From: SCHMIDT@LSTC2VM.stortek.com (Jon Schmidt)
Subject: Re: Excessive Celebration Penalty
Organization: StorageTek SW Engineering
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 19:08:46 GMT

In article <1992Nov18.004956.19791@den.mmc.com>
kevin@traffic.den.mmc.com (Kevin Rodgers) writes:
>
>In article <1992Nov17.083126.1690@cs.hut.fi> killer@robin.cs.hut.fi (Kalle Kivimaa) writes:
>>In <1992Nov16.231316.17607@den.mmc.com> kevin@traffic.den.mmc.com (Kevin Rodgers) writes:
>>
>>>judgement of intent by the officials.  This year, a Colorado player was
>>>penalized after he pointed at a teammate!  Personally, I find the
>>
>>That is specifically prohibited by the rules, so no judgement there...
>
>My understanding is that the rule in question prohibits taunting, which
>I believe requires the officials to judge the intent of a player's
>actions.  To take this case as an example: how is a simple act of
>recognition of a _teammate_ (who had made a block on the play)
>equivalent to taunting an _opponent_?  It was no different than a
>high-five or a celebratory hug, but the official interpreted it as an
>unsportsmanlike act.  Argh.
 
Notre Dame's end zone party clearly violated rule 9-2-1-a-6.  The
Colorado case cited above is less obvious.  As stated earlier, pointing
at an opponent is specifically prohibited by the rules.  However,
running around in your opponent's backfield while pointing at your
teammate might also be construed as the use of gestures "that provoke
ill will or are demeaning to the image of the game" or as "conduct that
might incite players or spectators."  It's also possible a referee heard
the CU player "baiting an opponent verbally," which probably wouldn't be
evident to most spectators.  I did not see the CU play in question but
the fact that the behaviour resulted in an unsportsmanlike act penalty
makes me wonder whether its portrayal in the post quoted above as
"simple" and innocent is accurate.
 
For the benefit of those readers whose only exposure to the rules comes
from listening to TV commentators (which appears to be nearly everyone
except our referee with the Finland address quoted above) I've provided,
below, the principal NCAA football rules concerning unsportsmanlike
conduct.  Maybe now this thread can rest in peace.
 
Rule 9 Conduct of Players and Others Subject to Rules
                 SECTION 2. Noncontact Fouls
Unsportsmanlike Acts
Article 1.  There shall be no unsportsmanlike conduct or any act that
interferes with orderly game administration on the part of players,
substitutes, coaches, authorized attendants or any other persons subject
to the rules, either during the game or between periods.
a. Specifically prohibited acts and conduct include:
   1. No player, substitute, coach, authorized attendant or other
      persons subject to the rules shall use abusive or insulting
      language to players or officials or indulge in any conduct that
      might incite players or spectators.
   2. If a player is injured, attendants may come inbounds to attend to
      him, but they must obtain recognition from an official.
   3. No person subject to the rules, except players, officials and
      eligible substitutes, shall be on the field of play or end zones
      during any period without permission from the referee (Exception:
      Rule 3-3-5 <injured player>).
   4. 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 prohibits:
      a) Kicking or throwing the ball any distance that requires an
         official to retrieve it.
      b) Spiking the ball to the ground [Exception:  A forward pass to
         conserve time (Rule 7-3-2-e)].
      c) Throwing the ball high into the air.
      d) Any other unsportsmanlike act or actions that delay the game.
   5. No player or substitute shall use language or gestures or engage
      in acts that provoke ill will or are demeaning to the image of the
      game, including:
      a) Pointing the finger(s), hand(s), arms(s) or ball at an
         opponent.
      b) Baiting an opponent verbally.
      c) Inciting an opponent or spectators in any other way.
   6. No substitutes may enter the field of play or end zones for
      purposes other than replacing a player.  This includes
      demonstrations after any play.  <Approved Ruling - Team B scores
      a touchdown on a kickoff return, and substitutes from the Team B
      area, with no intention of entering the game, run to the end zone
      to congratulate the runner.  Ruling:  Unsportsmanlike act.>.
   7. Persons subject to the rules, including bands, shall not create
      any noise that prohibits a team from hearing its signals.
PENALTY - 15 yards.  Succeeding spot.  Penalize as a dead-ball foul.
          Flagrant offenders, if players or substitutes, shall be
          disqualified.
b. Other prohibited acts include:
   1. During the game, coaches, substitutes and authorized attendants in
      the team area shall not be on the field of play or outside the
      25-yard lines without permission from the referee unless legally
      entering or leaving the field (Exceptions:  Rules 1-2-4-g
      <practice kicking nets in cramped stadiums> and 3-3-8-c <relaying
      timing information when clock is broken>).
   2. No disqualified player shall enter the field.
PENALTY - 15 yards.  Succeeding spot.  Penalize as a dead-ball foul.
          Flagrant offenders, if players or substitutes, shall be
          disqualified.
 
-- 
Jon_Schmidt@stortek.com  Storage Technology Corporation
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(303) 673-6039 - fax     Louisville, Colorado 80028-5209
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college