Over the past few weeks of watching football, both professional and college alike, I’ve noticed a growing problem that needs to be corrected immediately: the “crackdown” on celebrations. This season, officials have been instructed to throw flags for unsportsmanlike conduct for anything they see as celebratory.

No celebrating? Are we honestly to expect a player who makes a great play to simply walk off the field like it never happened? Football is a game of passion and adrenaline. It’s key to the nature of the sport that the players and coaches get as amped up and energized as possible. Once you take this element out of football, the game losses some its integrity and what makes us love it so much.

This controversial new rule nearly boiled over in only the second week of the college season. Washington, playing at now ranked BYU, trailed by seven with just under 10 seconds remaining. Facing third and goal, Huskies quarterback Jake Locker scrambled left and stumbled into the end zone with only two seconds on the clock to leave Washington only an extra point away from sending the game into overtime. Locker, elated with joy, tossed the ball over his head and jumped into the arms of a teammate. As Locker’s teammates all ran to congratulate their quarterback, a nearby official reached for his flag because Locker “threw” the ball after scoring.

The 15-yard penalty turned a routine extra point into a nearly 40-yard field goal. Since the Washington kicker was forced to lower his trajectory to gain extra distance, BYU was able to block the kick and win by one.

The referee who threw his flag cost the Huskies a chance to win in overtime and could have determined their entire season in just their second game. That heartbreaking loss set the tone for Washington’s entire season. Ultimately, it could cost head coach Tyronne Willingham his job. I’m not saying Washington is good (they’re not, 0-5), but as a coach, how do you get your team to recover from an incident like this. This loss completely deflated the Huskies as they went from competing on the road against a ranked opponent to getting thrashed by Arizona. A win against BYU could have completely turned around the seasons of both teams (BYU is still undefeated).

Flags should only be thrown for celebrations only if they significantly delay the proceeding of the game. For instance, take Chad Johnson jumping up behind a television camera and doing the filming himself. Though hilarious, I would understand a penalty there (ironically, where are Ocho Cinco’s celebrations this year?). But 15 yards for getting so excited you flip the ball over your head instead of handing it to the official? The notion is simply absurd.

After all, Locker has made it very public that he is a passionate and enthusiastic player and would do everything exactly the same if he had the chance again. That’s the way anyone who loves playing the game should feel. Take that away and you have a completely different game.

So, a message to officials everywhere: swallow your whistles and keep your flags in your pockets.