Miles praises Michael Ford, and apologizes for.....

Can someone explain wedge blocking and/or what the changes to taunting/celebrating are? Did they do away with the penalty for celebration a la the Georgia game?

 

Oh no, much worse. They made taunting a live ball foul, meaning, if a ref says you were taunting on your way to the endzone, points come off the board. Before, it was a penalty on the XP or kickoff.

EDIT - Wedge blocking is when the kickoff receiving team sets up blockers shoulder to shoulder to create a wall of blockers for the returner. It caused a lot of injuries from players hurling their bodies into the blockers to break up the wall.

 

Quite petty

 

It is. My biggest problem with it is the inherent subjectivity. I don't think there is any place for taunting, but what happens when a player points up at the sky before he crosses the goal line, and some power tripping official decides to make an example of him and calls it taunting? BS if you ask me. It puts way too much power into the officials hands.

 

I'm fine with taunting, but the rule is inherently flawed and open to interpretation. On the other hand, the alternative is to specifically define taunting, and acts that will be considered as taunting. I say either have taunting, or list what is and what is not taunting. After last year, I don't have much confidence in the official's interpretation

 

Bingo, too much power for officials is not a good thing.

 

This new rule WILL be abused by SEC officials next season at least once in a crucial game. 100% probability. Count on it.

 

I'm in, enough of this taunting and poor sportsmanship. I figure this outlandish stuff that goes on before the end zone will get called at least a dozen times.

I also predict Bama will get a holding penalty sometime this year. I could be wrong.:huh:

 

Hmmmm, Tusktimes a Bama fan is in favor of this rule.......... I wonder why??? :huh: