College Football
TCU coach ejected after picking up two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls
Sonny Dykes is the first Power 5 coach to be ejected under the double-unsportsmanlike-conduct rule
Texas Christian University head coach Sonny Dykes was ejected during the Sept. 21 game in a non-conference game with rival Southern Methodist University, in a game played at SMU. Dykes picked up two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls after protesting a holding foul that negated a TCU kick return for a touchdown.
Already some pregame spice
Dykes used to coach SMU, and then left to coach TCU. The game was played at SMU, so fans were ready to “welcome” back their former coach. TCU is in the Big 12 conference and SMU is in the Atlantic Coast conference.
Referee Kevin Boitman led the Big 12 crew.
The play
TCU returned the second-half kickoff for a touchdown, but it was called back due to a holding foul. The foul looked marginal — at least from all the TV angles.
Sonny Dykes argued the flag. For lip-readers, the flag was justified — even Dykes said he deserved the unsportsmanlike conduct foul.
Dykes continued to argue the play and did not stop. Thus Boitman’s crew called a second unsportsmanlike conduct foul, and by rule, Dykes was ejected from the game.
First Power 5 coach to get the gate
We have discussed the poor behavior of college football coaches for eight years. College officiating conferences gave officials the tools to eject coaches if they pick up two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls. Conferences also told officials they would back them up if they flagged coaches for stepping onto the field to argue a play.
In 2021, two mid-major coaches got ejected for picking up two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls. This is the first Power 5 coach to get kicked out of a game.
While the call Dykes was arguing about appeared marginal-to-possibly-incorrect, that does not give coaches or players a free shot to cuss out and officials and put on a histrionic show.
Kudos to Boitman and crew for giving Dykes his early walking papers.
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Anonymous
September 24, 2024 at 12:30 pm
Is that an alternate official on the sideline wearing a white hat and black jacket who threw the first flag for USC?
I didn’t know the NCAA had alternate officials on the sideline during regular season games, and I wasn’t aware they could throw flags.
Anonymous
September 24, 2024 at 3:48 pm
I second what the comment above me says. Are there alternates at NCAA D1 games? I saw a Big10 game where there seemed to be an alternate wearing a black striped hat on the sideline as well
Anonymous
September 24, 2024 at 4:28 pm
Do NCAA games have alternate officials?
Anonymous
September 25, 2024 at 10:34 pm
I’ve seen alternates on P5 sidelines the past few years, but didn’t know they could throw flags.