Re: Unsportsmanlike Conduct

So, for the past three days, I've been reading all these sports pundits complaining about the end of the BYU-Washington game on Saturday. For those who missed it (or didn't care), here's the recap: Washington's QB Jake Locker scored a touchdown with two seconds left in the game to make the score 28-27. After getting to his feet, Locker tossed the ball over his shoulder in celebration. The refs flagged him with a 15-yard Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty, enforced on the extra point attempt. That essentially turned the PAT into a 35-yard field goal (which is still well within the range of most college kickers). BYU ended up blocking the kick and winning 28-27.

And that call alone, if the pundits are to be believed, cost Washington the game.

Rivals.com's Tom Dienhart has a different take on it:

"Was Locker taunting or unsportsmanlike in his celebration? No. Did the call need to be made? No. But, it was whistled, just as it is outlined in black-and-white in the rule book. Still, despite the apparent injustice in the penalty, Washington still could have booted the extra point – which amounted to a 35-yard field goal – and forced overtime. But BYU was the team that made the key play at crunch time. Credit the Cougars; don't blame the refs."

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Bring on UCLA!

(Of course, this whole conversation would be moot had BYU running back Harvey Unga not fumbled the ball on his way into the end zone at the beginning of the fourth quarter....)