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Tuesday, February 6, 2007
That’s not unsportsmanlike conduct?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Not so much on Tech today as the Jackets have a game in a few hours, and I’ll write about that, and we have a slew of coverage on signing day coming up. So, a change of pace …
If you saw N.C. State’s upset of North Carolina Saturday, and you’re still trying to figure out why Tar Heels All-America center Tyler Hansbrough wasn’t ejected with 7:04 remaining when he appeared to throw a punch at N.C. State’s Brandon Costner, keep guessing.
I tried to reach ACC director of officiating John Clougherty Monday by phone, and e-mail. I was looking for some clarification and help in writing a story for the paper, but he didn’t respond to either form of query. I remain confounded by the application, or lack thereof, of some rules regarding “fighting acts.”
If Hansbrough had been ejected for what the NCAA rule book deems “a fighting act” he also would have been suspended for the Tar Heels’ next game, Wednesday at archrival Duke. Instead, he’ll play.
Hansbrough did not make contact with Costner, although article 2 of rule 4, section 23 - regarding fighting - says: “When during a confrontation, an individual attempts to strike another individual … whether there is contact is irrelevant. The perpetrator shall be deemed to have been involved in a fight.”
Costner grabbed a rebound after defending Hansbrough’s shot close to the goal. After failing to secure the ball, Hansbrough whirled around with his right hand closed into a fist at the heighth of Costner’s head.
Officials stopped the game, reviewed the play (as they did last month when Tech’s Zach Peacock threw, and made contact with, an elbow at Clemson’s Trevor Booker), and called a technical foul against Hansbrough.
So what was the technical for? Unsportsmanlike conduct? If officials deemed the punch as the unsportsmanlike act, why was he not ejected?
Or, if they ruled that was not the unsportsmanlike conduct, what was? Did Hansbrough say something to draw the technical?
North Carolina coach Roy Williams said after the game that Hansbrough did not throw a punch or confront Costner. Williams said Hansbrough was trying to “rake” the ball back.
Yet the rule book seems to indicate that the use of a closed fist in any way is grounds for ejection, and several video angles made it clear that Hansbrough’s right fist was closed as he swung it around within inches of Costner’s face.
Why, then, did officials not apply article 7? It says: “Anytime an individual uses a closed fist in a non-confrontational manner, it shall be deemed that the individual has initiated a fighting act and shall be penalized accordingly.”
Ejection for a fighting act mandates suspension from the next game, at minimum.
Can anybody help straighten me out on this because I don’t understand?
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