HS football player gets unsportsmanlike conduct for praying after touchdown

A. Isaac Senior Editor

praying after touchdown HS football player gets unsportsmanlike conduct for praying after touchdown

Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders scored 109 touchdowns in his NFL career. To the best of my recollection, after nearly every score, Sanders simply ran over to the official, handed him the ball and trotted off the field. It was one of the things fans admired about Barry, his ability to not only juke defenders but to draw attention away from himself. On the humble meter, Barry’s post-touchdown actions are trailed only by those who drop to a knee to say a quick prayer. It’s not something everyone agrees with, but then again, it probably beats somebody doing a horrendous rendition of river dance on a celebration.

Which brings us to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association who, apparently, do not feel the same way about prayer that everyone else does. A Washington HS football player was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct last week after dropping to a knee after a touchdown.

He was called for unsportsmanlike conduct, a 15 yard penalty—the same amount of yards a lineman would receive after steamrolling a quarterback well after a play.
He apparently broke a Washington Interscholastic Activities Association rule that bans players from drawing attention to themselves.
“I thought it was pretty crummy that kids can’t give thanks in public,” one Tumwater fan told Q13 FOX.
Sid Otton, Tumwater’s Head Coach, says the referees made the correct call.
“If it’s a rule and they made it then I agree with it because it’s in there,” said Otton. “I admire the young man. He’s a great player, great person off the field.”

Is it me or is it only a matter of time before Tim Tebow refuses to play in the state of Washington until this is resolved? Personally, I’m hoping for a commercial with the “Focus on the Family” folks again. That last one went over so well.

High School Player Flagged For Touchdown Nod to God [Fox News]

What'd you think of this?

Cast My Vote

Other Stories You Might LIke

comment on this story

blog comments powered by Disqus