For this rule to work, it must be called only for flagrant violations. Pumping a fist in excitement is a no-call. Or loses it. I think this is a chickenchit rule. I don't see why a team can't take a penalty to better its field position. Punters and kickers do it a lot.
If a punter or kicker takes a penalty, the other team has the option of declining it should the opposing coach agree that it be within his interest. If a team takes a penalty to stop the clock, the other team has the option of, well, calling a timeout?
The problem is the subjectivity of the rule, plain and simple. I don't think anyone is advocating taunting (Miami-style, which is why all these stupid rules are in place @ all) or signing footballs with Sharpies, etc. But most of us can see getting screwed 7 ways to Sunday with our ridiculous SEC officials, like the ones that called the penalties on AJ Green and Charles Scott 2 years ago or the ones who ruled that Patrick Peterson did not intercept that ball. It's not the rule; it's the dolts that will enforce it that are the problem.
Not all penalties give the opposing team the option to decline. Punter's often take delay of game penalties to get a little more room to pin the opposing team back deep. Delay of game penalties apparently can't be declined. I can't figure any other reason why the opposing team would just allow the punter to get in better position to pin them back on their goaline.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWlUzFkE2-w]YouTube - Arkansas gets screwed by SEC referees‏[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7hhn8HvvZw&feature=related]YouTube - SEC Rigged officiating AGAIN, LSU / Arkansas‏[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doKelJl0BCA]YouTube - Bad SEC Refs - How was this Interference?? - GT vs UGA 2007‏[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGanmT2TSdQ]YouTube - SEC refs are the worst (Troy at Arkansas)‏[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9TozjN2ZNc]YouTube - Derek Pegues gets JACKED by SEC Referees‏[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFE5Ma2Vma0]YouTube - Patrick Peterson Interception blown call Alabama‏[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAHL8rCd1RU]YouTube - LSU - Auburn: The Play‏[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbZR6zJBz-M]YouTube - LSU vs. Auburn 2004 Ending‏[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-qccCuL4nQ]YouTube - A.J. Green Touchdown vs. LSU 2009‏[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64dPunGqg4k]YouTube - SEC Replay Official Screws Florida‏[/ame] Just examples of how pathetic the SEC officials are. If these ass clowns can screw something up, they will do it, and do it BIG.
Nutshell. As I demonstrated with the link at post #30, even the rules that would seem to be completely fool-proof can be botched by bad officials. As to the celebration rule, I've said it over and over again in this thread, the rule should be, spontaneous celebration OK, taunting penalty. If they're going to have this rule, they have to do everything they can to spell out what is acceptable and what is not. And then SEC officials calling games at Alabama will screw it up anyway.
Remember this one? [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP8L59FjecQ&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - [/ame] Anybody think that TD should have come off the board?
I think this is going to be one of those rules that when it happens against our opponents we are going to be yelling and pointing the finger, but when it happens against us, we are going to be calling for officials heads.... The rule is stupid regardless.
that is pretty much exactly what i was gonna say. i was thinking of the peterson interception, but blocked out the green/scott penalties. any subjectivity left in the hands of sec refs is a scary thought. someone is really gonna get screwed with the celebration rule. i think we need to have a pool on what game is the first to have the outcome seriously effected by this rule and sec refs blowing it.
