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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Michelle R. Martinelli

A Purdue pick-six was called back for ‘high-stepping’ into end zone, and fans were rightfully outraged

You’d be forgiven if you weren’t tuned into Saturday’s Northwestern-Purdue matchup in West Lafayette. But in case you missed the Big Ten West matchup, it featured one of the most egregious officiating calls we’ve seen all season.

Purdue managed to grab an interception and return it for what looked like a pick-six early in the third quarter, until the touchdown was called back for an unsportsmanlike penalty for… “high-stepping into the end zone.”

On 3rd-and-6 on Northwestern’s own 43, Boilermakers linebacker Jalen Graham picked off Wildcats quarterback Cole Freeman and bolted toward the end zone with wide-open space ahead of him.

But alas, the Big Ten’s officials absurdly decided Graham was having too much fun and celebrated his pick-six too early, dealing him an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty from the spot of the foul

Come on, this is so ridiculous.

Obviously, college football officials are allowed to dish out penalties for players celebrating too early, but it’s a big-time discretionary call. And in this instance, it seems absolutely laughable to take that discretion this seriously.

Graham didn’t taunt anyone, he didn’t make any gestures at the Wildcats, he didn’t do a cartwheel into the end zone. He was simply too excited with his running, and officials continue penalizing players for enjoying the game they play.

Purdue still ended up winning, 17-9, but that was a joke of a call.

Unsurprisingly, college football fans were outraged:

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