Penalizing players for celebrating excessively in the end zone after a touchdown has resulted in fewer outlandish celebrations and a new interpretation of what the letters NFL mean. Instead of the National Football League, some fans now call it the No Fun League. The penalties, however, do not outlaw end zone celebrations altogether; instead, they seek to rein them in and restore some dignity to a sporting accomplishment team owners thought was becoming part circus and part theater.
History
The ritual of players enthusiastically celebrating touchdowns apparently started in 1965, according to Dylan Hoffpauir in "The Evolution Of the NFL End Zone Celebration," when Homer Jones of the New York Giants became the first player to spike the ball after crossing the goal line. Three years later, spiking was forbidden by the NCAA in college games. Thus began the ritual in both pro and college ball of high stepping into the end zone and otherwise dancing, tumbling, pirouetting and leaping into the stands to celebrate scoring 6 points.
First Penalties
The so-called "Mark Gastineau rule" was approved for the 1984 season. That rule, named in honor of Jet's defender Gastineau, who used to dance elaborately after each sack, called for a five-yard penalty for "prolonged, excessive or premeditated celebration by an individual," according to "USA Today." The rule was interpreted to include overly enthusiastic touchdown celebrations. Despite the rule, the celebrations continued to occur and evolve until team owners thought they were detracting from the dignity of the game. "The game is about the team, not the individual," San Diego head coach Marty Schottenheimer said.
Tougher Penalty
In 2006, NFL owners met and drew up tougher touchdown celebration guidelines to rein in excessive displays. The rule was simple, according to NBC Sports writer Don Pierson: Players were instructed that when celebrating they are not allowed to leave their feet and the ball cannot be made to look like anything other than a ball --- such as when one player burped the ball like a baby after scoring. Spiking the ball and dunking it over the goal post were permitted. The penalty for "excessive celebration" was increased to 15 yards on the kickoff.
NCAA
The NCAA usually followed the NFL's lead in establishing rules against excessive celebrations in the end zone, but it took the lead in 2011. While the NFL stayed with a maximum rule of 15 yards added to the kickoff, the NCAA voted to empower a referee to be able to take deduct points from a team's score if a player celebrated excessively. The new rule is the toughest penalty ever assessed to combat excessive end zone celebrations.
References
- Bleacher Report; The Evolution Of the NFL End Zone Celebration; Dylan Hoffpauir; February 5, 201
- NBC Sports; Simple Celebration Rule: Stay on Your Feet; Don Pierson; April 4, 2006
- "USA Today"; NFL puts 'horse collar' tackle back in the barn; Jarrett Bell; May 24, 2004
- ESPN; NFL votes to rein in TD celebrations; John Clayton; December 18, 2009
- 27x7 Sports; NCAA Football's Celebration Rules + Flag-Happy Refs -- Touchdowns = Bad Move For Colleges; Bill Bradley; April 15, 2011
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