! And the winners can really celebrate ? What? Having a game given to them by some jerk in a striped shirt! I feel sorry for them as well! No joy in Mudville!

    Report Post »  
  • Perspective
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:39am

    Bet the ref had a nephew on the other team. Heaven forbid he should be happy he scored the game winning touchdown in the State title game. I’ll bet that referee cheers when his favorite pro or college player does the same thing. It’s sad that our society tries to legislate on hurting someones feelings.

    Report Post » Perspective  
  • i_believe
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:39am

    Yep … I see the one percent shows up here as well … oh wait, it is 6% … whatever, it will never come close to 99%, that is just a figment of liberal imagination. Lets get real people.

    Report Post »  
  • stickandtwig.com
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:36am

    Can we ask a question: does the rule say that an unsportsmanlike penalty STOPS a play? We’re asking, because that‘s what a civil society does when it doesn’t know the answer and a story doesn’t provide it. If so, then the ref did what the rules say he should have done. But in the game of football most of us know, an unsportsmanlike call is assessed AFTER the play is over – either on the placement of the ball or, in the case of a score, during the kickoff. So we ask: are we sure we have ALL the information necessary to asses this story correctly? Did the ref actually follow the rules to the letter, himself, or did he make a politically correct judgment?

    Oh, and one other question: if the rule is against “excessive” celebration, does it define that term? And if raising an arm is excessive, then what – exactly – is an athlete allowed to do after making a championship-winning play? No, we believe this story is more of a condemnation of our society than of the actions of this player.

    Report Post » stickandtwig.com  
    • AZindependent
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:47am

      In another twenty years there will be no more high school football (too many injuries, liability, etc…) it will be replaced by soccer (one exception will be the state of Texas).

      Report Post »  
    • AZindependent
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:48am

      Maybe “flag” football will be allowed, but it will have to be co-ed.

      Report Post »  
    • Welcome Black Carter
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:33am

      “one exception will be the state of Texas”

      Wrong. The texas school system is being overrun with Mexican students. Soccer is here to stay.
      Interesting thing about soccer is you have to make the team… In football EVERYONE makes the team. Even if they will never take the field.

      Report Post » Welcome Black Carter  
    • aggiebrewer
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:49pm

      You ask a good question. In the NCAA rules (which is what TX plays under. I am not sure about MA)
      It is a live ball foul to taunt. It used to be a live ball foul that was treated as a dead ball foul. Like you said, assesed after the score on the try or kickoff. That has changed to live ball foul period. This means it is a spot foul and the score is negated. it does not stop the play. If that runner had fumbled after the foul and defense had recovered they would decline penalty and take the ball. Personally I woud not have flagged him because he did not direct the finger at anyone. Look at the LSU punter who had a TD called back, he taunted and I would have flagged that. Keep in mind this is enforcement of rules and interpretation is subjective, enforcement is not.

      Report Post »  
  • freenj
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:35am

    Another pc victory. How much did the ref have on the game?

    Report Post »  
  • joleary
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:34am

    Yep, let’s give everybody a trophy.

    Report Post »  
  • Sick twisted Freak
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:32am

    Cant stand these stupid rules, BUT if that was the rule then the flag should be thrown.

    Report Post »  
  • Mannax
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:31am

    Zero Tolerance = Zero Intelligence. Enough said.

    Report Post »  
    • lel2007
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:43am

      Machines and/or mindless twits could run a society where zero tolerance is the rule.

      Report Post » lel2007  
    • Coralchristie
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:43am

      Good point! Schools seem to have the market cornered on taking implementation of rules to ridiculous extremes.

      Report Post »  
  • Locked
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:31am

    High school sports are serious business.

    Report Post »  
  • JLGunner
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:30am

    Pure stupidity. Whats next, a flag for running to fast?

    Report Post » JLGunner  
  • Bill Burns
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:28am

    Clearly George Bush caused this injustice.

    Report Post » Bill Burns  
  • jblovesAmerica
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:28am

    I am amazed the refs were not hung by the neck until they raised their arm in joy.
    Those other kids did not win that game.
    Shame on the ref.
    sad story.

    Report Post »  
    • HKS
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:33am

      Football in general has a problem with ref’s having the power to call the winner of a game. This should not even be possible since it’s a subjective opinion. Replay’s have helped somewhat but still omit the subjective calls. From pee wees to pros it’s basically a stacked deck for someone.

      Report Post » HKS  
    • AZindependent
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:35am

      Get with the program. There are no winners or losers. There can be no pride in a job well done. No celebration of victory. No ABCDF grades. No testing of students.

      To each according to their needs, from each according to their ability. Obama 2012

      Report Post »  
  • booger71
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:27am

    He just got Tebowed

    Report Post » booger71  
  • old white guy
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:27am

    another wtf moment. don’t celebrate in excitement. f–k the rules. i am so tired of moronic rules like this. it is timeto kicka-s and clean house of all those morons.

    Report Post »  
  • bringbackSAC
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:25am

    I will side with the officials, it was a running play there is nothing to celebrate until you score or the play is blown dead. Do you see HOCKEY players raising their sticks on a breakaway, no because a breakaway is not a goal and nothing to celebrate.

    Report Post » bringbackSAC  
    • tradexpertbuysell
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:37am

      Self entitlement monsters!

      Adam you were right. Now the joy of acomplishments is subdued by godless referees. Bringbacksac you may see this as learning to obey the rules. But what if the rules are being abused or corrupted by those that bear false witness to others motives (IE: the arm lift), and covet (IE: how dare they win, get em!!!)

      I take the 10 Commandments over man’s rules anyday! You and your legalistic ilk are trampling on the God give rights of a people to be successful and in the eyes of common sense your judgement like the referees judgement is found wanting and does not in any way shape or form represent God’s precepts that We The Peolpe have certain God given rights.

      PS: The team that actually lost should reject the title.

      Report Post »  
    • Itsourtime
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:01am

      This is a horrible analogy. He had 20 yards with no one even close to making a play. In hockey you have the goalie to make a save. You’re as bad as that ref. This was not excessive celebration. If he stuck the ball in the players face behind him, then that would be excessive. I’m so sick of all this political correctness. I would have loved to hear Sam Kinison’s take on this.

      Report Post » Itsourtime  
    • ssbstspd
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:07am

      maybe its because in Hockey you need 2 hands to take a shot. Moron.This was nothing close to celebrating. The kid just made the biggest run of his highschool career, give the kid a break, its not like he did anything “ offensive ”. You liberal wackos are just going way to far.

      How much you want to bet that this story will be used and abused in the favor of destroying Tim Teaboo ? Today anything goes, unless it has anything to do with Jesus,winning, or being RIGHT.

      Report Post » ssbstspd  
  • ThankYouFounders
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:22am

    Thank you politically correct LEFTIST socialists for neutering our society. Don’t let the achievers celebrate their success because it might make someone else feel bad – penalize those with success and reward those without the desire or determination to succeed. Socialism run amok.

    Report Post »  
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