NCAA Football: Forget Excessive Celebration

On a typical autumn Saturday afternoon, a young college football player makes a great play and scores a significant touchdown in a significant game. He raises his fist in celebration or in his exuberance chest-bumps a team mate--a college athlete enjoying the moment. But then Scrooge in the uniform of a NCAA official arrives, throwing a flag--EXCESSIVE CELEBRATION PENALTY.

Until the NCAA can define "excessive celebration" in a fashion that every player recognizes, the penalty is a subjective call by an individual official. In fact, on a particular Saturday afternoon, the vary same action may be a penalty in one game, but not in another.

And what is the problem with players celebrating? Why is this a penalty?

"In-your-face" taunting is offensive and deserving of a penalty, but players celebrating a significant touchdown is not.

The NCAA should allow young college players to celebrate a significant touchdown if the celebration is not an "in-your-face" exhibition. In that case, both the players and officials will know exactly what constitutes a violation.