12/7/11 TEAM'S WINNING "HS SUPERBOWL" TD REVERSED b/c of BRIEF ARM GESTURE here's the vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP_mCEP-1z0&feature=youtube_gdata_player Here's my thoughts: "[this is a sad call by a legalistic referee...owens caught what wouldhave probably been the winning TD in Boston's ( or Mass.?;city or state championship?) highschool superbowl but as he was almost to the end zone,the receiiver briefly raised his arm, & the ref called it an "illegal celebration" (unsportsmanlike conduct), thereby nullifying the TD. From the video,it's not clear at all if the arm raise is a celebratory gesture orif he may be stretching out his arm to loosen his jersey or whatever. Its not a prolonged gesture. I don't see any taunting or waving. Its just a quick arm movement upward. I would say way too brief and innocent to be worthy of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, that's for sure. Here's a newspaper report: "BOSTON— Boston Mayor Thomas Menino is weighing in on the excessive celebration penalty that cost a local high school football team a shot at a state title. Cathedral High School quarterback Matthew Owens briefly raised his arm in triumph while racing in for the go-ahead touchdown in the final minutes of Saturday's Super Bowl game. The gesture drew a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct that nullified the touchdown. Cathedral went on to lose 16-14 to Blue Hills Menino met Wednesday with Cathedral's coach and school officials. He's promising to invite the players to lunch, calling them champions on and off the field...." http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/12/07/boston_mayor_weighs_in_on_disputed_football_call/

12/7/11 TEAM'S WINNING "HS SUPERBOWL" TD REVERSED b/c of BRIEF ARM GESTURE here's the vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP_mCEP-1z0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Here's my thoughts: "[this is a sad call by a legalistic referee...owens caught what wouldhave probably been the winning TD in Boston's ( or Mass.?;city or state championship?) highschool superbowl but as he was almost to the end zone,the receiiver briefly raised his arm, & the ref called it an "illegal celebration" (unsportsmanlike conduct), thereby nullifying the TD. From the video,it's not clear at all if the arm raise is a celebratory gesture orif he may be stretching out his arm to loosen his jersey or whatever. Its not a prolonged gesture. I don't see any taunting or waving. Its just a quick arm movement upward. I would say way too brief and innocent to be worthy of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, that's for sure.
Here's a newspaper report:
"BOSTON— Boston Mayor Thomas Menino is weighing in on the excessive celebration penalty that cost a local high school football team a shot at a state title. Cathedral High School quarterback Matthew Owens briefly raised his arm in triumph while racing in for the go-ahead touchdown in the final minutes of Saturday's Super Bowl game. The gesture drew a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct that nullified the touchdown. Cathedral went on to lose 16-14 to Blue Hills Menino met Wednesday with Cathedral's coach and school officials. He's promising to invite the players to lunch, calling them champions on and off the field...."
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/12/07/boston_mayor_weighs_in_on_disputed_football_call/