False Start: Five Celebrations In The SEC That Went Wrong

The University of Tennessee baseball team had celebrations all season long. To be fair to our friends in Knoxville, they were ranked number one for a large portion of the season and earned the right to celebrate.

There were times this season where Tennessee’s celebrations were, let’s just say, over the top. From bat flipping everything, to flipping off opposing outfielders, to donning a fur coat after homeruns, to having players thrown out of multiple games, the Volunteers talked the talk AND walked the walk.

Until they didn’t

After losing two out of three games to Notre Dame in the Super Regionals, Tennessee’s season ended.

And when you talk as much trash as they did, you don’t get much sympathy from the internet.

So in honor of Tennessee becoming a meme until the end of time, here are five more examples of teams or players in the SEC that had celebrations not pan out the way they wanted to.

Let’s get this one out of the way. Facing LSU in a late season contest in November of 2020, Florida still had a very real shot of playing in the college football playoff. They were 8-1 during the shortened season and had Alabama on the horizon in the SEC Championship game.

Whether it was the fog or Florida looking ahead, the Gators struggled to put away the Tigers. With under two minutes to play and the score tied at 34, the Florida defense made a third down stop that would have forced LSU to punt and allow for Kyle Trask to drive the Gators down for a winning score.

Except Marco Wilson threw a shoe.

Assessed a personal foul penalty, LSU was given 15 yards and a first down. LSU would go on to win the game 37-34 and end Florida’s playoff chances.

The ending of a basketball game can be chaotic and it can be hard to hear whistles from the ref.

Auburn fans found out the hard way that just because the clock says zero and your team is ahead it doesn’t actually mean you have won.

Against Virginia in the 2019 Men’s Final Four, Auburn was ahead 62-60 when Virginia had a last second three point attempt that didn’t fall.

Auburn fans went crazy thinking they had won and were going to the National Championship game. Fans poured into Toomer’s Corner to celebrate.

Only problem, a foul had been called on the shot.

Three made free throws later, Auburn’s season was over.

Rivalry games can be intense. Florida has seen its fair share of salty opponents doing the Gator Chomp in mocking fashion.

But Ole Miss WR Elijah Moore took mocking the opponent to a whole different level in the 2019 Egg Bowl against Mississippi State.

With four seconds left, Moore caught a touchdown that made the score 21-20 in favor of the Bulldogs. But with a simple extra point the score would be tied and the game would go to OT.

Moore, however would let his inner dog out, and proceeded to pretend he was a dog taking a leak in the end zone.

Turns out you can’t do that and Ole Miss was backed up 15 yards for the ensuing extra point.

When the kick went wide, it clinched the victory for Mississippi State and left Moore in a rough…… position.

https://twitter.com/theScore/status/1200261639406325760?s=20&t=vkjs_v2QthkffjlZs1-aMw

There once was a time before Nick Saban that Alabama was allowed to have fun and have celebrations.

In 2003 though, too much fun cost them against Arkansas. So maybe Saban is on to something.

In a land before time, Arkansas was ranked 9th in the country going into the game and it was Alabama that was unranked.

‘Bama gave Arkansas all they could handle and the game went into OT after the Razorbacks clawed back from a 31-10 deficit.

In OT though, Arkansas had the first possession and went no where. After a desperate heave into the end zone ended in an interception, all Alabama needed was a field goal on their possession to win the game.

Except Alabama celebrated too much for the official’s liking and were assessed a personal foul that made the Crimson Tide start on the 40-yard line instead of the 25.

‘Bama didn’t score and Arkansas would go on to win in the second OT.

There used to be a time when Kentucky would never win in football. So in 2002 when Kentucky was ahead of LSU 30-27 and the ball was 74 yards away from the end zone with almost no time left, the Wildcats felt safe to begin their celebrations.

Head coach Guy Morriss was given a Gatorade bath and Kentucky fans were already making their way onto the field.

LSU QB Marcus Randall had other ideas.

Randall would chuck the ball as far as he could but was still 15 yards short.

The ball would be tipped however and would fall into the arms of Devery Henderson.

15 yards later the Bluegrass Miracle was born.

Jefferson Pilot, speaking of land before time, was airing the game and was so sure the game was over they even flashed a final score banner of “Kentucky 30, LSU 27” as Henderson crossed the goal line.

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