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| 16-year-old Sam Turner prays in the end zone during his high school football game. (Courtesy Sam Turner) |
By Todd Starnes
Sam Turner had been waiting all season for this moment.
The 16-year-old tight-end and wing for the Fort Myers High School Green Wave ran his route Friday night just as he had done countless times during practice.
The quarterback saw a window and took action. His pass was right on
the money and Sam caught the ball and avoided a tackle. A teammate made a
crucial block allowing Sam to score his first touchdown of the season.
Did Sam’s prayer delay the game? It lasted no more than five seconds. Five seconds. It’s not like he was holding a church service in the end zone.
Sam raised his hands in the air to honor a murdered teammate and then
took a knee to thank God. The end zone celebrated lasted about five
seconds.
“I felt like I had to thank God for blessing me with the talent and
passion to play football,” Sam told me. “So I dropped to a knee and
thanked God for everything he’s done in my life.”
But when Sam opened his eyes he saw a referee throwing a flag.
Unsportsmanlike conduct. A 15-yard penalty.
The Florida High School Athletic Association and the South Gulf
Football Officials Association said Sam was not penalized for praying.
Instead, they say he was guilty of violating Rule 9-5, Article 1 of the
2014 National Federation of State High School Associations football
rulebook.
The Fort Myers News-Press reports the violation covers non-contact penalties like “any delayed, excessive or prolonged act by which a player attempts to focus attention upon himself.”
So let’s break this down.
Did Sam’s prayer delay the game? It lasted no more than five seconds.
Five seconds. It’s not like he was holding a church service in the end
zone.
“It was deemed excessive celebration in a manner that drew attention
to the player,” FHSAA spokesman Cory Sobers told me. “I believe the arm
motion is what drew the flag and not the kneeling or the prayer.”
“It’s a judgment call,” FHSAA spokesman Cory Sobers told the
newspaper. “The penalty is not because he prayed. It’s because the
official determined he was trying to focus attention on himself and
that’s the bigger issue in the official’s viewpoint.”
But that’s not what Sam was trying to do.
“I was trying to thank God in my own personal way,” he told me. “What
better way to do it than to drop down on a knee and humble yourself
before him?”
I understand that rules are rules – but if there’s wiggle room for an
official to make a judgment call – why not just let the kid pray?
“It’s a tough spot to be in,” South Gulf president Gil Whitmore told
the newspaper. “We don’t know all these players individually so we have
no idea what’s genuine and what’s not.”
I find that explanation a bit hard to swallow. It’s not like the kid
was twerking on somebody or flopping around on the turf. He was
obviously praying.
For what it’s worth Sam bears no ill will toward the referees.
“The referee had to make a decision and he has an unbiased opinion,”
he said. “He wasn’t for or against any team. He wanted to stick to the
rules.”
That’s not to say the college-bound honors student is not disappointed.
“When you’re a kid you have so much emotion and passion for what you
do,” he said. “When you do something that’s great you want to give
thanks to the One who gave you that opportunity. It’s disappointed that
you aren’t allowed.”
Sam told me he learned his lesson and should he be so fortunate as to
score another touchdown – he will conduct himself accordingly.
“I will definitely abide by the rules – but will give God praise the moment I get on the sidelines,” he said.
So the folks over at the Florida High School Athletic Association and
the South Gulf Football Officials Association can stop losing sleep.
They won’t have to worry about a teenager committing such an egregious
act of religious devotion on the football field.
By the way, the Green Wave won last Friday night, 49-0.
Todd Starnes is host of Fox News & Commentary, heard on hundreds of radio stations. Sign up for his American Dispatch newsletter, be sure to join his Facebook page, and follow him on Twitter. His latest book is "God Less America."
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