All the things the NCAA considers ‘unsportsmanlike conduct’

Your detailed rundown of the NCAA’s celebration rules.

In 2017, the NFL liberalized its celebration rules to let players have fun after touchdowns without getting flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. The new legal climate led to a bunch of fun routines, and the NFL got a little bit more fun at no cost to anybody.

College football has not followed suit. The NCAA’s rules about player celebrations and other forms of “unsportsmanlike conduct” are as cop-like as ever.

What is college football’s unsportsmanlike conduct rule?

Per the NCAA rulebook, players can’t do things that “provoke ill will or are demeaning to an opponent, to game officials or to the image of the game,” including but not limited to:

(a) Pointing the finger(s), hand(s), arm(s) or ball at an opponent, or imitating the slashing of the throat.

(b) Taunting, baiting or ridiculing an opponent verbally.

(c) Inciting an opponent or spectators in any other way, such as simulating the firing of a weapon or placing a hand by the ear to request recognition.

(d) Any delayed, excessive, prolonged or choreographed act by which a player (or players) attempts to focus attention upon himself (or themselves).

(e) An unopposed ball carrier obviously altering stride as he approaches the opponent’s goal line or diving into the end zone.

In 2010, the NCAA started treated high-stepping it into the end zone as a live-ball foul. So when Iowa’s Akrum Wadley started high-stepping a 74-yard touchdown run in 2017 at the other team’s 6, the Hawkeyes had to settle for a first down at the North Texas 21.

(f) A player removing his helmet after the ball is dead and before he is in the team area (Exceptions: Team, media or injury timeouts; equipment adjustment; through play; between periods; and during a measurement for a first down).

(g) Punching one’s own chest or crossing one’s arms in front of the chest while standing over a prone player.

(h) Going into the stands to interact with spectators, or bowing at the waist after a good play.

Oregon lost a game to Arizona in 2014 because of a bowing celebration:

ESPN

(i) Intentionally removing the helmet while the ball is alive.

(j) Dead-ball contact fouls such as pushing, shoving, striking, etc. that occur clearly after the ball is dead and that are not part of the game action.

(k) After the ball is dead, using forcible contact to push or pull an opponent off the pile.

Many of these silly rules came about because the Miami teams of the 1980s were too cool for the NCAA’s liking. The NCAA instituted a specific 15-yard penalty for taunting after the Canes were too mean to Texas during a blowout in the 1991 Cotton Bowl.

After a play, players have to give the ball to an official immediately or put it down near where it became dead. They are prohibited from:

(a) Kicking, throwing, spinning or carrying (including off of the field) the ball any distance that requires an official to retrieve it.

(b) Spiking the ball to the ground [Exception: A forward pass to conserve time.]

(c) Throwing the ball high into the air.

(d) Any other unsportsmanlike act or actions that delay the game.

Other unsportsmanlike fouls, per the NCAA:

-During the game, coaches, squad members, and authorized attendants in the team area may not be on the field of play or outside the 25-yard lines to protest an officiating decision or to communicate with players or officials without permission from the referee.

-No disqualified person shall be in view of the field of play.

Technically, this isn’t allowed:

-No person or mascot subject to the rules, except players, officials and eligible substitutes, shall be on the field of play or end zones during any period without permission from the referee. If a player is injured, attendants may come inbounds to attend him, but they must obtain recognition from an official.

-No substitute(s) may enter the field of play or end zones for purposes other than replacing a player(s) or to fill a player vacancy(ies). This includes demonstrations after any play (A.R. 9-2-1-I).

-Persons subject to the rules, including bands, shall not create any noise that prohibits a team from hearing its signals (Rule 1-1-6). .