Celebrations on field at Uconn game have me slightly concerned

Submitted by Happyshooter on
I am not major league worried yet, but looking back I am slightly concerned. In between the joy at seeing the offense click and the defense do pretty good, I noted something that stuck with me this morning. Our players seemed to push the rules line quite hard after their trips to the end zone. I don’t expect a Carr style “You have been here before and will be again, stone face up” because RichRod seems more outgoing. However, they seem to really be pushing the excess celebration rules. I am not sure how to fire up the players while cutting down on the showboating—of course that is only one reason out of a two hundred I am not a football coach. I do think it has to happen, though. Other opinions? Am I overreacting?

BiSB

September 5th, 2010 at 3:39 PM ^

Because from what I can see on the replay, the ref was pretty much telling him "back to your bench, son."  That kind of celebration really doesn't get flagged very often, if at all. 

See also: Tate, last year's ND game; Mike Hart, 2008 Capital One Bowl; everyone, every year, Ohio State v. Michigan.

BiSB

September 5th, 2010 at 4:01 PM ^

I don't think the definition of "excessive" celebration changed this year.  IIRC, the rule change was simply the ability of refs to take away a touchdown if the celebration begins before the player reaches the end zone.

They have certainly cracked down in recent years, but the standard remains the same.

WashUBlue

September 5th, 2010 at 2:51 PM ^

They're just young guys who haven't been there before.

Under Lloyd Carr things weren't that much different.  I remeber Mike Hart did a lot of taunting during the 2008 Capital One bowl vs. Florida. 

Edit: And for the record, I didn't really see any showboating. Although I was at the game and didn't watch on tv.

Tater

September 5th, 2010 at 2:49 PM ^

I certainly don't see how, for example, Denard giving the ball to the ref and keeling to pray is "excessive."  On the whole, Michigan was quite restrained, and most of the celebrating was team-oriented.  The worst thing I see happening is that someone will get a penalty down the line, and RR will use it as a "teachable moment."

Considering what has happened in Ann Arbor the last two years, this is a "problem" that is good to have.

Section 1

September 5th, 2010 at 3:02 PM ^

you can count me as one who might say, let's not wait for a penalty, for a "teachable moment."

So I don't exactly say to the OP, "You're overreacting."  It is just funny, that television gave that appearance, while being in the stadium didn't give me that impression at all.  This could be one time that a particular up-close sideline camera caught something that the larger stadium crowd did not see, while they were all high-fiving each other. 

Phoenix

September 5th, 2010 at 2:50 PM ^

I was fired up seeing our players celebrate. I understand your concern, as you could see the ref basically saying, "Get back to your bench or I'm pulling this flag." every time we scored, but compared to UConn? We were jazzed to score - all our players seemed so absolutely, genuinely happy when their teammates scored. We were hungry for this game! Conversely, looking back at the highlights, UConn players seemed to say "Meh" when they scored... I'll take an occasional penalty if it means we're fired up and hungry.

CaliWolverine78

September 5th, 2010 at 2:51 PM ^

Yes, you are overreacting. They worked hard all summer and when they had success, they expressed some excitement. Wait until they get flagged multiple times, in multiple games to worry about it.  Let's Go Blue!

wiper

September 5th, 2010 at 2:51 PM ^

i do remember a ref pushing one of the players to break up a celebration...anyone remember that and/or who it was?

rlew

September 5th, 2010 at 3:00 PM ^

It was Shaw.  I thought the ref's reaction was a bit excessive, actually.  Koger seemed to pull Shaw out of there, though.  It wasn't even close to being out of hand or over the line, in my opinion. 

Augger

September 5th, 2010 at 2:55 PM ^

I sort of noticed the same thing when I rewatched the game this morning.  I think the general interpretation by the refs is that if you do something alone its a problem, but if you are cheering with your teamates they generally let it go.  On at least 2 of the touchdowns, I think we came close to getting a penalty.  On one TD you specifically see the UM player face the crowd and get fired up, and while he is doing this the ref is jawing right at him, I would imagine telling him to tone it down, happily his teamates mob him right then so it became a moot point.  I am all for celebration and lord knows the kids earned it, but if I was Richrod I would simply tell the players remember to celebrate with your teamates as a group, that way nothing will get called...

Aug

jvblaha

September 5th, 2010 at 2:56 PM ^

Nothing was premeditated.  There was a lot of enthusiasm after Shaw's touchdown, but his teammates came over and made sure he stopped celebrating before the refs had to become involved.  

outwest

September 5th, 2010 at 3:02 PM ^

It really bothers me when the officials get in the face of the players telling them not to celebrate.  The player has just scored in front of 113,090 people, they were beating a team that many said they would lose to, its the first game of the year its exciting.  Let them play, let them celebrate.  The officials need to back off on celebrations as long as its not taunting let the kids have some fun.

maracle

September 5th, 2010 at 3:46 PM ^

They're welcome to celebrate as enthusiastically as they want, with the team.  It's just when the celebration is directed at the crowd that you get into trouble.  It's a fair enough rule IMO because any scorer ought to be content to celebrate with his team and not by showboating for the crowd.

 

I thought they were fine all day yesterday, there was one that was pushing the line, I think it was Shaw.  Fortunately the ref kind of got in his way and headed him off after 3-4 seconds, nice of him to do that instead of just standing back and having to throw a flag.

WilliSC48

September 5th, 2010 at 3:03 PM ^

You'd think we lost yesterday with all these posts that are showing up since the game ended. Purdue's QB doing a flip into the endzone was excessive. Nothing that the Michigan players did was anywhere near being excessive. 

BiSB

September 5th, 2010 at 3:21 PM ^

1:36 - V. Smith scores. Tosses ball to the official, points skyward, chest-bumps teammates.

2:40 - D. Rob scores.  takes a knee, hugs teammates.

3:45 - Shaw scores, tosses ball to official, celebrates in general direction of student section.

7:15 - V. Smith scores, tosses ball to the official, gives half-hug to teammates. 

No one spiked the ball.  No one did a flip or a dive. No one posed.  No one made any effort to taunt an opponent.  And none of the celebrations lasted more than like 15 seconds. 

In summary, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD can't we just be freeking HAPPY FOR ONCE?  The team played a clean game.  They played fast.  They dictated play.  They didn't turn the ball over.  Many good things happened.  Few bad things happened.

Section 1

September 5th, 2010 at 3:45 PM ^

No, I don't see a problem.  (I hadn't seen one, where I was sitting, either.)

Yes, I think it is a bit overwrought to worry about Michigan getting tagged for celebration penalties, from what we see in this broadcast video.  I know that refs are cracking down this year; but that doesn't seem to come close to me.  (Is there some phrasing to this rule?  I'd like to see the language that the refs are now supposed to apply.)

Yes, if the refs start flagging the kinds of celebration on these video highlights, it will be "rediculus."

I think that on the Shaw play, the refs weren't trying to detect an excessive celebration, they were trying to quell what they thought might become excessive.  Shaw can tone that down, by about 25%, and be just fine.

You keep running hard, Michael.  And having fun, and scoring touchdowns.