Pigskin Postmortem: Is NCAA trying to be a No Fun League, Too?

Let’s make one thing clear right off the bat: The Pac-10 officials did not cause the University of Washington to lose that game on Saturday afternoon against Brigham Young University. For all we know, BYU could have blocked the kick if it had been a regular extra point attempt.

But once again, a Pac-10 officiating crew finds itself in the middle of controversy for a blown call.

Unlike the kerfuffle a couple of seasons ago in the Oregon-Oklahoma game, this controversy was not derived because of bad eyes.

It comes from bad judgment and misapplication of a rule.

On some level, I can understand the need for a no taunting rule. I think that a lot of the posing and posturing that goes on over the “vanquished foe” has become extremely ridiculous.

But having watched the replays over and over, Locker wasn’t trying to show anyone up. He scored a touchdown to pull his team within one in a hard fought game and was ecstatic that he had scored. If you watch the film, you can tell it wasn’t premeditated. To me, it looked like he dove for the end zone, got up and immediately flipped the ball in the air over his shoulder.

He didn’t pull a cell phone out of his pants pocket and make a call. He didn’t propose to a cheerleader. He didn’t put the ball on the sideline, take a pylon and try to make a putt. He didn’t step on the ball and flex.

Locker flipped the ball over his shoulder and jumped into the arms of his teammate.

If the flag hadn’t been thrown, would BYU fans really call for Locker to get a penalty?

Hell, no.

That’s why it was a bad call.

I’m not faulting the rule at all. I get the spirit of the rule.

But shame on the Pac-10 officials for making the call.