Sideline limits OK with Kiffin

BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin can be easily found on the sidelines during games. There’s the typical white windbreaker and the trademark visor. And then there are the celebrations.

Kiffin has become renowned for celebrating touchdowns early by raising his arms into a touchdown signal before the play ends. Sometimes, at Alabama, he signaled touchdowns before the play even took shape. On Friday, during FAU’s season-opening 42-19 loss to Navy, Kiffin again unveiled an early celebration on Willie Wright’s 95-yard touchdown reception.

But even with Kiffin’s reactions on the sideline, he’s OK with a new rule implemented in college football. Beginning this season, coaches will be penalized with a 15-yard penalty if they “enter the field of play to demonstrate disagreement with an officiating decision.”

“I think it’s fine,” Kiffin said. “Rules are rules. If you’re going to have it, let’s enforce it. Instead of saying ‘Oh, stay over here.’ It’s just like anything, you just got to get used to it. That’s fine. There’s really no need for us to go out there. I got no problem with that.”

On Wright’s touchdown, the Owls sideline was flagged for a sideline warning, though they did not lose any yards. Kiffin said he was not sure if the call was on him in particular.

“[The official] told me it was just the sideline in general,” Kiffin said.

FAU at No. 9 Wisconsin, Saturday, 12 p.m., Big Ten Network

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