Hoping the NCAA doesn’t become the No Fun League

For years, the NFL has been branded the No Fun League because if it’s ridiculous penalties on player celebrations.

It is one thing for a player who is taunting another player to get a flag thrown his way, but T.O. using the goal line as a starting line in a tribute to Usain Bolt, Chad (Ochocinco) Johnson playing cameraman or Santana Moss cleaning off his shoes with a towel in the end zone after a touchdown is not worth a 15-yard penalty. A player was flagged this year for falling to his knees in the back of the end zone and holding his arms outstretched.

The NFL needs to remember that its product is entertainment. If a celebration does not hurt anyone and it does not impede the playing of the game, where is the harm.

The main problem for the NFL is that it has gone overboard in the policing of celebrations. Every time there is a new rule penalizing celebrations, there are about a half dozen players who look for new ways to circumvent it.

Personally, I love creative end zone celebrations. It is what sports are supposed to be about ... fun. Yes, they can be taken overboard. Joe Horn reaching into the goal post padding for a cell phone to reach out and touch someone after a TD — over the line. T.O.’s Sharpie in the sock — a bit much. The old Washington Redskins’ “Fun Bunch” — good old-fashioned fun.

Unfortunately, the NFL is not the only ones cracking down on celebrating. The NCAA has been doing quite a bit of over-policing itself this year.

Just look at the SEC, where Georgia receiver A.J. Green got flagged on the go-ahead touchdown against LSU earlier this season. The score, with 1:09 left in the game, put Georgia up one point, but the penalty and a 40-yard return gave LSU the ball at the Georgia 38. The Tigers scored two plays later and won the game.

Following the game, the SEC coordinator of officials said that Green had done nothing improper. By that time, it was too late.

Sure, it could be argued that the Tigers would have scored anyway (and running back Charles Scott also got flagged for turning to the crowd and raising his hands), but would LSU have called a running play with under a minute left from midfield? The Georgia penalty changed the game, and probably, the result.

That was just one circumstance. Do we really want a bowl game or (gasp!) a BCS title game decided by a cheesy celebration penalty?

I just hope that NCAA doesn’t come to stand for No Celebrating At All.