Monday, October 29, 2007
Bulldogs, New Tricks...
Did anyone else catch the "World Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" this weekend? Florida had won 8 of the past 9 and 15 of the last 17 against the Bulldogs of Georgia.
How about when Georgia scored the first TD against Florida, and the entire team sprinted into the end zone for a celebration? Coach Richt said that it was something he had intentionally implemented during practice, and he would gladly pay the 15 yard excessive celebration penatly to get his team fired up.
A few questions:
1) Was what UGA did an example of poor sportsmanship, good strategy, or (heavens forbid) both?
2) Should officials have discretion to penalize more than 15 yards for certain infractions?
2) Do you see a quick rule change or fines levied by the SEC in response?
Oh, I almost forgot one crucial detail - Georgia snapped the losing streak and beat Floridia soundly, 42-30.
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5 comments:
Sometimes penalties are worth the risk, that is just the nature of the penalties. That does not mean they should be penalized more or less, just sometimes they are worth it.
For example:
1. taking down a guy before he gets a breakaway in soccer. It may get you a red, but you saved a goal and that is usually worth it
2. Enforcers in hockey, they lead the league in penalties, but they free ice space up for the finesse players to score
3. Hack a Shaq, if a guy can't shoot free throws, why allow him to dunk, make him shoot it.
4. obviously the Georgia one worked, they won.
If you watched the game they explained why they did it. Georgia's Coach said for 3 straight trips to florida they had come out scared and slow and lost the game before the end of the first quarter, so he wanted to show Florida and its fans that they were not intimidate dthis year.
guess it worked.
On a side note, Georgia was penalized twice for the play for a total of 30 yards and has to kick off from their own 5, but then Florida had a clipping penalty on the return and it was cancelled out.
I strongly feel that this was TOTALLY inappropriate and that Georgia should have had to forfeit the game...
except that it was against Florida, so not only is it okay, but they should have been given 3 extra points for just for sheer moxie (or chutzpa, if you will).
I thought poor Verne Lundquist was going to have a heart attack when Georgia stormed the field. His ticker can't take shock like that.
I think Mark Richt deserves a decal on his imaginary coaching helmet for the move. The punishment (30 yards of penalties) fit the crime (team celebrating a TD on the field). I know one thing, though, the Florida-Georgia rivalry is going to be must see TV next year. Lord Urban does not like being shown up and is quite capable of pulling a lot of 'trickeration' out of his sleeve. That score is getting run up next time he has a chance.
Just a great game all around, excentuated by two great coaches not afraid to be politically correct.
Ian, I agree with you totally.
Florida sucks.
Also, I think that in the college game, especially games like the world's largest outdoor cocktail party, history has to have something to do with it. These teams don't like each other, the refs know that, and this celebration wasn't so much an aggressive "we want to hurt you" manuever as a "we want to pump up our crowd" manuever.
I think this is where the NCAA can embrace the fact that they aren't the NFL, and "just let the kids play" so to speak.
Not that they shouldn't be penalized at all, just that it needs not be ridiculous, earn fines, etc
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