Why was KJ Hamler's Helmet Removal not a penalty

Submitted by Rdog on November 5th, 2018 at 5:24 PM

I saw the video of him getting upset and he removes his helmet in the middle of the field.  I believe this should be a 15 yard penalty and I don't believe that one was called on him.

KJ Hammler takes his helmet off link:  https://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2018/11/penn_states_kj_hamler_emotiona.html

unsportsmanlike Acts 
ARTICLE 1. There shall be no unsportsmanlike conduct or any act that interferes with orderly game administration on the part of players, substitutes, coaches, authorized attendants or any other persons subject to the rules, before the game, during the game or between periods. a. Specifically prohibited acts and conduct include: 1. No player, substitute, coach or other person subject to the rules shall use abusive, threatening or obscene language or gestures, or engage in such acts that provoke ill will or are demeaning to an opponent, to game officials or to the image of the game, including but not limited to: 

. . . 


(f) Removal of a player’s helmet before he is in the team area (Exceptions: Team, media or injury timeouts; equipment adjustment; through play; between periods; and during a measurement for a first down). 

. . .If committed while the ball is alive, these fouls are treated as dead-ball fouls. 

PENALTY — Dead-ball foul or live-ball foul treated as dead-ball foul. 15 yards [S7 and S27] from the succeeding spot. Flagrant offenders, if players or substitutes, shall be disqualified [S47]. If a player or an identified squad member in uniform commits two unsportsmanlike fouls in the same game, he shall be disqualified.
 

Essentially what that means is that dead ball fouls are marked off on the NEXT play and do not ever result in a "re-do" of the play on which they occurred, despite what Lane Kiffin may believe. 

B1G Winning

November 5th, 2018 at 5:36 PM ^

Did you read the fine print of the penalty verbiage? I’m sure they had to include something like:

*the removing of one’s helmet while still on the playing surface is only acceptable in the event  i.) there is an equipment malfunction and the equipment managers need to be alerted and/or ii.) you begin having immediate regrets that you chose to play for James Franklin over literally anyone else.

4godkingandwol…

November 5th, 2018 at 6:23 PM ^

This is properly applied spirit of the rule. Who cares is the proper response. As an aside, mcsorely always comes off well in his interviews and how he carries himself in games. Competitive, fighter, leader. Glad he’s moving on and it’s a shame he had to be coached by franklin. 

mbrummer

November 5th, 2018 at 6:41 PM ^

Honestly,  That was one of the best reffed games of the year.

I know it's a low bar.

Yes, the holding on the Thomas kickoff was pretty crappy, but at that point they seemed to be calling anything on special teams while nothing during regular play.

There was a couple missed holds on Winovich, but otherwise a pretty solid game from the crew.  I would take them in Columbus any time