Compared to some of the more elaborate and flamboyant touchdown celebrations we are used to seeing across the NFL, Cam Newton’s “Superman” routine is relatively mild. However, it is apparently considered excessive at the high school level. So excessive, in fact, that a player who mimicked it was recently ejected from a game.
According to the Charlotte Observer, West Mecklenburg quarterback Jalan McClendon was tossed from his team’s 45-10 victory last Friday night after he scored a touchdown and imitated Newton by pretending to expose the Superman “S” on his chest. Fortunately for West Mecklenburg he was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct and not taunting, which would have led to an automatic two-game suspension.
“It’s a good learning experience for him,” West Mecklenburg coach Jeff Caldwell said of McClendon. “With him being in the position he’s in, he should know better. He’s a young kid. My kids have never been in a situation like this before. I’m just happy for Jalan and that it came out all right.
“I’m glad he wasn’t severely punished for something where he was just having fun. He’s not the taunting type. At Tennessee (team camp) this summer, they were always asking ‘Why don’t you get excited?’”
McClendon has been cleared to play this Friday, which is huge for the team since it is the second round of the playoffs. Caldwell said the junior has scholarship offers from North Carolina, Wake Forest and Duke, so obviously he is an exceptional talent. It’s a bit surprising that McClendon was ejected immediately for the celebration rather than flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, but the message was sent quite clearly — touchdown celebrations won’t be tolerated by the N.C. High School Athletic Association.
H/T The Big Lead
