Tebow graduated just in time as the new proposed taunting penalty would have landed him a flag for pointing to God after his end-zone jaunt
The NCAA is doing what it can to make college football more dull and uneventful by enacting several new rules for the 2010 season. For example, if you wear eye black, you cannot use words, only solid black; during pregame warm-ups, there must be no opposing players between the 45-yard lines beginning 60 minutes before kickoff; and, there is the elimination of the intentional “wedge” on kickoffs and punts. These are but a few of the new rules coaches and players have to deal with for 2010. Unfortunately, it doesn’t end there. For the 2011 season, the NCAA hopes to pass the proposed rule change on taunting.
The NCAA deems it a bright idea to penalize a player who is taunting gestures on his way to the end-zone. The taunting penalty will be a spot foul penalty. So if you start pointing to God or high-stepping on the 5 yard line, the ball will be placed there regardless of whether or not you score. If the player’s taunting occurs in the end-zone, there will be a penalty assessed on either the PAT or the kick-off.
There is no argument that the NCAA is doing its due diligence in preventing players from getting injured, but to take away from celebrating and taunting is a bit too much. Pretty soon you wont even be able to smile if you make a good play. These are young kids in the prime of their lives in front of huge crowds. The adrenaline rush is indescribable. Let the player point to his Creator on the way to the end-zone or just let him dance his excitement away á la Ickey Woods. As long as players don’t get into the opposing players’ faces, the sky should be the limit.
This rule has yet to be enacted, but if the Playing Rules Oversight Panel approves the new taunting rule, it would take effect starting in 2011. So let this be a warning to the players, come this season, you better showcase your greatest stunts before the NCAA cracks down on taunting.
