The Zapper

Kudos to ABC's Dan Fouts for condemning as "incredibly stupid" the penalty for excessive celebration following Notre Dame's final touchdown, which made the score 21-16, late in the Irish's 28-17 loss to Purdue last Saturday. Rarely are commentators so bluntly critical of officials or the NCAA. (Replays confirmed Fouts's view that the end zone demonstration was relatively restrained.) However, Fouts and his broadcast partner, Brent Musburger, didn't question Irish coach Bob Davie's decision to kick an extra point rather than attempt (albeit from 17½ yards out) a two-point conversion that would have brought Notre Dame within a field goal. If any call deserved criticism, that was it.