Celebrations are always a controversial subject in all levels of football. Most people are fine with people having fun after they score a touchdown or pull off a big play, but those who believe it’s a poor display of sportsmanship believe that celebrating things have no place in the sport.
Of course, there’s a big difference between, say, Terrell Owens running to the midfield star when he played against the Dallas Cowboys and two players doing a handshake they have with one another after someone gets six. For my money, both are extremely good, but basically everyone can admit there’s a difference between one and the other.
“Basically everyone” does not include the Big 12 refs assigned to Saturday’s game between Oklahoma and TCU. Sooners receiver CeeDee Lamb caught a touchdown pass from Kyler Murray, and following the score, Lamb did a handshake he has with fellow receiver Marquise Brown. The refs decided that since it was a choreographed handshake, it warranted a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Explanation of the Oklahoma touchdown celebration penalty https://t.co/EVEkYLLkFm
— Kevin McGuire (@KevinOnCFB) October 20, 2018
This is really, really dumb, because if this is choreographed, then every celebratory handshake between teammates deserves a 15-yard penalty. Of course, because there is no justice in this rapidly warming, soon-to-be barren hellscape we call a world, the Sooners had to kickoff from their 20 instead of their 35, and dangerous Horned Frogs return man KaVontae Turpin took it to the house.
https://twitter.com/the_LGG/status/1053682798551334912
Oklahoma scored on its next drive, and no unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was called following their reservation for six.
