The University of Washington has a long list of pedigree QB's who have advanced to the NFL. There is no doubt in any expert's mind that UW Soph QB Jake Locker will be among them. Some dare to say that Locker is potentially the greatest Husky QB of all time; and I agree. He is an athlete of superior athletic ability than any football player I've seen on a collegiate football field, in conjunction with the humitlity and wisdom of a man years beyond his age. I personally guarantee he will one day hoist a Lombardi trophy on the big stage.
His acceptance to UW two years ago had made him the heir apparent to the throne of the likes of Warren Moon, Mark Brunell, and Chris Chandler. In the face of this rhetoric, Locker himself was quick to dismiss that his presence alone would mean winning seasons and bowl games. Locker is also known as a player who devotes extra time during meet/greet and charity events. His attitude and perseverance is one of what you'd expect a professional athlete who understands his role in a program and behaves accordingly.
So it's in great disgust that I had to watch the closing moments of the BYU v UW game earlier today. Where with seconds left on the clock, Locker heroically scrambled for a touchdown to potentially send the game into overtime. As he scored, Locker got up threw the ball into the air in rejoice and celebrated with his teammates. As the ball hit the ground a goal line official threw his flag for excessive celebration.
Now let me describe to you what "excessive celebration" really is. It's dancing in the end zone, eating popcorn on the field, or running to the middle of the field to showcase yourself. Excessive celebrations are those which humiliate your opponent and isolate yourself from your team. Jake Locker's display of emotion was the complete opposite of this. And when asked in the post game interview about the flag Locker apologized for loving the game of football.
What kind of world do we live in where players have to apologize for their love of the game?
The flag is an apparent sign of the PAC-10's horrendous officiating; and worse a sign that "the powers that be" in this conference are ruining the sport.
Unfortunately for myself and every other PAC-10 fan, this is just the latest in this conference's bungles which have made them the joke of the NCAA. Their inability to negotiate a deal with ESPN, ridiculous bowl game agreements, and of course, ludicrous officiating is why several big schools like Oklahoma may refuse to schedule big games within our conference until changes are made.
What a joke; a sick uncomprehensible joke.
I'll post the link to Jake Locker's celebration when it becomes available on YouTube.
