Filed under: Alabama, Auburn, Michigan, Ohio State, Big 10, SEC, Officiating
In the two biggest rivalry games Saturday, each had an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty assessed that drew the ire of the masses. We'll start with the Iron Bowl incident -- which would have been much more highly publicized had Auburn not come back and won -- since it was a bigger game this season in terms of BCS implications. Auburn's Nick Fairley sacked Alabama's Greg McElroy on a pivotal third and eight late in the first quarter. As he got up, he celebrated, but he was facing his own sideline and no Crimson Tide players. It was a bit of a dance, but a brief one.
Bama obviously collected the 15 yards and the first down that came with them, and proceeded to drive down the field and make the score 21-0. We know what happened the rest of the way, but if Auburn loses we're hearing cries from Auburn fans -- and not "War Eagle" -- all week this week. And probably the rest of the season.
The SEC released a statement this week saying Fairley was penalized for a violation of Rule 9-2-1.a.1(d), which says, "any delayed, excessive, prolonged or choreographed act by which a player attempts to focus attention on upon himself" is a foul."
I'd disagree about delayed, excessive, prolonged or choreographed. I think Fairley was just excited and the action was immediate and seemingly unplanned. I also believe he stopped within a few steps. Of course, he was definitely attempting to focus the attention on himself, right? But don't guys do that all the time without repercussions?
The rule is there, and everyone can read and interpret the wording with the play how you see fit. I'm not going to get into all that. What I instead want to do is provide a possibility many fans wouldn't consider.
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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/30/zebra-report-nick-fairleys-unsportsmanlike-act-o-signal/
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