Unsportsmanlike conduct call amuses coach
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 11/16/2009
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One of the most controversial calls in Saturday’s game came from an innocent gesture.
Sophomore running back Ralph Bolden was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after scoring in the second quarter against Michigan State. His excessive celebration: hugging Purdue Pete.
According to Big Ten rules, players are not allowed to celebrate with mascots during the game. Bolden said it was Pete who initiated the hug.
“He came towards me so I was like, might as well,” Bolden said. “I thought it was a holding call and they were going to bring the play back.”
The 15-yard penalty was assessed on the ensuing kickoff and didn’t really affect the outcome of the game, but it caused many people to question the rule.
“They said it was excessive celebration,” coach Danny Hope said before practice Sunday. “I tried to keep my cool. I thought this was America. I don’t get it. There wasn’t anything too graphic or out of line. I’ll have to look it up in the rulebook because that caught me off guard. I said, ‘What did that do that for?’ and they told me he was hugging Purdue Pete. I thought, ‘You got to be kidding me. This is America.’ Who knows? Nothing surprises me anymore. It seems like a bit much. It’s not like there was groping or anything. It’s unbelievable."
The penalty caused ESPN to later show a side-by-side comparison of the bios of Pete and Michigan State’s mascot Sparty. Announcers including former Purdue quarterback Bob Griese laughed about the call but recognized that it was in fact a rule. However, the rule seemed a bit excessive to some.
“I couldn’t help but laugh at it,” Hope said. “People were getting mad but I said, ‘This is hysterical, guys.’ We’ll just have to check the rulebook. I’m sure they got an extensive description of what’s permitted and what’s not permitted, but it seemed like good fun to me.”