Eat. It.

Happy Sunday Followers-

Before I delve into today's topic, I want you to watch the video below. It's a piece Bob Costas (my hero) did about NFL celebrations. Please enjoy....


 I think this is really great commentary about the pettiness of the NFL touchdown celebration. As a fan,  I pay money to come watch a football game. You are paid to play the football game. So, act like one. Last time I checked, you aren't being paid to do some self indulgent dance in the end zone. It's only getting worse and worse (here are some crazy touchdown celebrations) and unfortunately, it is becoming an issue in college football, but no one wants to talk about it...

Well, I will.

Now, I grew up in a household of college football purists. I was raised to eat, sleep, and breathe Northwestern football. I have been to more college football games then most people. I know and understand the rules when it comes to celebrating a touchdown. You score. You high five. You get off the field. You get the field goal. If you don't? If you dance around the end zone? Well then, you get a real nice "Excessive Celebration" penalty.

At first, I thought this was super ridiculous. A penalty for being happy that you scored some points? Really? But as I thought about it more and more, I couldn't be thankful enough that this is upheld in college football. Or is it?

I have noticed a new and flat out STUPID trend that is taking over the collegiate and professional football scene. It's unnecessary AND it's been made popular by old Shoelaces himself, Denard Robinson. Take a look...


 As you can see the new trend is to look like your eating a bowl of soup? Oatmeal? Cereal? Really, it can be anything you want. Sometimes it looks like he uses his fingers as chopsticks, so I like to think he's eating a nice bowl of chow mein. Regardless of what it is he is eating, it's stupid. I have had countless discussions with people about what it is this gesture means....

Here's my list of potential meanings:
1. Eat em' up!
2. Hungry for more!
3. This soup is good!

Clearly, there aren't many options and there all terrible.

Because the NFL is prone to this type of behavior, I would expect this from someone like, Vonn Miller, but I would expect a little bit more from someone like Denard.....

Bah! Who am I kidding? It's Michigan, right?

But seriously. What I don't understand is why this isn't considered excessive celebration? It's obnoxious and it takes away from the game. Just score your touchdown and get off the field. There is no need to take it any further than that. AND it's spreading. It is the new phenomenon (I caught a guy doing the gesture in the So. Miss vs. Houston game) and I don't get it. Remember when this happened?  It was a simple gesture, but it got called and they suffered the consequences. This is the same sort of thing and Denard has yet to be called out. I know another year of college football is coming to an end, but it's disappointing to watch the NCAA get a bit lax with their standards. And this is one standard that makes college football games so much more enjoyable to watch.

I hope that this "Eat em' up" gesture is just a phase.
I hope that NCAA refs grow some balls and throw a flag.
I hope that the NFL starts really penalizing for excessive celebration.

For the last time:  Quit the shenanigans and play some football! Who's with me?


At least we don't have to deal with the Canadian Football League. Those guys are straight up lost causes...
Woof.