Here we Go Again - Uns Conduct Controversey (video)

[TXMike]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXBk4MlEvEo
Go to about 1:30 mark of video
One of the nation's highest rated prep running backs was ejected in the 3d qtr for his 2d UNS in the game.  Still looking for video of first foul (reportedly a throat slash) but 2d looks like the correct call to me.

[williebe]

Correct call.

[TXMike]

The TD was erased

[NVFOA_Ump]

This is one of the actions explicitly listed in rule 9-2 as earning a flag.   

[DallasLJ]

Absolutely the right call.  Looks like 7 man crew.  Can't tell for sure, but look like FJ threw the penalty.  If so, should he have signaled touchdown since he knew it wouldn't count?

[CenTexTM]

Clearly altered his stride.  Shouldn't the FJ signal touchdown since that was the result of the play?  Also, I know player numbers aren't announced for fouls, but are they supposed to be for ejections?

[Hank]

Good call.

If the first USC was also on a touchdown and the kid didn't learn when that one was called.  Maybe he'll learn when he has to take his pads off and watch the rest of the game.  He's playing next week, so let's hope the coach can teach him something.

[psv]

Who were those announcers?  man they were bad.

So, for those of us who are usually with the runners as they cross the goal line, high stepping is a foul, but pointing to the sky number one isnt, correct? 

[TXMike]

It is until they add that to the book (pointing up at the sky)

[DallasLJ]

Clearly altered his stride.  Shouldn't the FJ signal touchdown since that was the result of the play?  Also, I know player numbers aren't announced for fouls, but are they supposed to be for ejections?

  I am not signalling TD if I have a catch by the WR and I threw and OPI on the play.  I know the result of the play is not a TD.

[TexLJ]

Yes, 7-man crew.  The first flag was a throat slash motion on a TD.  He said he was "celebrating with the fans" and not taunting the other team.

According to some fans from both teams, Gray was yelling at the officials after the game as they were leaving the field and had to be separated by police officers.

What amuses me is that in some games (Ozen-LaMarque) they blame the officials for "losing control" of the game.  In other games, the officials are too strict.  IMO, this game could have easily gotten out of control if the crew had not been on top of it.

[Hank]

The first flag was a throat slash motion on a TD.  He said he was "celebrating with the fans" and not taunting the other team.

According to some fans from both teams, Gray was yelling at the officials after the game as they were leaving the field and had to be separated by police officers.

So, basically NO, this kid can't learn.  Do it again kid and sit again.  Hey, maybe this time you can cost your team a victory or a state championship.

[TXMike]

According to some fans from both teams, Gray was yelling at the officials after the game as they were leaving the field and had to be separated by police officers.

This has been clarified.  It was actually the player's father, a former NFL player, who accosted the refs after the game.  I hope they did an incident report.

[Sonofanump]

Being very nickpicky here: I think that the calling official would have thrown flag at a spot instead of in the air.

[Diablo]

Being very nickpicky here: I think that the calling official would have thrown flag at a spot instead of in the air.

I don't know about "nickpicky".  But your recommendation is not nitpicky.  Now am I being nitpicky? 

Any error in marking the spot of that foul directly affects establishing the correct succeeding spot - similar to missing forward progress or a ball carrier going OB.  Granted this is the first year that USC fouls are basic spot fouls and officials may be a bit slow conforming to the new rule, especially at start of the season.  But this is playoff game at the end of the year.

[Birddog]

The announcers clearly say "he has done that all year", in re-guards to the altered stride into the EZ.  He has scored 200 TDs so that means allot of opportunities for a USL.  Somehow I don't think that is accurate, but still interesting.

[clearwall]

Great call, announcers are utter morons.

Side note-wish stephenville had actually shown up in that game...

[TexLJ]

This has been clarified.  It was actually the player's father, a former NFL player, who accosted the refs after the game.  I hope they did an incident report.

If that is the case then I stand corrected.

Here are the player's comments per the Dallas Morning news sports blog:

Gray was flagged for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. The first call involved him making a throat-slashing gesture after a touchdown. Gray said he was signaling to fans in celebration, not taunting the opponents.

The second penalty was for high-stepping into the end zone en route to a third-quarter touchdown. The play was called back. After that flag, Gray's backup, Caleb Frysinger, scored three plays later to give Aledo a 31-0 lead.

"I'm glad for our team," he said. "I'm glad we won. I'm not all about myself. I apologized for it, getting kicked out of the game. They made some terrible calls. But that's what you have to live with."

And here are his comments via his twitter page @jgray32:

Uil sent me a punishment. Said I had to run for three days. Flags where for changing my style of run and making a hand sign. $Winning$

and

@MrsHarris_AHS Haha yeah. That ref was just looking to through someone out from Aledo. It's all good though

I guess it should not surprise us that a high school football player has a following in Twitter, and now uses it to criticize officials.

[Hank]

The announcers clearly say "he has done that all year", in re-guards to the altered stride into the EZ.  He has scored 200 TDs so that means allot of opportunities for a USL.  Somehow I don't think that is accurate, but still interesting.

From what I can find it's not accurate.  He's apparently scored somewhere around 25 TDs this year.  Nevertheless, that's 25 opportunities to do just what he did in this game.  Let's just assume for a moment that he did it ALL 25 times.  And assume that he NEVER got flagged for doing it.  I think it's right to call this but how is the kid supposed to know?  Especially when he has a father that verbally accosts the refs after the game.  The father seems to be willing to teach the kid that he can do whatever he wants.

One would think he would have learned after the first call was made in this game but apparently the learning curve is a bit steep.  Does anybody know, was the first call a live ball foul also?  Or did he "throat slash" after scoring?  And does anybody know in what company a "throat slash" is something to celebrate?

[mccormicw]

  I am not signalling TD if I have a catch by the WR and I threw and OPI on the play.  I know the result of the play is not a TD.

Is this standard practice?  I thought I remembered either a change or clarification that the TD should be signalled regardless of whether a possible penalty enforcement will change the result of the play.  I say possible because I can think of a situation where the defense may decline OPI and let the touchdown stand in order to get possession of the ball (near the end of the game).  The result of the play would be a touchdown.

[TXMike]

Has been discussed here and elsewhere before.  I don't recall there ever being a uniformly accepted solution.  I am signalling even if I know there is a foul that will likely cause the TD not to be awarded

[psv]

From what I can find it's not accurate.  He's apparently scored somewhere around 25 TDs this year.  Nevertheless, that's 25 opportunities to do just what he did in this game.  Let's just assume for a moment that he did it ALL 25 times.  And assume that he NEVER got flagged for doing it.  I think it's right to call this but how is the kid supposed to know?  Especially when he has a father that verbally accosts the refs after the game.  The father seems to be willing to teach the kid that he can do whatever he wants.

One would think he would have learned after the first call was made in this game but apparently the learning curve is a bit steep.  Does anybody know, was the first call a live ball foul also?  Or did he "throat slash" after scoring?  And does anybody know in what company a "throat slash" is something to celebrate?

Point of Information:  I think he has scored 59 TD this year (the one that got called back and got him ejected would have broken his own single season TD record #60.  He will have to wait until next week).

Also, the first one was a dead ball foul.  The motion was made after the TD was scored.

[Hank]

Point of Information:  I think he has scored 59 TD this year (the one that got called back and got him ejected would have broken his own single season TD record #60.  He will have to wait until next week).

Also, the first one was a dead ball foul.  The motion was made after the TD was scored.

OK, sorry 59 TDs (amazing how bad the info on the internet can be at times).

So, if he did score 59 times.  Even if he only performed some unsportsmanlike act 25% of the time.  That means he did it 15 times.  What if he was NEVER flagged for it?  I don't work Aledo in the season but if he was never called for it, he learned that it's ok.  Now, when the rules are properly enforced, he's ejected.  Given that he learned during the season that acting a fool is allowed, should he be ejected in a playoff game?  And if he did do it 15 times during the season, why wasn't he ever called for it?

[Birddog]

When I said 200 I was referring to his HS career, sorry wasn't clear on that.  But he has had experience scoring TDs.  Should of know better you would think.

[Atlanta Blue]

2011: 59
2010: 59
2009: 50
2008: 15

183 for his HS career