Second thoughts

Nothing to celebrate for high-stepper

Hide your eyes, Deion Sanders. This is your worst nightmare. Tulsa wide receiver Justin Hobbs got penalized and his team lost a touchdown because he briefly highstepped — a move Sanders made famous during his Hall of Fame NFL career as a Hobbs cornerback and return specialist — on his way into the end zone in the third quarter against SMU on Friday.

The absurdity lies with the sideline referee, who decided Hobbs’ brief high-step was worthy of a taunting penalty.

Can’t we at least get to Halloween before Ebenezer Scrooge shows his face?

It’s not like Hobbs high-stepped backward into the end zone while taunting the SMU defenders he blew by for a sensational catch. When he realized he was going to score, he briefly celebrated and went on his merry way to what should have been a touchdown.

The NCAA rulebook says any act that is “very demonstrative” or considered to be taunting can get a touchdown wiped off the board, but the NCAA needs to tell officials to loosen their belts. Or just stop enforcing it all together and wipe it from the books.

The Golden Hurricane lost four points when they ended up kicking a field goal on the drive to go ahead 3121 with 11:01 left in the third quarter.

The lead wouldn’t last. SMU overcame the 10-point deficit and won the game, 38-34, so the penalty ended up playing a big role in the final outcome.

We’ve seen a few other touchdowns taken off the board because of “excessive celebration.” Iowa’s Akrum Wadley was penalized against North Texas for a similar high-step.

And Missouri’s Damarea Crockett (Little Rock Christian) also lost a touchdown because he dove into the end zone against Missouri State in Week 1.

It’s time for officials to get over themselves and realize these kids are playing a game and officiate accordingly.