Official Confirmation That Jaylen Harrell's Unsportsmanlike Penalty was BS

Submitted by AtmoGuy on October 27th, 2022 at 9:36 PM

Most of you likely remember that Jaylen Harrell was assessed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for doing a "wipe-the-nose" gesture following a sack against Indiana. Brian was particularly incensed about it on the podcast.

What you may not know is that the NCAA puts out a YouTube video every week reviewing some interesting officiating calls from the previous weekend. In this week's video, they featured a play where Miyan Willams of an Ohio State University scored a touchdown and made the exact same gesture; he was not penalized. As the NCAA talking head confirmed, such a gesture is not on the list of gestures that result in an automatic penalty and is only a penalty if directed at an opposing player (taunting).

Video below (scroll to 3:09):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPdB-arXxbw

 

TallyWolverine

October 28th, 2022 at 1:38 PM ^

Michigan has a different policy when it comes to officiating. That, in fact, was a penalty because Michigan did it. Phantom holding penalties on fake punts in the Rose Bowl.....Definitely a penalty on Michigan. The phantom targeting by Joe Bolden.....Definitely a penalty because it was michigan.  The pass interference call on Delano hill vs ohio State in 2016, even though the ball was overthrown by 20 yards.... it was michigan. 

 

Theeeeese.... are the days.....of our lives

UMForLife

October 27th, 2022 at 10:06 PM ^

Well, remember that basketball penalty on Harbaugh years ago. B1G officials just make shit up as they go. As long as 50 or 100 million hits the bank account, nobody does anything. It is what it is. Watch B1G officials fawning over USC in a few years. 

UM2k1

October 28th, 2022 at 8:14 AM ^

No, intent to deceive is an actual penalty (questionable whether it was applied correctly in the Jake Butt play).
 

The reference is to a “technical foul” essentially that Harbaugh received. The official said something along the lines of “if this was basketball, that would be a technical” as justification for the penalty. 

mGrowOld

October 28th, 2022 at 10:09 AM ^

Because he was doing the job he was sent there to do and did it quite well.

It definitely wasn’t just a wacky coincidence that those guys were chosen to officiate that game.  And, almost 6 years later it STILL pisses me off that Warde left Harbaugh out to dry when Jim rightfully called it out.  
 

I can’t help but wonder if Zombie Harbaugh and then his flirtation w the NFL last year didn’t all stem from that game, those officials and his absolute lack of public support by the AD afterwards.

LeCheezus

October 28th, 2022 at 11:12 AM ^

I think that loss had a huge impact on him and very nearly derailed his tenure for good at M.  That offseason, he reshuffled a lot of coaches and we ended up with the Drevno coaches interior OL/Frey does TE's and T's, no dedicated receiver coach with the highest ranked group of WR's pretty much ever coming into the program, AND completely revamped the recruiting staff...that promptly signed the worst ranked class in the Harbaugh era.  Yeah, I know some very good, underrated players came out of it, but no DT's and almost all the DB's were busts, setting the table for personnel deficiencies in 2019/2020.  I don't think he fully pulled out of the tailspin until 2021.

Zero live ball penalties on OSU in 2016.  Never forget.

Rico

October 27th, 2022 at 10:36 PM ^

It seemed pretty obvious that the refs just mistook it as a throat slash gesture, not the first time I've seen that happen. I'd prefer guys didn't do that wipe the nose/mouth gesture for exactly that reason. And it is kind of a lame little celebration anyways.

Commie_High96

October 27th, 2022 at 11:54 PM ^

You are 100% correct. Also, it’s just so stupid complaining about the refs screwing us when we get a fair amount of straight up gifts from them like Turner’s interception that obviously hit the ground. every dumbass fan base thinks their team is the only one’s the refs screw. Now, don’t confuse this with me thinking the refs are any good.

USMC 1371

October 28th, 2022 at 7:41 AM ^

I remember when players would make a play and run towards their teammates to celebrate. Now they run away from their teammates and have to do something silly. 

USMC 1371

October 28th, 2022 at 11:38 AM ^

Yes there were a few but now it’s more common.  Players now sprint away from their teammates. That never happened. In the past players didn’t do ridiculous celebrations when  down by a large margin. It’s a continuous acceptance of undisciplined behavior. For NFL players I get it. But college players layers need discipline. Yes, I’m old. Get off my lawn. Time for my nap