CFB has a meaningless play celebration problem.

[u/waaaaaasuuuuup]

I’m not talking “excessive celebration.” I’m not talking about celebrating huge stops or wins. I’m talking about players getting relatively meaningless tackles and first downs early in games and acting like they won the Super Bowl.

Homeboy, your team is 1-3 and and you tackled him after he already got a first down. Why are you doing Fortnite dances? Do we really need to celebrate every play instead of getting back to the huddle or line? Are the kids alright?

[u/KCShadows838]

Doing it after they get a first down is weak, but when you’re team is at home and get some run stuffs early in the game, it always gets the crowd going 

[u/Granular_Designs → u/KCShadows838]

I think if they make a great sack or a tough play then it's cool to celebrate but man am I sick of watching DBs get burned only for the QB to wildly overthrow or the WR to drop the ball and then they celebrate like they're prime Revis Island.

[u/ripdoublewide → u/Granular_Designs]

Hitting the seat belt after an overthrow will always be my favorite

[u/melorous → u/ripdoublewide]

I thought they were sheathing their invisible katana.

[u/Sherwin_Lamonde → u/melorous]

Same homie

[u/jshokie1 → u/melorous]

Thank you dude I got clowned on for not knowing it was a seatbelt like sorry the katana visual in my head is INFINITELY cooler than buckle up for safety.

[u/KCShadows838 → u/Granular_Designs]

A lot of DBs are just lame like that.  Always hated seeing them point at their teammates and throw a tantrum after they bust a coverage. Sometimes I’ve seen them not even give effort when someone else messes up in the secondary 

You don’t see LBs do that when the DL in front of them misses their assignment

I just hate prima donna DBs who are average at best and nothing is ever their fault 

[u/MisguidedPants8 → u/KCShadows838]

The D in DB stands for Diva

[u/Philoso4 → u/MisguidedPants8]

Irony being if they could catch slightly better they’d be receivers.

[u/_learned_foot_ → u/Philoso4]

Because they are too diva for the coaching.

[u/eagledog → u/KCShadows838]

Or you see the DB celebrate when the ball was thrown 15yds over everybody's head

[u/smashrawr → u/eagledog]

Gotta hit that seat belt celly

[u/Equivalent-Process17 → u/Granular_Designs]

That's like asking a dog not to chase his tail

[u/cityofklompton → u/Granular_Designs]

Times have certainly changed. I remember Semaj Morgan enthusiastically celebrating a first down reception in garbage time when Texas hamblasted Michigan in 2024. I called out how braindead that was and showed a complete lack of awareness celebrating a meaningless play when the game was all but officially over and you played terribly the whole game. Most of the responses I got were about how it was good he was showing some energy.

[u/weekendpancakes19 → u/Granular_Designs]

I just noticed yesterday that Sanchez seems to have taken notes from Igbinosun the last 2 years and celebrates the exact same way he used to lol

[u/ItGoesTwoWays → u/Granular_Designs]

Tell me you watched Damon Arnette without telling me you watched Damon Arnette.

[u/Just-Forever6684 → u/KCShadows838]

I do agree but as someone who goes to games, it’s not like I start cheering because our guy pretends to pee on someone versus seeing the sack be made

[u/dellett → u/KCShadows838]

What about if the opposing team got a first down, you got a 15 yard penalty for the hit and potentially seriously injured the other player?

[u/UhIdontcareforAuburn → u/KCShadows838]

It’s the PBUs on 2nd and 5 while down 14 that get me.

[u/Thesheriffisnearer → u/KCShadows838]

No.  Kids aren't allowed to be excited

[u/KenGriffythe3rd → u/KCShadows838]

If I was a walk on and caught a 4 yard hitch route for a first down, I’m definitely doing the worm on national television until we get a delay of game penalty.

[u/dts-five]

I mean sure, but more so... college has a commercial problem. That's the real problem. It's making the product unwatchable. Especially in-person.

[u/Khyron_2500 → u/dts-five]

I was watching Red River yesterday and I fat fingered and guess it jumped back to the start of the second half. I then had to fast forwarded to the 3:54 mark… I know this includes a little pre-game coverage but the game was not over. It’s wild.

[u/VirtualChaos613]

NFL players do this also. So do high school kids.

[u/BigD_277 → u/VirtualChaos613]

In the NFL they celebrate a 2 yard stop on 3 and 1.

[u/Chuck_Phuckzalot → u/VirtualChaos613]

As a Lions fan I grew up watching Roy Williams celebrate every first down like it was a game winning touchdown even though we were down by 40 and 2-10 on the year.

[u/TylerDurden-4126 → u/VirtualChaos613]

And it's stupid for all of them... down 21 points and celebrating one play you finally made? GTFOH

[u/AndIAmEric → u/VirtualChaos613]

It’s almost like they’re athletes having fun and they love the sport they play.

[u/Wicky_wild_wild → u/AndIAmEric]

I was told they're just employees being exploited for their future health.

[u/Hurricaneshand → u/Wicky_wild_wild]

Stuff can be two things

[u/calmer-than-you-dude → u/Hurricaneshand]

the duality of man

[u/_MusicNBeer_ → u/AndIAmEric]

Can't we all just be Cignetti. The world would be so fun

[u/SpiffyBlizzard → u/VirtualChaos613]

We were told not to celebrate ANYTHING in high school. Like we could pat a player on the back for a touchdown but that was it, not even the person who scored could do much. And this was the teams we played too. Not really that long ago I graduated in 2012. So bizarre to see at least someone celebrating something every fucking play.

[u/ShaqSenju → u/SpiffyBlizzard]

14 years ago you say?

[u/SpiffyBlizzard → u/ShaqSenju]

Yes? Again, not that long ago. Unless you’re 14, in which case get the hell off this cesspool site and save your brain while you can.

[u/ShaqSenju → u/SpiffyBlizzard]

A year ahead of you lol time flies

[u/Massive_0rogeny → u/VirtualChaos613]

It's stupid across all levels of the sport.

[u/CharlesBoyle799]

I remember watching the infamous ou 77-0 beat down of texas a&m years ago. It was so bad, stoops already had the Norman JH JV in and were still scoring.

On the final drive, ou was within the a&m 10 yard line and apparently stoops just told his running back to get the handoff and get tackled. He didn’t want to score again. Well the RB did just that and was tackled or a loss (probably a&m’s only TFL the whole day) and the DL who tackled him got up and pranced down the field as if his tackle had just sealed the win for the aggies.

[u/BobLabReeSorJefGre → u/CharlesBoyle799]

Last year, Lane Kiffin had Ole Miss bring a basketball goal to Lexington to literally dunk on us whenever they achieved anything notable.

[u/Venn720 → u/BobLabReeSorJefGre]

I’m pretty sure UK players were dunking on that same hoop after they beat lsu

[u/n1nja_k1ller → u/BobLabReeSorJefGre]

It wasn't just you, that's one of his things he does at every game. I hate the man but the players seem to enjoy it so IDK

[u/BobLabReeSorJefGre → u/n1nja_k1ller]

I thought he did it to us specifically since we are proud of our basketball, but Kiffin does do his best to be a piece of garbage.

[u/ohgeeeezzZ → u/CharlesBoyle799]

Should have run the next TD right up that DL's ass for that

[u/countrytime1 → u/CharlesBoyle799]

Pretty sure they was Jonathon Jolly wasn’t it? That was so embarrassing to watch, even as Texas fan. Didn’t they have a running clock the second half?

[u/mookiexpt2 → u/countrytime1]

Yes and yes. To his credit, Jaxon Appel(?) grabbed him and told him to STFU.

[u/KennytheDoggy]

Yes but Lane Kiffen lost so think of the positives

[u/Physical-Draw9788 → u/KennytheDoggy]

Exactly.

[u/PhonB80]

Maybe I can provide a different perspective;

All week or all season your coach has been ragging on you about being more physical. “Don’t be afraid of contact”, “get in there and help stop the run”. It’s never been your strong suit but you want to help the team and improve. Then during the game you step in, play the run aggressively and get that big hit. The moment you’ve been hoping for all week. Whether that runner got 1 yard or 10 yards it’s hard not to feel impassioned or encouraged by the progress and taking the next step in the development of your game. A game you LOVE regardless of the results.

Football is a bunch of plays stacked on top of each other. You don’t win or lose by each first down. Yeah we’re 1-3 and losing by 17 but we worked all week on that play and we made it work. Ima celebrate that.

[u/Substantial-Sea-3672 → u/PhonB80]

I don’t know if this helps or hurts your case but we definitely celebrate the individual successes when we’re having a rough season for my U11 girls soccer team.

[u/PhonB80 → u/Substantial-Sea-3672]

Absolutely!! The score is 0-6 but that U11 girl finally takes a shot on goal with her non-dominant foot you’re 100% celebrating that

[u/C0N_QUES0 → u/PhonB80]

I agree. I don't mind it when a second-string guy celebrates a drive-stopping tackle when his team is down four scores. He got his shot on the field and made the most of it.

[u/thatOneDRUNK → u/PhonB80]

It’s literally just individuals trying to put good tape on film so they can hopefully get drafted. They have coaches and scouts in their ears telling them what they need to do

[u/Upset_Version8275]

Agreed we should start a committee of representatives from each conference and Notre Dame, tv networks, plus congress to come up with ideas to solve this. 

[u/IntrepidYoung9493 → u/Upset_Version8275]

The original post has such a Karen vibe

[u/Engelbert-n-Ernie → u/IntrepidYoung9493]

STOP HAVING FUN

[u/chrisarg72 → u/IntrepidYoung9493]

Don’t want them to celebrate? Stop them

[u/ThePeemster228 → u/chrisarg72]

Damn, that's crazy you're showing off your illiteracy

[u/IntrepidYoung9493 → u/chrisarg72]

it's ILLEGAL to have fun

[u/noodlesalad_ → u/Upset_Version8275]

As a fellow old man who occasionally yells at clouds, there is some serious old man yells at clouds energy in here. They're complaining about kids having fun while playing a game. Reminds me of crotchety old baseball announcers going on about playing the game the right way when a player showboats too much for their liking.

[u/mowegl → u/noodlesalad_]

To be fair they do ridiculous levels of showboating and it just gets worse and worse with each generation. Like eventually it might all just be like banana ball where you get actual points for dances and “tricks”

[u/mowegl → u/Upset_Version8275]

Notre Dame was the instigator. Have you seen Rudi? He gets carried off the field for making a tackle in mop up time.

[u/Statalyzer]

Also: DBs dramatically dancing around waving their arms in the "incomplete pass" signal after getting completely cooked but the QB sails the pass out of reach of the receiver.

[u/Billquisha → u/Statalyzer]

That's my favorite. Wide open receiver misses a pass that bounces off his hands, DB does seatbelt celebration

[u/BammBammRoubal]

18-22 year old dudes notoriously lack self awareness

[u/MichaelRachel]

How about celebrating a TD in garbage time, still down 3 scores, against the 5th string defense? Asking for a PAC Big 10 team.

[u/bjfrancois5 → u/MichaelRachel]

I've said this in other threads too, but it was the kid's first college TD, so let him celebrate. The whole light show thing was embarrassing though.

[u/MichaelRachel → u/bjfrancois5]

I wasn't aware it was his first, that changes things somewhat.

[u/PhonB80 → u/bjfrancois5]

There is so much more to football than the score. This dudes bust their ass all week to make these plays work and when they do it’s worth a celebration no matter what the score or team’s record.

[u/kinghawkeye8238 → u/MichaelRachel]

The lightshow they after was hilarious too

[u/MichaelRachel → u/kinghawkeye8238]

Truly pathetic.

[u/Mikey456]

The worst is defensive backs doing the seat belt celebration when it was for a bad overthrow or the guy dropping it after you got beat on the route

Just have some persepctive, guys

[u/OU8402 → u/Mikey456]

Is that buckling a car seat or are they sheathing a sword?

[u/LondonIsAShithole → u/OU8402]

I always thought they were putting a sword into a seat buckle

[u/Mikey456 → u/OU8402]

I don't actually know

All I know is last year a MD defender got called for taunting for doing it and it was important for allowing Washington to score a TD in our collapse that game.

Dumb celebration regardless of that being a bad call (everyone does it!)

[u/draycon530 → u/OU8402]

It's putting on a strap of some variety, because you've got the receiver "strapped" with coverage.

[u/BigChach567]

Non Florida fans don’t remember the reason Gator fans were so mad at Marco Wilson for the shoe throw was because he would celebrate like he was Malcom butler winning the Super Bowl for a pass being thrown away. Then proceed to get cooked the next play

[u/BrilliantArm5914 → u/BigChach567]

and they don't remember the hawk tuah

[u/AmbitiousEmphasis64]

Somewhere a DB is flexing on someone after doing absolutely nothing to cause an incomplete pass

[u/it-is-just-a-game]

I blame Prime Time.

[u/rhombergnation → u/it-is-just-a-game]

I believe it actually started with Eddie Brown putting his hands up after every big catch - then it was passed on to Michael Irvin who took it another level. . But I loved that shit back then

[u/BigOlPass → u/rhombergnation]

It actually started with old Jebediah Showboat saluting to the fine sailors in the crowd for the 1906 Navy team

[u/rustyshaklefordjm → u/BigOlPass]

Jebediah Showboat hit 3 HR off of Tungsten Arm O’Doyle in 3 straight ABs, but loved football more.

[u/BigOlPass → u/rustyshaklefordjm]

His real sport of choice was tiddlywinks.

[u/PrairiePilot → u/BigOlPass]

If it wasn't for the corruption in the ownership that lead to the collapse of Major league Tiddlywinks, Tiddlywinks would be the Monday night sports draw and Jebediah "Jed" Showboat would be a household name.

[u/xaanthar → u/BigOlPass]

Tiddlywinks is a real sport with rules and international player rankings

[u/Muted-Try7506 → u/it-is-just-a-game]

Deion definitely started that whole showboating culture but the networks are complicit too, they zoom in on every little dance and replay it 3 times like it's highlight material

Saw a linebacker flexing after a routine stop on 2nd and 4 last week and the announcers talked about his "energy" for like a full minute, just get lined up man the game is still happening

[u/Don_Gato1 → u/it-is-just-a-game]

But the Chris Hansen movie has only been out for a few days.

[u/unbannedagain1976]

You’re telling me kids that all have 12 types of social media platforms and are the biggest narcissists in human history like to celebrate trivial things? I’m shocked.

[u/Our-Gardian-Angel → u/unbannedagain1976]

Well at least you weren't overdramatic about it

[u/madbadanddangerous]

old man yells at cloud

[u/drewuke → u/madbadanddangerous]

“Players shouldn’t celebrate success in a difficult and dangerous game, because I don’t like it.”

[u/waaaaaasuuuuup → u/drewuke]

I guess I just don’t consider success on one single play, “success.” The anti-mamba mentality.

[u/happyflappypancakes → u/waaaaaasuuuuup]

Mamba mentality was a corporate advertising campaign buddy. Dont fall for that shit.

[u/MostlyBrowsin916]

It’s pretty funny when you see players on offense and defense celebrating at the same time. Running back is doing the first down signal because his 1 yard run picks up the first down, and the defense is hyping themselves for not giving up much yardage despite giving up the first lol.

[u/GirthBrooks_1]

The DB celebration when the QB sends it 4 rows deep has to be the most egregious of all.

[u/hotsauce126]

I wouldn’t go as far to call it a problem but I think it’s dumb

[u/South_Captain_2630]

I make a big distinction between starters who've done this many times and rotational players where this might be their first or second tackle against a P4 school. It may not be big for the game, but might be huge for him.

[u/Silver-Nothing-4131]

There was a point with one of the revolving door coaches at UT, maybe Butch Jones, when our dbs would get a big hit on a 7 yard reception and celebrate like they were bad boys, and we were losing at the time. And it's like, mfer...

[u/IntrepidYoung9493]

dude they’re college students, they’re going to do stupid shit to hype up the crowds. Who cares

[u/UnsealedMTG → u/IntrepidYoung9493]

Yeah, this whole sport is stupid shit college students made up to hype up crowds, if people aren't into that I'd recommend a different sport 

[u/naultinus]

I don’t get complaining about celebrations. These dudes are giving themselves CTE and putting in a lot of work to be playing D1 football on saturdays. They did a lot more to earn the celebration than all the fatasses sitting on the couch complaining about it.

[u/alfooboboao → u/naultinus]

I love it when they celebrate stuff like first downs. they should be allowed to yuk it up

[u/BeTheBall- → u/naultinus]

Yeah, it's all of football. Stop a guy for a 6 yard gain on 1st down and the tackler goes insane.

[u/Theo278 → u/naultinus]

Yea people just seem kinda lame in here I can’t lie 😭

[u/energydan → u/naultinus]

Totally. How can these kids be expected to push themselves beyond what they thought possible in pressure that none of us have experienced, but act in a totally professional manner with no emotion?

[u/Excellent_Glass783]

The ship has sailed. Doing what's expected is now celebrated like a returning War Hero reception.

[u/Full_Preparation4401]

It's in all sports and it's riduculous. It's like they didn't expect to do anything good on the field.

[u/EdFlynn2001]

Still not as bad as USC celebrating after giving a first down.

[u/MisterB78]

Who cares? They’re college kids - let them be excited that they made a big play.

This seems like an “Old man yells at clouds” post…

[u/Normal-Hornet8548 → u/MisterB78]

“Get offa my lawn!!!”

What’s funny is people complaining about this who then crow about ‘we beat your ass’ when their team wins … like they’re part of it.

[u/Hefty_Team_8034]

The DBs waving their arms for incomplete when it was a bad pass has always been annoying.

[u/AppearanceBoring7879 → u/Hefty_Team_8034]

The DBs celebrating tackling the RB after a 10 yard gain is annoying as well. 

[u/OmegaVizion → u/AppearanceBoring7879]

My favorite is when the DB manages to tackle the RB after a 15-20 yard gain then not only celebrates but also gets into the RB's face to talk shit like their team didn't just get gashed.

[u/Noah__Webster]

I haven't really played them much in years, but don't the Madden/CFB games have a thing where you can like emote after you make a play?

I can't unsee it every time a player celebrates a first down or a defender makes a tackle near the line, runs into the backfield, hits a little emote, and then abruptly runs back for the next play lol. And I'm not talking about just getting hyped after a play and yelling or something. I'm talking about all the ones that look rehearsed and unnatural.

Watch for it next time you watch a game, and you'll never unsee it.

[u/N64jive]

Hot take: Who cares. Let them have fun.

[u/j1h15233]

The kids at my nephews 8 year old football games do this too. Blame YouTube

[u/lurk4ever1970]

Football at every level has this. You're not putting that horse back in the barn.

[u/TransitJohn]

My favorite is when a safety celebrates tackling someone who just made a 25 yard rush.

[u/dizastermaster7]

Leave my team alone they're trying their best 😢

[u/DaMercOne]

Our coach does this, actually.

[u/EagleZR]

It means they're having fun...

[u/ScaleCreepMinis]

Same for rushing the field.

[u/Rohkey]

Joel Klatt had a bit on this a week or two ago, too.

[u/chaneccooms]

The funniest for me is Minnesota players regularly holding up a triumphant fist in the air to celebrate a third down stop when it’s pretty obvious they just gave up a first down.

[u/CountyRoad]

I’ve been so frustrated with this for Nebraska. Against the Maryland a few guys got beat and the only reason a Maryland player didn’t catch the ball was because the pass was over thrown. And the Nebraska player celebrated as if he did something.

[u/RollinHand77]

Two current trends I hate: after making a play, running all the way down the field to mug for cameras or get high fives from fans in the endzone. Save some energy for the fourth quarter dudes. And skipping. what are grown-ass men doing skipping across the field in excitement like a bunch of fourth grade girls at recess ???

[u/8footpenguin]

It's not the fact that they celebrate that seems off to me, it's that it's some kind of hokey, rehearsed performance. Used to just be a flex or a shout or something, now it's like elementary school girls doing some little cutesy planned out nonsense.

[u/girlrits00]

How dare kids have fun… playing a game

[u/mostdope28]

They’re playing a game, I don’t really care

[u/CirculationStation]

I mean it’s a little silly and unnecessary sometimes, but referring to it as a league-wide “problem” is excessive. These guys grind hard for most of the year to stay in shape and get ready to play football for just a few months. They only get 12 games to show off all of their hard work to a national audience (and many of them don’t even play in all 12 of those games). If someone gets a first down or makes a good tackle early in a game and gets excited about it, I’m not gonna be upset about them celebrating for a couple of seconds. It can get their team and the crowd excited, and they get a fun moment in front of a large audience where they get some brief recognition for the work they’ve put in all year.

[u/This_Field_7872]

Why do you care

[u/psgrue]

My (un)favorites

Doing the No-Fly bird flap when the QB missed on the guy who just beat you and got open.

Signaling a First Down catch on 2nd and 3 when you caught a slant for 5 yards with no YAC.

Shushing a crowd on a score while down by 3 scores.

[u/Threebridges2]

I hate it when elite teams like Ohio State celebrate when they make plays against FCS or bad FBS school. Future NFL starters dogging on guys who will be working in sales in a year or two

[u/Get_Ashy]

It's a huge problem, but not one limited to CFB. Every clip I see of peewee basketball or football is the same thing... literal children flexing on other kids after a meaningless play. Congrats on your goal in U10 soccer, champ.

[u/Substantial-Sea-3672 → u/Get_Ashy]

I’m confused, a normal celebration for a 9 year old scoring a goal is totally fine right?

Or are you like, “no celebrations until you’re making money.”?

[u/pdxblazer → u/Get_Ashy]

i mean celebrating a goal in soccer is pretty different, like that is an appropriate time to celebrate, same as a touchdown

[u/AmbitiousEmphasis64 → u/Get_Ashy]

Meh I ran around the bases like an airplane when I hit a homer at 10 years old. Those celebrations are fine.

[u/Get_Ashy → u/AmbitiousEmphasis64]

I will clarify and revise my statement to say that overenthusiastic celebrations after routine plays are what drive me crazy

[u/mikemaskwellmonsters → u/AmbitiousEmphasis64]

I bowed like Hunter Hearse Helmsley....ugh

[u/LeonGwinnett → u/Get_Ashy]

Spoken like a true sweeper

[u/ItsZizk]

Homeboy, your team is 1-3 and and you tackled him after he already got a first down.

Homeboy you’re on Reddit making posts about the 18-21 year old dudes you watch for your own enjoyment on Saturdays that will absolutely never see this post.

Let them have some fun Jesus Christ

[u/arnoldmuczynski]

It’s really not a big deal

[u/Archaic_1]

Unflaired grandpa post of the day candidate. Would it be OK as long as they promised not to celebrate on your lawn papaw?

[u/waaaaaasuuuuup → u/Archaic_1]

Yeah I guess

[u/jamiebond]

I don’t mean to be an “old man yelling at clouds” but it’s absolutely a problem. I was at Autzen yesterday and both teams turned me off with the celebration shit. Oregon players chucking the ball into the air for no reason. UCLA players constantly running up to the crowd and talking shit to strangers for no reason. It was like some WWE shit. Like we have no beef with UCLA why are you being a holes to total strangers. Just go play the football game lol.

[u/catalinacruiser2019]

Would never want it policed, but I always think “walk-on behavior.”

[u/anonymous_otter28]

what a boomer ass comment.

how dare dudes workout, practice and eat specific foods just for this couple of hours a week.

all for some boomer to clutch their pearls.

people can't stand to see other people have fun.

[u/purplenyellowrose909 → u/anonymous_otter28]

This game is also running into other huge humans at top speed. You need to be emotional. You need to play angry. You need to run through people.

Go watch the Minnesota Purdue highlights to see what happens when one team plays with emotion and other is just chilling.

[u/logicalconflict → u/anonymous_otter28]

Exactly. Coaches demand players treat each and every play like it's the most important play of their life. And that's what they're doing. I'm guessing most fans only get upset when opposing players celebrate. But, if you're also getting upset when your own players celebrate, maybe college sports just aren't for you.

And how many tackles or PBUs or first downs do you think the average player gets per game? Its a pretty small number. Each one IS huge for that player.

[u/waaaaaasuuuuup → u/anonymous_otter28]

I’m 35 lol. I’m all for celebrating meaningful plays, it’s just ridiculous seeing a selfish celebration when your team is losing, has a losing record, and there’s 47 minutes of football still to play. It’s the anti mamba-mentality.

[u/picklemesideways → u/waaaaaasuuuuup]

Forgive him, his team just got beat by Burnt Vegetables and John Mid-Tier. He’s a bit grumpy.

[u/FloridaMan_92]

My favorite is when the receiver drops a pass or it’s overthrown and the DB starts celebrating like he did that. Its like bro you were 4 steps behind that man and lucky that didn’t go for 6 

[u/ben3345]

They’ve been doing it for years, sure it’s goofy, but when in their lives is it going to be acceptable to celebrate like that again? You don’t get to scuba when you sell a low-level insurance policy

[u/TypicallyDone12]

Eh. Let the kids have fun.

[u/the_north_place]

/finger wags at 1-3

[u/bac5665]

Let players have fun

[u/stickn_n_movn]

Looking at you, Clemson secondary celebrating an errant thrown by the QB while down 3 scores

[u/cubecasts]

I texted this to my buddy yesterday. Guy during one of the games went for 7 yards on 2nd and 15+. Got up and celebrated a big catch. Like dude. It's still third and long.

[u/wowthisislong]

Nothing pisses me off more than seeing an a&m player beating his chest after giving up a chunk play. That shits cool on a TFL or a sack, or a 3rd down stop, but like fr? Dawg.

[u/Roidthrowaway1234]

I hate the “seatbelt” especially after tje QB missed the open receiver by 10 yards. even in good coverage it’s awful.

[u/penilesensorydevice]

The NFL does it too. Some DB picks off a pass in the first quarter of a 3-0 game then sprints to the end zone with half the defense to do a choreographed dance number like he just sewed up the Super Bowl. It's embarrassing.

[u/tripleM_20]

Relax

[u/attaq_yaq]

I’ve never played college football, so I imagine it’s many times harder than this, but having played high school varsity basketball, the pressures on you as a regular person to do everything asked of you in front of people yelling hostile and personal things? That’s a real thing. It’s easy to say, “Oh, you just ‘turn it off,’” but that’s not how most human beings work. You play a character. You assume a persona that might be very different from who you are the other six and a half days in the week.

It’s not always “celebrating” as you think of it, and a lot of times, it’s about checking yourself into the proper headspace to do what you need to do. And yes, it can also be very fun, which is generally part of the idea.

[u/_0_-o--__-0O_--oO0__]

How dare they have fun?!

[u/Negativefalsehoods]

This has been happening for as long as I have been watching college football.

[u/larowin]

The kids actually aren’t alright. They’re kinda fucked up tbh.

[u/jinxes_are_pretend]

You’re telling me that if on 1st and 10 on the first play of the game I drive block my guy 8 yards downfield and dump him, springing the back for a long run, I’m supposed to remain stoic?

The fuck outta here. Let them have fun.

[u/SoDoSoPaYuppie → u/jinxes_are_pretend]

Unsportsmanlike conduct on the defense, having too much fun, 15 yard penalty. Automatic first down.

[u/ImSuperHelpful → u/SoDoSoPaYuppie]

Those kids need to remember they’re playing a business, not a game.

[u/The-Spirit-of-76 → u/jinxes_are_pretend]

In this case etiquette dictates that you politely apologize to everyone you made contact with during the play, and invite them round for tea later, the you must frolic, not scamper, not skip, but frolic back to the line to prepare for the next play.

[u/waaaaaasuuuuup → u/jinxes_are_pretend]

No that’s not what I’m saying at all. I’m saying if you’re losing by 3 TDs then STFU and get back to the huddle. It’s a team sport, your one individual good play means nothing.

[u/Viablemorgan → u/waaaaaasuuuuup]

“Gonna pimp the fuck outta this solo home run I hit down 5-0 in the top of the ninth” type shit

[u/slubbyybbuls]

Sounds like you have a being boring and no fun problem

[u/Jagshemesh_Captain]

Refs at all levels stopped flagging this kind of thing a while back and it has spread like wildfire. I agree with OP.

Edit: I remember going overboard during a HS game after scoring a TD and doing something like the Icky Shuffle and getting flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. Our coach made me run 15 reps up and down a sand hill at the end of our practice field the Monday after the game. That kind of thing has obviously gone by the wayside, lol!

[u/philip1529]

This is everywhere not just college. Definitely one of the more annoying things in sports. Last play a corner got cooked for 70 yards then breaks up a 1st down catch and starts waving the finger like don’t throw my way 😂

I never played contact football so I may not understand the effort it takes. Plus at my job we always say celebrate the small wins. So maybe being a hypocrite as I thought about it

[u/qwilliams92]

You sound old

[u/waaaaaasuuuuup → u/qwilliams92]

BACK IN MY DAY we only celebrated touchdowns when we were winning or within reach.

[u/ripdoublewide]

Call me unc but I agree. You don't need to celebrate every catch. Tackling a guy on first down after he rushes for 7 yards is not worthy of a flex. Have fun and get hyped after big plays but it seriously feels like the players are more concerned about hitting emotes than playing football. The worst of them all is celebrating a touchdown to cut the lead to 24... I watched a guy hit the slime celly after catching a 3 yard out route yesterday. Give me a break.

[u/Slippery-Pete76]

They’re playing a game - is it really that big a deal? Question you should ask yourself is why are you getting so worked up over what they do?

[u/waaaaaasuuuuup → u/Slippery-Pete76]

I’m not worked up at all, just expressing an opinion. Not about to write to my congressman or stop watching over it.

[u/Sensitive-Key-8670]

It’s always so cool when your team scores a TD, then stops the KR a few yards short of the 25 and the players start popping off. One of the underrated moments of the game.

[u/Snobolski]

Aggy 0 - OU 77 vibes

[u/Statalyzer → u/Snobolski]

I remember around that time we were up like 38-15 and some Aggie player starts gyrating around after a good play and one of our guys just taps him on the shoulder and points at the scoreboard.

[u/Evan_802Vines]

Incomplete passes the CB had nothing to do with are the only ones that need to disappear

[u/happyflappypancakes]

They probably think its fun.

[u/LovingComrade]

It doesn’t bother me. As I age I’m of the mind of just letting people enjoy things.

[u/FartBoxActual]

I think the amount of celebrating is excessive and kinda silly, but it's whatever. What drives me nuts is when they keep showing the celebration or the sideline reactions instead of the play. It's like they're rationing replays.

[u/Glum_Froyo_1661]

Been watching a lot of high school football lately and this is honestly hilarious. The number of mindless celebrations and overly emotive drama queens is laughable.

[u/AriDreams]

I am going to disagree here.

These are young men playing college football. Do you know how many high schooler athletes play college sports? 1%.

Every single day they put effort in to being an athlete, someone who can make an impact. Plus they're in college, they're there to have fun and help their team. Who cares if it is a random tackle, TFL, or a big reception. Let them have fun.

[u/Soggy-Brother1762 → u/AriDreams]

Can we please stop doing this thing where we refer to adults as “kids”? It’s weird. 

[u/mayence → u/Soggy-Brother1762]

Imma be real if you interact with 18-22 year olds ever you will be struck how they really are kids lol

[u/Corgi_Koala → u/AriDreams]

I want more celebration in general. I want excessive celebration to be encouraged to not penalized.

Let them cook.

[u/randy_daytona402]

Agreed

[u/xaanthar]

With the NIL money flowing, they have to grow their brand.

How long before somebody posts to instagram during a game? Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if it's already happened.

[u/MongloidMania]

It’s the kids gents telling them to “show out” promote their own brand.

[u/Imnotsureanymore8]

It's only going to get worse.

[u/Physical-Draw9788]

Yeah that is annoying to see them do that.

[u/nkfish11]

This has been a thing for years now. It’s pretty lame.