Is Deception Unsportsmanlike Conduct in Football?
Provo » The Cougars had two touchdowns called back in their 38-21 win over the Air Force Academy on Saturday, including one in which officials called quarterback Max Hall for unsportsmanlike conduct as running back Harvey Unga was scoring from 2 yards out in the third quarter.
Lined up in the shotgun formation, Hall started walking toward the referee and waving his arms as if he was going to call a timeout. Instead, center R.J. Willing snapped the ball to Unga, who carried it into the end zone.
The Cougars used the play to score against Utah last year.
Asked after the game for an official interpretation after referee Land Clark announced it as an “attempt to deceive” when explaining the call to the crowd, the officials said: “Unsportsmanlike conduct was called for an unfair act to deceive the opponent. A 15-yard penalty for a live ball foul was imposed at the previous spot and the down [was] repeated by rule.”
Interesting! The official indicates that his decision was based on a rule. Watts Cookin’ will check the rule and get back with specifics.
Backed to the 17, Hall threw a 15-yard pass to Dennis Pitta on third down. The Cougars then chose to go for the touchdown, rather than a field goal, but Hall was intercepted by Anthony Wright .
BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall responded to a question about having two TDs called back by saying it was “hard to understand.”