Folks in the Pac 10 are circling the wagons. In one of the worst calls in college football, a penalty for excessive celebration cost Washington the gimme chance to tie the game against BYU.
It's a play that's been all over the highlight reels, Huskies quarterback Jake Locker scrambling to the end zone and scoring what was thought to be a touchdown to tie the game. But in his zest he threw the ball up in the air drawing a yellow flag.
"Every call is a judgment call," says Pac-10 coordinator of football officiating Dave Cutaia "(The official) saw the ball thrown very high in the air and made the call. I can't say the call is incorrect. The rule unfortunately is very specific. ... Perhaps a rule
change is in order to make it not so severe."
Duh!
Judgment is the operative word. There's no question showboating is something which should not be a part of college football. Sportsmanship is something which needs to be cultivated. But there is a huge difference between jubilation and excessive celebration.
Showing the other team up is and needs to be a major penalty. But what Locker did wasn't that. As he crossed the goal line he let out an emotional release realizing his team had rallied against a team many figured the Huskies couldn't beat.
It wasn't like he was beating his chest or thumbing his nose at BYU.
So instead of a gimme field goal Washington had to lineup from field goal range, and the kick was blocked. End of game.
Well that's what the scoreboard said, but as football fans we were all cheated. There wasn't an overtime, there wasn't a sense BYU won the game, but rather Washington lost it.
No one likes to see a referee's decision cost a team, but it did. At least it wasn't a "homer call" the officials were all from the Pac-10, and the game was played in Washington. Let's hope college football will give the officials a little more latitude next time.

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