A few days ago there was a piece in the paper about the NCAA cracking down on taunting, specifically when the taunt is performed by a player scoring a touchdown.

In the past, on those very rare occurrences when current taunting rules were actually enforced, the penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct by a scoring player usually was assessed on the extra point, which only mattered when a team might have been thinking about going for two points, or when a team had a shaky kicker.

The new proposal calls for the penalty to be a spot foul with the touchdown being disallowed.

Finally, some real teeth in a taunting rule.

Problem is, most football officials must have false teeth that they remove before working a game. Problem is, most NCAA rules against taunting are either unenforced or misenforced.

So will this new proposal even pass and, if so, will there be a meaningful attempt to actually enforce it? I’m not holding my breath. I would suggest that you not hold yours, either.

- Bill Schwanke