THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 6, 1995 TAG: 9509060034
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: LAWRENCE MADDRY
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
EXCUSE ME, while I kneel here in the end zone and say a little prayer.
Sorry. I was just thanking the Almighty for causing the NCAA to reverse its ruling that football players could not pray in the end zone after scoring a touchdown.
Truth is, when the Rev. Jerry Falwell said last week that the ``NCAA has enough problems with drugs, and crime, and violence, sex and rape to bother itself with prohibiting prayer,'' I wanted to open the window, stick my head out and shout: ``That's telling 'em, Jawbone!''
I don't know how much Falwell knows about ground sports - he has proved himself an Olympic contender in the full-dressed, arms-folded water slide - but he was certainly on the side of the angels in the prayer vs. football debate. His Liberty University had sued the NCAA, arguing that the organization was discriminating against religious players.
The NCAA seems unaware of the adage: If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
The association has a lot of highly paid officials who can't wait to get their fingers on a college football control knob and fiddle with it.
And, despite the NCAA announcement that brief prayer will be tolerated, it may not be done ``in a way that is delayed, excessive or prolonged in an attempt to draw attention to oneself.'' The NCAA has repeatedly declared itself opposed to players who draw attention to themselves..
Excuse me, do I have a gourd stuffed in my ear? How does a college back hurtling across the goal line - or an end catching a long pass behind the goal line with his fingertips - not call attention to himself?
What the NCAA wants is college players to behave in a professional manner. Professionals is what they are not. . . or shouldn't be.
A quick kneel is about all a football player will be allowed to execute after scoring. That's nonsense.
The Lord - and college football fans - love a joyful heart. So if college kids want to celebrate after a score, I say let 'em. And as for prayer, the scoring team can erect an alter and hold a communion service for all I care.
It is reasonable to limit the end zone celebrations to about two minutes. But during that time the college players should be allowed to pray, do high-fives, jump on top of each other, kiss the team mascot, disco dance or whatever (except getting naked and smoking dope).
The two-minute limitation should be expanded to five minutes in some situations, at the referee's discretion. The go-ahead touchdown scored by Northwestern (a 28-point underdog) against Notre Dame last Saturday is a good example. At the least, Northwestern should have been allowed to hold a luau and pig roast with hula-skirted girls in the end zone.
Now, if you'll pardon me, I'd like to do another one.
``Lord, please help the NCAA officials find a life. Please interest them in fishing, bird-watching, bungee jumping, or backyard barbecues. Something. Whatever it takes Lord to keep their manicured fingers off the game.''
Amen. by CNB