Instant Karma

This story isn’t about American college football. It’s about instant karma.

I turned on the TV and college football was in progress. Tennessee was playing Georgia. Tennessee was leading by 3 points, but Georgia had the ball at midfield. There were 19 seconds left in the game.

The Georgia center snapped the ball. The quarterback dropped back, then threw a long pass. The Georgia pass receiver caught the ball near the goal line and ran into the end zone for a score. Now Georgia was ahead and Georgia fans were jumping with joy. Tennessee fans were stunned. Many simply stood with their mouths open, hardly believing what they saw happen.

On the field, a celebrating Georgia player took off his helmet. That is a foul; players are not allowed to remove their helmets on the field of play. An official threw a flag. The celebration drew a 15 yard penalty that was enforced on the following play. This meant Georgia had to kick the ball to Tennessee while 15 yards closer to their own goal line than usual.

A Tennessee player caught the ball and returned it to the Georgia 43 yard line. Now there were just 4 seconds left in the game. Tennessee had time to run one play. Everyone on both teams knew what play was probably coming: a “Hail Mary” pass to the end zone. It was possible because of that 15 yard penalty. Without it, the distance to the goal line would have been too far for a “Hail Mary.”

The Tennessee center snapped the ball. The quarterback dropped back and, as expected, threw a long pass to the end zone. Though surrounded by Georgia players, the Tennessee pass receiver jumped high and caught the ball. With no time on the clock, Tennessee was back on top and now it was Georgia fans who were stunned and Tennessee fans who were jumping with joy.

Georgia lost because of a 15 yard penalty on a foul that a Georgia player intentionally committed, probably thinking it won’t matter with just seconds left in the game, so why not?

Now he knows why not: Karma – it always works, even in football.