Ole Miss was in touching distance of taking the Golden Egg on Thursday. But their hopes were dashed after wide receiver Elijah Moore had the team penalised for unsportsmanlike conduct after he pretended to urinate on the pitch like a dog.
Moore was celebrating a key touchdown, but after marking his territory the point was moved back 15 yards. The move ultimately cost Ole Miss the game, and the Golden Egg was presented to their long-time rivals, Mississippi State.
The team’s coach, Matt Luke, said: “We’ve been a disciplined team all year, and so just disappointed that happened. That’s not who he is. Elijah is a good kid, and he just got caught up in the moment.”
However, he did not mention that it was only two years ago that another Ole Miss player was penalised for exactly the same misconduct.
In 2017, DK Metcalf also lost 15 yards after celebrating a touchdown by pretending to leave a mark on the pitch. This, in turn, was allegedly in tribute to Odell Beckham Jr, who lost 15 yards and $12,000 for exactly the same act in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Exactly why footballers choose to celebrate by imitating urinating dogs is currently unclear. But Luke has been clear that he and Moore have both agreed that when emotions on the pitch go crazy, showboating, especially of this kind, is unwise.
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