A coach on the winning side of a 70-point blowout shouldn't have any complaints, but Franklin's issue appears to be well warranted."We got a penalty for high-fiving one of our members of the core," Franklin said."Not a huge fan.
I don’t know why we can’t high-five somebody in the military; it seems somewhat un-American to me."Virginia Tech Hokies head coach James Franklin greets fans during the "Hokie Walk" prior to a college football game between the VMI Keydets and the Virginia Tech Hokies on September 5, 2026, at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, VA.(Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)MICHIGAN-WESTERN MICHIGAN CLOCK CONTROVERSY LEAVES PLAYERS, FANS AND A RULES ANALYST PUZZLEDUnlike in the NFL, where there are essentially no limitations on what players can do in terms of celebrating, there is a set of rules for excessive celebrations in college football.
Apparently, those rules are strictly applied, even when the player in question is celebrating with cadets seated in the front row.Virginia Tech running back Marcellous Hawkins Jr.was the player flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after scoring what was his third touchdown of the evening.HokieBird, mascot for the Virginia Tech Hokies, poses with members of Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets in the second half during a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Lane Stadium on September 21, 2024 in Blacksburg, Virginia.
(Ryan Hunt/Getty Images)OUTKICK IS NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOADAfter punching it into the end zone with 6:59 left in the third quarter, Hawkins immediately ran over to the large group of cadets and high-fived a number of them, which is what drew the penalty from an official in the end zone.According to NCAA Rule 9-2, players are prohibited from any "delayed, excessive, prolonged or choreographed act by which a player (or players) attempts to focus attention upon himself (or themselves)."Players are also mandated to immediately return the football to an official after scoring.Haw...