No Emotion Allowed? Eliminate The NCAA Football Taunting Rule

NCAA rules will always draw controversy, but Rule 9-2 in the NCAA Rule Book regarding unsportsmanlike acts draws most attention.

In short, the rule states that no member of a football team shall use abusive, threatening or obscene language or gestures that will provoke ill will to the image of the game.

These acts include, but are not limited to pointing fingers, hands, arms or the ball at opponents, choreographed acts, ball carrier altering stride when approaching the end zone, removal of a player's helmet on the field, punching one's chest or crossing one's arms, bowing at the waist, and going into the stands to interact with spectators.

Rules also prohibit players after a score from kicking, throwing, spinning, carrying or spiking the ball.

Excessive and abusive taunting of another player is an understandable rule, in which it can be viewed as giving the game a poor image, but to label a player's celebrations as taunting is incorrect.

Taunting should be limited to demeaning another player, as celebration should be considered a form of human emotion, and not penalized.

The NCAA is slowly taking the life out of the student athletes, allowing them to show next to none emotion in the game.

The original taunting rule was put into effect after the 1991 Cotton Bowl. It was dubbed the "Miami Rule" after board members viewed the Miami Hurricanes' excessive use of celebration on the field and in prior seasons as "disgusting."

That marked the era of the NCAA wanting lifeless student athletes out on the field, allowing players to show almost no excitement on the field.

It is understandable for the committee to want to eliminate behaviors that could tarnish the game, but celebrations should not be part of this category.

These are all young guys, averaging in age from 18-22, living their dream of playing college ball. To take away their excitement during the game goes against the very foundation of college football.

To put a young guy in a packed stadium of 80,000—or even 40,000 for that matter—and tell him that he is not to celebrate after a huge touchdown is absurd.

In the December ESPN Documentary on "The U," former Miami Hurricane players stated: "If you don't want us to celebrate, then keep us out of the end zone," in rebuttal to the new rule primarily based off their actions under then coach Dennis Erickson.

These guys had it right, they performed at a level few could match and should be able to celebrate their accomplishments.

The celebrations from these young players are pure, human emotion and should not be taken away from them.They are young, full of life, and are out there to enjoy themselves.

If they want to do a little jig in the end zone, spike the ball, or remove their helmet in excitement after a huge score, then let them.

Emotion is as much a part of sports for both the players as for the fans. Fans enjoy watching their team celebrate a big play, it allows them to live in the moment with them.

Many enjoy watching NCAA football more when compared to the pros because these players show heart out on the field and a true love for the game. Not to knock the pros, but lets face it, it's largely accepted that the NFL is all about the money.

This is their time to shine, as the majority of college players will never play in the NFL, so let them be excited about their time on the field.