Don't Suppress Emotion, But Let Them Celebrate

Georgia did not take care of business last Saturday as they lost to #4 ranked LSU 20-13. They did not make the key tackle to stop LSU's Charles Scott from scoring the Tigers' winning touchdown.

However, the celebration penalty handed down by the officials after A.J. Green's sensational touchdown catch to give the Bulldogs a 13-12 lead was atrocious and unfair. It gave the Tigers great field position to push for the eventual go ahead score. On the CBS broadcast, it looked clearly that Green and his Bulldog teammates were celebrating amongst themselves and not taunting any LSU players. Why is it that College Football wants to suppress emotion. It is rarely easy to score a touchdown, and especially in the SEC. Green's TD was a hard-fought touchdown worthy of at least a brief expression of emotion. Football is an emotional game, so why suppress the emotion?

Yes, I know that they penalized LSU after their winning touchdown for "too much celebration". However, a correction doesn't always totally erase a wrong. The celebration penalty against the Dogs is a classic example of this truth. This silly celebration rule must be revised and corrected. It should only apply if a player is drawing attention to himself. If he raises his hands in joy after scoring a touchdown, or if he kneels to thank God as many players do, there is nothing wrong with those things. The penalty should only apply when a player slaps his chest multiple times while not celebrating with teammates or if he is taunting a member of the opposing team. In these instances, he is drawing attention to himself and not his teammates who helped make it possible for him to score. That is when the penalty should be enforced.

A.J. Green was not drawing attention to himself, but celebrating with teammates. He was not delaying the game. It was a totally bad call and the refs realize that now since they did offer an apology. Unfortunately, it was too little too late. The rule must be clearly defined but at the same time not meant to suppress emotion. Celebrating with your teammates when you make a touchdown or a key sack or blocking a punt: These are not penalties.