Be Careful what you argue

[mcrowder]

Last night - 9th grade B-game, normal NCAA rules except for only 10 minute quarters. (A-team coach is assistant for this game)

Visitor scores a TD in the 3rd quarter. Kick is blocked. R returns it for a TD, but holds at the point of attack at about the 50. Without talking to kicking team, we assume an accepted penalty, and call the try no-good.

Visiting coach is IRATE, comes out to midfield and lets us have it for at least a minute, without listening to anything we told him. He probably got 3 different explanations as to why he wanted to take the penalty. Finally he says, "I'm telling you right now that I want to decline the penalty! Decline the GAWD-DAMM penalty!!!" Finally, the referee says, "Are you sure?" (Giving him way more leniency than he probably deserved). "G-D right I'm sure - you people are morons!" (How Ref didn't give him 15 at some point in this conversation is beyond me).

Referee turns, faces the pressbox, resignals the penalty, points toward HOME's Endzone, and puts up the TD signal, giving Home 2 points.

Visiting coach sees this, and still doesn't get it, starts yelling, "1st offense - get back out there!!!" and storms back to his sideline. I see A-team coach just staring at him with this "You Dumb@$$" look on his face, waiting for light to dawn.

When it finally does, and he notices the score, he blows up again, earning 2 separate 15-yarders and a free escort off the field.

When it all calms down, A-team's coach takes over and just calmly asks me - "Do you guys have to put up with that every week?" I see he's jovial, so I say, "No, that had to be a first." He replies, "I have to deal with that every DAY."