There is something to say for celebrations in sports after executing a play done well that you might say there is a fine line for.
Granted, we don’t live in a society where anyone would expect a pro or college athlete to go “aww shucks” and calmly hand the ball to the referee after a game-winning touchdown, but there has to be a line somewhere.
The celebrations where everyone lines up and takes a “picture” using the ball as the camera is actually kind of amusing. However, there are some players that for whatever reason don’t understand that there are still families watching these games and that you have to temper things accordingly.
A 15-yard penalty for excessive celebration may have cost Ole Miss a chance to see victory in their annual Thanksgiving Day Egg Bowl match-up against Mississippi State.
Excessive celebration, however, hardly begins to explain the vulgar taunt that left the Rebels a day late and a dollar short in their fourth-quarter effort to knot the game 21 and almost certainly force overtime, according to CBS Sports.
With time winding down in regulation, things were looking up for Ole Miss who, despite trailing for much of the game, came up big on their final drive.
Down 21-14, the Rebels were aided on a 66-yard drive by a number of Bulldog penalties and, broke through on a touchdown reception from sophomore receiver Elijah Moore just four seconds before the wrap.
But an ensuing celebratory taunt from Moore that was described as, among other things, a “total embarrassment” and an “all-time blunder,” would cost his team dearly.
After barely breaking the plane on a contested two-yard play, Moore would fall on his hands and knees at the back of the end zone, raise one leg and act as though he was urinating like a dog.
Elijah Moore should have been rewarded for this celebration, not penalized.
Creative and executed perfectly. Let ‘em play, ref! #EggBowl pic.twitter.com/WDN3965SUN
— Wes Blankenship (@Wes_nship) November 29, 2019
An official response followed quickly, with the foolish display drawing flags from two officials.
The resulting unsportsmanlike conduct penalty forced Ole Miss to take their extra point attempt from 35 yards out, and junior Luke Logan’s kick went wide right.
It goes without saying that this foolish stunt went well beyond the pale.
Social media was ablaze within seconds of the celebration, with viewers having a laugh at Moore’s expense, reaming him and, of course, alluding to the fact that he had unquestionably “p—ed the game away.”