James Franklin questions ‘un-American’ Virginia Tech penalty for high-fiving military cadets after touchdown

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The James Franklin era at Virginia Tech got off to an emphatic start on Saturday with the Hokies trouncing VMI by a count of 73-3. It was very much a celebration in Blacksburg, and as stress-free a day as the Hokies will have all season, but Franklin did have a small bone to pick with the officiating crew after the final whistle.

A coach on the winning side of a 70-point blowout shouldn’t have any complaints, but Franklin’s issue appears to be well warranted.

“We got a penalty for high-fiving one of our members of the core,” Franklin said. “Not a huge fan. I don’t know why we can’t high-five somebody in the military; it seems somewhat un-American to me.”

Virginia Tech Hokies head coach James Franklin greets fans

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Unlike in the NFL, where there are essentially no limitations on what players can do in terms of celebrating, there is a set of rules for excessive celebrations in college football. Apparently, those rules are strictly applied, even when the player in question is celebrating with cadets seated in the front row.

Virginia Tech running back Marcellous Hawkins Jr. was the player flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after scoring what was his third touchdown of the evening.

HokieBird, mascot for the Virginia Tech Hokies

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After punching it into the end zone with 6:59 left in the third quarter, Hawkins immediately ran over to the large group of cadets and high-fived a number of them, which is what drew the penalty from an official in the end zone.

According to NCAA Rule 9-2, players are prohibited from any “delayed, excessive, prolonged or choreographed act by which a player (or players) attempts to focus attention upon himself (or themselves).”

Players are also mandated to immediately return the football to an official after scoring. Hawkins held onto the football while celebrating with the cadets, which very well could have led to the penalty flag being thrown.

Head coach James Franklin walking on the field at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia

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Despite the “un-American” penalty that Franklin very much did not appreciate, it was a big-time Saturday for the Hokies as they picked up 619 yards and held VMI to just 83 of its own.

Virginia Tech’s Corps of Cadets dates back to 1872, and the school remains one of a select few public universities with both an active cadet corps and a civilian campus lifestyle today.

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