In the world of sports, there’s always a set of unwritten rules, and one of the most notable in football? Never, ever kick your own quarterback in the groin. Whether it’s an accident or just pure enthusiasm during celebrations, it’s kind of a big no-no.
This past Saturday, the Minnesota Golden Gophers breached this etiquette yet still pulled off a remarkable victory against Michigan.
They came off a thrilling win against Washington, where head coach PJ Fleck even celebrated in an unusual way—by smearing a player’s blood on his face. This week, they faced off against the Wolverines at Huntington Bank Stadium, and it was during this game that things got a bit chaotic for quarterback Drake Lindsey.
After the Gophers secured a first down, offensive lineman Bennett Warren was understandably pumped and, well, launched into a celebratory kick. The problem? He didn’t check to see that the ‘airspace’ was clear, resulting in his foot connecting—quite painfully, I imagine—with Lindsey’s groin.
After the bloody celebration last week, this incident makes one wonder if the Gophers might need to reconsider how they express their excitement on the field. It seems like the celebratory antics are spiraling a bit out of control. Just when I thought they couldn’t top the blood incident, here we are with a strike to the QB’s, uh, sensitive area. I honestly have no idea where this could go next.
At this rate, who knows? They might really start taking some wild and reckless celebratory cues from Texas.
On a brighter note, they eventually managed to execute a successful celebration after clinching a 20-14 win, successfully storming the field even after entering the game as 8.5-point underdogs.
Next week, Minnesota—now 4-1—will head to West Lafayette for a matchup against the Purdue Boilermakers. If they win? Well, let’s just say it might be time to prepare for some more chaotic celebrations, perhaps with a bit more caution.
