BG now leads the NCAA in penalties

[BGSU33]

Okay, so we saw a flurry of flags thrown against BG vs Tennessee (12 for 128 yards), and heard Babers said that would be corrected, only to see numerous more thrown against us vs Maryland too (10 for 80 yards). Only Baylor (2 more than BG), Kent State & ULM (both with 1 more) have had more penalties than BG has. Nearly half of the teams in the country have half as many penalties as BG has, including nearly 30 teams with 2 games played with single digits calls against them.

First let me start by saying, yes, I understand when you run a high number of plays in a game, you're very likely to experience several more calls. I can live with that on an extra false start or two, or an extra hold here or there. But what was most frustrating was during the Maryland game our penalties included a pair of Unsportsmanlike Conduct calls that BOTH led to Maryland TD's. The first was when Lewis was flagged after a TD that resulted in Maryland starting the next drive from our 47 that they turned into a TD, and the other by Stephens after BG stopped them on 3rd down to force a punt, only to give them 15 yards and a new set of downs that they in turned turned into another TD. Were they crap calls? IMO, yes. But our guys needs to understand that the refs are gonna flag them for this stuff. If they want to celebrate, that's fine, but run off the field and get to your sidelines and do it with your teammates. DO NOT DO IT ON THE FIELD. The refs are watching and it could cost us a game. Do I think the refs were nitpicking with those flags? No doubt. Which is exactly why our guys must be made aware and taught not to do it. We saw a lot of this throughout last season and it obviously has carried over to this year. Last year only 5 teams in the county had more penalties than BG. I really hope this is something we can get cleaned up. Now.

[Schadenfreude]

Were they crap calls? IMO, yes.

I agree. They were crap calls.

I'd be concerned if Falcon players were taunting. They aren't, not really. They have swagger, and they celebrate big plays. It won't take much of an an adjustment for them to avoid flags in the future. Just dial it back a notch; that's all they need to do. And I think they will.

[MarkL]

I'd rather be complaining about celebration penalties than just about everything else we've been complaining about recently.

And I agree. The celebration penalties were crap calls. But the lesson learned - tone it down a bit. Don't give forces out of your control - ie a trigger happy official - the opportunity to ruin a good game.

[Falconwriter]

The most disturbing thing about this thread is that the originator noted that BG has been in the top 5 for penalties two years in a row (yes I know, this year is still very young).

This stat points to my chief complaint about Babers and his coaching (the staff gets implicated in this along with Babers, since they report to him): there is a lack of discipline with this team, and it rears its ugly head far too often. Whether it be because of penalties or playing out of position on defense or special teams (especially special teams). This stuff is ALL correctable.

With so much potential for this team in front of them, I'd really hate to see this season get derailed because of preventable mental lapses. It's one thing to lose because you're beat physically; quite another to lose because of mental errors.

I hope they get this cleaned up right away. All it takes is one bad lapse in a key game, and everything this team is hoping to accomplish can be dashed.

[jpfalcon09]

The most disturbing thing about this thread is that the originator noted that BG has been in the top 5 for penalties two years in a row (yes I know, this year is still very young).

This stat points to my chief complaint about Babers and his coaching (the staff gets implicated in this along with Babers, since they report to him): there is a lack of discipline with this team, and it rears its ugly head far too often. Whether it be because of penalties or playing out of position on defense or special teams (especially special teams). This stuff is ALL correctable.

With so much potential for this team in front of them, I'd really hate to see this season get derailed because of preventable mental lapses. It's one thing to lose because you're beat physically; quite another to lose because of mental errors.

I hope they get this cleaned up right away. All it takes is one bad lapse in a key game, and everything this team is hoping to accomplish can be dashed.

I doubt we'll see much change over the season. One thing about football players I've never really understood is the need to showboat for making a play you're supposed to make. I've never seen a hockey player act like an idiot after throwing a body check or a baseball player taunting a guy after throwing him out. You wanna celebrate? Save it for the sidelines with your teammates and coaches, not something to infuriate the opposition or to catch the official's attention.

[Falcon137]

The most disturbing thing about this thread is that the originator noted that BG has been in the top 5 for penalties two years in a row (yes I know, this year is still very young).

This stat points to my chief complaint about Babers and his coaching (the staff gets implicated in this along with Babers, since they report to him): there is a lack of discipline with this team, and it rears its ugly head far too often. Whether it be because of penalties or playing out of position on defense or special teams (especially special teams). This stuff is ALL correctable.

With so much potential for this team in front of them, I'd really hate to see this season get derailed because of preventable mental lapses. It's one thing to lose because you're beat physically; quite another to lose because of mental errors.

I hope they get this cleaned up right away. All it takes is one bad lapse in a key game, and everything this team is hoping to accomplish can be dashed.

I doubt we'll see much change over the season. One thing about football players I've never really understood is the need to showboat for making a play you're supposed to make. I've never seen a hockey player act like an idiot after throwing a body check or a baseball player taunting a guy after throwing him out. You wanna celebrate? Save it for the sidelines with your teammates and coaches, not something to infuriate the opposition or to catch the official's attention.

Wooooeeee, that's a can of worms. Especially using the 2 sports you did as examples.

But, for fun....baseball players do taunt each other, after they strike someone out - some pitchers dance, hit a homerun - guys do a bat flip and will stand and watch it. And if you do taunt, what do they do? Throw a 90 mph ball at the next guy...because your teammate poked fun at me!!!

Hockey players will fight each other if the wrong player gets body checked. Literally drop your gloves and fist fight because, you checked our best player, HOW DARE YOU!!!

But, people lose their minds, when guys playing a game that involves the risk of paralysis or death on each play, do a dance in the endzone.

People do know sports is entertainment? Right?

[Flipper]

I agree..there's all sorts of taunting and showboating that goes on in the other sports...why people get so bent of out of shape when kids act like kids on a football field is beyond me.

[transfer2BGSU]

One thing about football players I've never really understood is the need to showboat for making a play you're supposed to make. I've never seen a hockey player act like an idiot after throwing a body check or a baseball player taunting a guy after throwing him out. You wanna celebrate? Save it for the sidelines with your teammates and coaches, not something to infuriate the opposition or to catch the official's attention.

BINGO!

Act like you've been there. Roger Lewis scored how many TD's last year? What the heck was he thinking? That little jig cost us 15 yards on the ensuing kick-off and gave Maryland 7 points. His butt would be dragging so bad right now if I was the head coach, the last thing he'd be thinking about doing this Saturday would be doing it again. I don't want to single Roger out, I like Roger and I hope he scores many more times this season and the following two years, but please - just give the ball to the ref, get over to our sideline, and then let KC and the Sunshine Band take over.

If you look at the Maryland and Tennessee games, how many points did we give up with the unsportsmanlike conduct penalties? I know for the Tennessee game, it seemed as if we got an USC they would score a TD.

Stupid penalties are going to beat us.

[Falconfreak90]

I never did see what Stephens did after the D stopped MD in the 2nd half...got a 15 yarder for unsportsmanlike conduct by crossing his arms back and forth??? When the WR's scored on pass plays, I loved seeing Travis Green GRABBING them and pushing them back to the bench to celebrate. Great leadership from the SR. Kids make plays and wanna celebrate...I agree with Flip and 137. But I also see the other side of the deal. Act like you've been there and save most of the stuff for the bench.

[jpfalcon09]

The most disturbing thing about this thread is that the originator noted that BG has been in the top 5 for penalties two years in a row (yes I know, this year is still very young).

This stat points to my chief complaint about Babers and his coaching (the staff gets implicated in this along with Babers, since they report to him): there is a lack of discipline with this team, and it rears its ugly head far too often. Whether it be because of penalties or playing out of position on defense or special teams (especially special teams). This stuff is ALL correctable.

With so much potential for this team in front of them, I'd really hate to see this season get derailed because of preventable mental lapses. It's one thing to lose because you're beat physically; quite another to lose because of mental errors.

I hope they get this cleaned up right away. All it takes is one bad lapse in a key game, and everything this team is hoping to accomplish can be dashed.

I doubt we'll see much change over the season. One thing about football players I've never really understood is the need to showboat for making a play you're supposed to make. I've never seen a hockey player act like an idiot after throwing a body check or a baseball player taunting a guy after throwing him out. You wanna celebrate? Save it for the sidelines with your teammates and coaches, not something to infuriate the opposition or to catch the official's attention.

Wooooeeee, that's a can of worms. Especially using the 2 sports you did as examples.

But, for fun....baseball players do taunt each other, after they strike someone out - some pitchers dance, hit a homerun - guys do a bat flip and will stand and watch it. And if you do taunt, what do they do? Throw a 90 mph ball at the next guy...because your teammate poked fun at me!!!

Hockey players will fight each other if the wrong player gets body checked. Literally drop your gloves and fist fight because, you checked our best player, HOW DARE YOU!!!

But, people lose their minds, when guys playing a game that involves the risk of paralysis or death on each play, do a dance in the endzone.

People do know sports is entertainment? Right?

I've played sports, I understand the emotion. I also understand sportsmanship and how showboating or taunting can hurt your team. Most if not all the coaches I played for told me if I want to celebrate to do so with my teammates on the sidelines or the bench, away from the officials and the other team to not show them up. All that stuff ends up doing is garnering a reputation for you, your team and your program that the officials will certainly be keeping a closer eye on than normal.

And yes, I understand that other sports have instances where players may do stuff, but to me they're much more infrequent than football. I just always get a chuckle when a player gets flagged for an unsportsmanlike, acts dumbfounded and then gets chewed out by a coach on the sidelines.

[kdog27]

I don't mind the celebrating but you have to be aware that college officials are quick to throw that flag so you have to scale it back.

However some teams just play this way and can overcome the penalties. It's part of their edge. Seeing as they have played this way even when WKU was running up and down the field on them I don't see it stopping so hopefully they can overcome them.

[Falconwriter]

I don't mind the celebrating but you have to be aware that college officials are quick to throw that flag so you have to scale it back.

However some teams just play this way and can overcome the penalties. It's part of their edge. Seeing as they have played this way even when WKU was running up and down the field on them I don't see it stopping so hopefully they can overcome them.

Not the best strategy to count on (hope). I'd prefer the coaches do their jobs and reign in this crap. Yes they're kids and having fun by celebrating -- but THEY KNOW THE DAMN RULES. Whether they like it or not, flaunting those rules only ends up hurting the team.

Why players don't get that is beyond me. It's purely selfish behavior to keep getting these types of penalties when you know the team is going to pay.

[irs]

We were at the game and what Stephens did was slide hit hand over his throat. When we saw it, knew the ref was going to throw a flag for that type of showboating. We watched a replay of the game and it was not shown. I know a lot of BG fans booed but not a questionable call when you put your hand around your throat as if cutting off their head. As stated, goes back to lack of discipline by this team and the coaches. i love the energy, but look like you have been there before and celebrate on sidelines. Did like seeing teammates grabbing pl;ayers and stopping the on field celebrations, but coaches shpuld be leading.

Beat Memphis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Beaker]

Of course these are young guys out there and football can be an emotional game, but bottom line is, that conduct draws penalty flags and everyone knows it. They also know those flags hurt the team and in sufficient quantities or at the wrong time, they can contribute directly to the team losing. What's more fun, showboating when you make a touchdown or a tackle and losing the game, or withholding your celebration until you get to the sideline and winning the game? I don't understand why, if the players can't understand this and reign it in, that the coaches won't do it for them. You can still play with emotion and at a high energy level without doing the kinds of things that everyone knows will bring out the little yellow flags.

I don't see youth as an excuse. These guys are adults and know better. I played football in a YMCA league as a little kid all the way through high school and in all those years I only ever saw one kid get an unsportsmanlike penalty for doing a showboat dance. After the coach got done thoroughly undressing him and after he paid his penance sitting on the bench for the rest of the game, he never did it again. The coach was very effective at communicating to the team that this kind of crap was not going to fly and would get you planted firmly on the sidelines. Since it has gone on now for 15 games under this staff without them putting a stop to it, I can only conclude that they condone it for reasons I don't understand. If anyone saw Florida coach Jim Mcelwaine tear into that player for his unsportsmanlike touchdown celebration penalty last week, I think his players likely got the message.

Kudos to Travis Greene for short-circuiting another episode in the endzone last week or that likely would have earned us another 15 yards.

[mscarn]

During the TV broadcast, Coach McCloud (wide receivers) appeared to speak to Lewis on the sidelines and say something along the lines of "it isolates you" in regards to the celebration and how the moment should be shared with teammates.

Last year the selfie stuff was actively promoted and encouraged on Twitter. IMO the refs go too far in stifling the joy and emotion that naturally derives from the game, but when you're aware of that going in you've still got to play by their rules. The worst thing that could happen is if something like that cost us a game. I remember last year the players started doing some type of military-style salute after TD's, perhaps a ironic dig at the referees and the formality with which they want them to act.