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SEC MEETINGS NOTEBOOK: All celebrations must be muted
Official's list of 21 disallowed actions puts emphasis on stopping choreographed revelry.
By MICHAEL DIROCCO
The Times-Union
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Big plays don't have to lead to big celebrations. Otherwise, there could be big penalties.
That was the message Bobby Gaston, the SEC's coordinator of football officials, delivered Wednesday morning at the annual SEC Media Days. Conferences will be cracking down on excessive celebrations in 2004, and for the first time officials have a written list of actions that could draw an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Gaston said the list of 21 actions -- which he wrote and which includes throat slashing, a hand to the ear, or any other choreographed action -- will be distributed to schools across the country. That hopefully will cut down on the number of excessive celebrations that Gaston said are ruining the game.
"We've got guys dropping to their knees and taking pictures and guys striking Heisman poses," Gaston said. "That doesn't do the game any good. The majority of the fans are opposed to it. There are a few people who think it's cute, but the real true football fans don't like that stuff. We don't want to discourage enthusiasm, but some of this stuff has gotten out of hand.
"We've got too many people out there trying to call attention to themselves, when in the good old days some of our coaches would yank them out of the game for some of the stuff they do today."
Gaston OK'd spontaneous celebrations after big plays or touchdowns, such as high-fiving teammates, a wave to the crowd, or even head-butts. But spiking the ball is a no-no -- "I'm not their caddy," he said -- and neither is taunting.
Gaston was particularly bothered by former Miami tight end Kellen Winslow's actions during the Hurricanes' game against Tennessee last season. Winslow consistently taunted tacklers, and then lashed out at the SEC officials working the game at the Orange Bowl.
"Had we called it like we do in the SEC [for a conference game], he'd have been out of the game about the middle of the first quarter," Gaston said. "It is getting away from us. It's something we need to continue to work on."
Official's list of 21 disallowed actions puts emphasis on stopping choreographed revelry.
By MICHAEL DIROCCO
The Times-Union
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Big plays don't have to lead to big celebrations. Otherwise, there could be big penalties.
That was the message Bobby Gaston, the SEC's coordinator of football officials, delivered Wednesday morning at the annual SEC Media Days. Conferences will be cracking down on excessive celebrations in 2004, and for the first time officials have a written list of actions that could draw an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Gaston said the list of 21 actions -- which he wrote and which includes throat slashing, a hand to the ear, or any other choreographed action -- will be distributed to schools across the country. That hopefully will cut down on the number of excessive celebrations that Gaston said are ruining the game.
"We've got guys dropping to their knees and taking pictures and guys striking Heisman poses," Gaston said. "That doesn't do the game any good. The majority of the fans are opposed to it. There are a few people who think it's cute, but the real true football fans don't like that stuff. We don't want to discourage enthusiasm, but some of this stuff has gotten out of hand.
"We've got too many people out there trying to call attention to themselves, when in the good old days some of our coaches would yank them out of the game for some of the stuff they do today."
Gaston OK'd spontaneous celebrations after big plays or touchdowns, such as high-fiving teammates, a wave to the crowd, or even head-butts. But spiking the ball is a no-no -- "I'm not their caddy," he said -- and neither is taunting.
Gaston was particularly bothered by former Miami tight end Kellen Winslow's actions during the Hurricanes' game against Tennessee last season. Winslow consistently taunted tacklers, and then lashed out at the SEC officials working the game at the Orange Bowl.
"Had we called it like we do in the SEC [for a conference game], he'd have been out of the game about the middle of the first quarter," Gaston said. "It is getting away from us. It's something we need to continue to work on."
