So in all these years the NFHS has never addressed this specifically? I can't believe this is the first time a kid did something like this. As I mentioned earlier, the NCAA already dealt with this and came to a good resolution IMHO.
Another story:
http://www.theolympian.com/2010/12/02/1459932/unwitting-gesture.htmlUnwitting gesture; national attentionCause célébre: When Ron Hastie pointed skyward, he brought out yellow flag, and a firestorm about his faith
GAIL WOOD; Staff writer | • Published December 02, 2010
A year ago, Ronnie Hastie came up with a touchdown routine that expressed his Christian faith.
The Tumwater junior running back simply kneels on one knee in the end zone, extends his right arm and points his index finger upward. It takes about two seconds.
“It’s my way of giving glory to God, not to myself,” Hastie said. “I want to give God the credit.”
Players from the NFL to college to high school do similar TD acts across the country. And it’s something Hastie did 17 times this season without incident.
But on Monday, in a 63-27 win against East Valley of Spokane in the state 2A semifinals, Hastie, on his 18th touchdown of the season, was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after scoring on a 23-yard run.
“I asked the ref what I did,” Hastie said. “He said you can’t bring attention to yourself.”
That now famous penalty – with the official throwing the yellow flag and hitting Hastie with it – has drawn national attention. A video link from Channel 4’s coverage of Hastie running for the touchdown is on websites across the country. He’ll be interviewed on a national radio show today.
“I am surprised how much attention it’s gotten,” Hastie said.
Some see the penalty as an attack on the Christian faith – akin to when prayer was banned from public schools.
“My dad said that when you put football and religion together you get strong emotions,” Hastie said, smiling.
Sid Otton, Tumwater’s coach since 1974 and the state’s all-time winningest football coach, admits he was surprised to see a penalty called.
“It hadn’t been called all year,” Otton said. “It would have been nice if the official warned him.”
Otton shouldered some of the blame.
“I feel I should have known,” Otten said. “Ronnie is a great kid. He has the courage to let people know what he believes in.”
Mike Colbrese, executive director of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, said the official was trying to enforce Rule 5-9, which states that any delay or excessive or prolonged celebration in which the player attempts to draw focus to himself is a penalty.
But Hastie’s bended knee celebration took approximately two seconds.
“The rule stipulates that you return the ball to the official and not bring attention to yourself,” Colbrese said.
Colbrese, who was at the game and not far from Hastie when he made his now famous bended-knee gesture, would not make a judgment on the official’s call. But he did say consistency is the goal.
“What we are doing is we’re having an internal discussion with the Washington Officials’ Association,” Colbrese said. “It’s something we’re reviewing.”
Colbrese said it wasn’t so much what Hastie did. It’s what he didn’t do – give the football directly to the official.
“It wasn’t like he did anything bad,” Otton said. “He wasn’t being like T.O. (Terrell Owens).”
Hastie won’t continue his end zone routine just to prove a point.
“He’s not wanting to jeopardize the team,” Otton said.
Hastie said he’ll kneel on a knee on the sideline.
“I don’t want to make a big deal out of this,” Hastie said.
Tumwater will go for its fifth state title when it plays Archbishop Murphy in the state championship game at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Tacoma Dome.
