One of the best traditions in the NFL apparently isn’t welcome at the collegiate level.
LSU and Wisconsin will square off opening weekend at historic Lambeau Field. At the the Green Bay Packers’ house, every time the home team scores the scorer leaps into the stands to celebrate with their fans-- the famed Lambeau Leap.
In the run-up to one of the few collegiate games ever played in the venerable NFL stadium, it was made perfectly clear that such a leap would be against NCAA rules -- “delayed, excessive, prolonged or choreographed act by which a player (or players) attempts to focus attention upon himself (or themselves)” is part of Rule 9, Section 2, while another part prohibits “going into the stands to interact with spectators” -- and the leaper, and thus his team, would be subject to a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
At least on Tiger stated earlier this week that, despite the penalty and knowing “coach Miles won’t be happy with me,” he’s really “looking forward to” doing the Lambeau Leap. “I’ll take that punishment when we get back Monday morning,” defensive back/punt returner Tre’Davious White added.
Getting back, though, could prove problematic, especially if his coach follows through on his “threat.”
“I promise you that if anybody jumps (for) the Lambeau Leap, they’ll end up with their thumb out to see if they can get a ride home,” Les Miles said on the weekly SEC coaches teleconference Wednesday morning. “It’s college football, and we’ll play it that way, and I think our guys understand. We’ll do it right.”
There you have it. You have been warned, Bayou Bengals. Leap at your own peril -- especially when the whole “leaping into what will likely be a whole gaggle of Badger fans” aspect is taken into consideration as well.