LSU P Brad Wing Apologetic, but Did the NCAA Drop the Ball?

LSU P Brad Wing was the first victim of the NCAA's new rule on taunting last Saturday in LSU's blowout victory over the Florida Gators.

Let that simple statement sink in, a punter was the first victim of the NCAA's new taunting rule.

To Wing's credit, he has been nothing but apologetic while stating "It is a rule, so we have to abide by it and I did clearly break it,".

Let's be honest on this situation, the SEC officials who threw the flag made exactly the right call based on the new rules regarding taunting, but is every rule so cut and dry?  Shouldn't this have been a judgement call rather than a guaranteed nullification of what could be Wing's only opportunity to ever reach the end-zone?

It is fitting that a punter is the first victim of the rule though, for when the rule was introduced it drew the ire from pundits across the country.  Google search NCAA's new taunting rule, and you will find page after page of articles lamenting the NCAA for their final conclusion to end unsportsmanlike conduct.

To those who watched the CBS Game of the Week Saturday, they would have heard Verne Lunquist and Gary Danielson trying to explain the rule after the play unfolded.  Danielson went on to say that officials informed him that the interpretation of the rule was to prevent egregious celebration in college football.

Was the move by Wing, which was obviously just sheer excitement, really egregious?  If there was ever a case for the gray area of the rule, it was this case.

Thankfully, LSU Head Coach Les Miles showed utter class by not chastising the young punter, and has since stated that the rule should have been called, but even Miles himself surely got a laugh out of this ludicrous situation.

Hopefully, upon review of this call, the officials will take notice of the situation around them and be able to better determine the difference between unsportsmanlike celebration, and excitement.