The NFL is already a lost cause as far as classy celebrations are concerned, but there’s still hope for the NCAA. Unfortunately, officials have had a hard time separating “excessive” from simple celebrations.

Two weeks ago, Arkansas State linebacker Demario Davis somersaulted into the end zone to add panache to a 75-yard interception return against Iowa. That drew a 15-yard penalty.

That makes sense.

But as we all know, officials are quite the fallible beings.

Remember a year ago, when Washington quarterback Jake Locker scored a late touchdown that cut BYU‘s lead to one in the final seconds. In his excitement, Locker flipped the ball skyward and drew a 15-yard penalty, which was marked off on the extra-point attempt. BYU blocked the extra point and won 28-27.

I’m a fan of Jim Brown’s motto “act like you’ve been there” when scoring a touchdown. After scoring, Brown would simply toss the ball to the officials, because the patch of grass at the end of the field was nothing new to them. Now-a-days, however, you’d think athletes stumbled upon Heaven itself the way they act sometimes.

Then again… it’s a touchdown, probably the most exciting form of scoring in professional sports, especially when in the form of a 42 yard pass to take the lead in the fourth quarter. The refs need to find some common sense. It seems like they’re following the faulty logic of the judge who famously said of pornography “I’ll know it when I see it.” There has to be a way to differentiate between somersaults into the end-zone and throwing a ball in the air, something the ball was meant to do.

[via Rivals]