ESPN College Football

Todd Geerlings, the head official on the officiating crew from the Pinstripe Bowl earlier today, explained the reasoning for the call after the game in pool quotes provided to media members.

Kansas State lost 36-34 to Syracuse when officials flagged Wildcats receiver Adrian Hilburn for excessive celebration. Hilburn he saluted in the direction of the crowd after scoring on a 30-yard catch-and-run that gave Kansas State an opportunity to tie the game. But a 15-yard penalty was assessed on the two-point conversion try, which Kansas State failed to convert.

It was a Big Ten officiating crew.

Here's the full text of Geerling's explanation:

Excessive celebration is rule 9-2-1d, which states a penalty is called for:
"Any delayed, excessive, prolonged or choreographed act by which a player attempts to focus attention on himself (or themselves)."

What exactly caused the penalty?
"It was the salute, which was the judgment of the calling officials, which were the head linesman and the back judge. Two officials threw the flag, both judged it to be drawing attention to themselves, and that's what the flag was for."

Were you watching for any celebrations?
"These kinds of excessive celebrations have been a priority in the rulebook for the last several years. There's a whole page in the rulebook pertaining to sportsmanship."

That's a pretty weak explanation.

Regardless of the wording of the rule, officials have to take into account context as well as timing. Plenty of players' actions after scoring are far more animated and draw plenty more attention, but you don't see those flagged.

For that flag to be thrown at such a crucial moment only makes it worse.

Instant analysis from the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, which Syracuse won 36-34 over Kansas State:

How the game was won: Syracuse was offensively-challenged most of the season and especially so down the stretch; the Orange had only 46 total points in their final four games. The porous Kansas State defense proved a good cure for that. Both coaches called aggressive games, with plenty of flea flickers and other trick plays on a slick Yankee Stadium field. Syracuse scored on every second-half possession as its offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage. The defense just made one stop in the second half, and the Wildcats passing game went wild. But a couple of questionable fourth-quarter decisions allowed the Orange to win an entertaining shootout.

Turning point: Kansas State fans will be mad about this one for a long time. The Wildcats' Adrian Hilburn caught a 30-yard touchdown pass with 1:13 left to bring his team within two points. But Hilburn was flagged for excessive celebration after he saluted the crowd in the end zone. That 15-yard penalty moved the ball back to the 18 for the two-point conversion attempt. Kansas State couldn't pick it up, and the Wildcats were left to fume over the officials' decision.

Turning point II: The Wildcats might not have needed the two-pointer had they taken three earlier in the quarter. They tried a fake field goal on the Syracuse 14 that failed miserably. That was the only time in the half that either team failed to score on a drive, other than when the Orange took a knee late.

Player of the game: Syracuse receiver Marcus Sales. All season, the Orange lacked playmakers at the wideout spot. With Van Chew and Alec Lemon banged up, Sales came through in a big way. The guy who had only one touchdown catch all season had five grabs for 172 yards and three scores in the bowl game.

Player of the game II: Delone Carter ran for 202 yards on 28 carries and scored twice as the Orange offensive line plowed over Kansas State's defense.

Stat of the game: Syracuse averaged only 274 yards per game in Big East play, last among eight teams. Against Kansas State, the Orange had 498 yards.

Second-guessing: Did Hilburn deserve that excessive celebration call? He definitely made a celebratory gesture, but it was not taunting in any way. You absolutely hate to see a crucial point of the game be influenced by that kind of call. But, again, Kansas State coach Bill Snyder should be questioned for the fake field goal on a fourth-and-five when his defense could not stop Syracuse. And the officials made some highly questionable calls that went against the Orange in the first half.

What it means: Syracuse caps a terrific bounce-back year with its eighth win. The Orange hadn't been bowling since 2004 and came away with a postseason victory that should give a boost to recruiting. The offensive performance was encouraging, though Kansas State's defense had a major influence on that. Despite the controversial ending, the Pinstripe Bowl was a success in its first year and will have people talking about how entertaining it was. The Big East got its first postseason win over a BCS AQ team this season and improves to 2-1 in bowls.

What a wild game, won by Syracuse, 36-34. Great entertainment and one of the best games of the bowl season, but an ugly finish that was, in the end, decided by officials. Nobody likes to see that.

How the game was won: Kansas State's Adrian Hilburn scored a touchdown on a 30-yard pass from Carson Coffman with 1:13 to play that brought the Wildcats within two. Hilburn, however, was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct when officials ruled that his simple salute was excessive celebration. That forced Kansas State to try and tie the game with an 18-yard two-point conversion, but Coffman's pass fell incomplete and the Wildcats couldn't execute an onside kick.

Turning point: The flag after the touchdown. We might have been headed to overtime, but Kansas State had to settle for a low-percentage conversion and couldn't do it. Officials should have kept the flag in their pocket on a celebration that was hardly excessive, and especially a flag that had such a profound impact on the final score. Kansas State and its fans have a right to be angry. You feel bad for Hilburn, whose celebration (of his second career touchdown, by the way) was by no means out of line, but ended up costing the Wildcats the game. He didn't deserve that.

Player of the game: Delone Carter, RB, Syracuse. Kansas State had no answer defensively for the balanced back who ran over and around Wildcats defenders all day. He finished with 202 yards and a pair of TDs on 28 carries.

Unsung hero: Carson Coffman, QB, Kansas State. The Orange keyed in on Daniel THomas, but the maligned senior quarterback made play after play to keep the Wildcats alive, including catching a 29-yard pass from Daniel Thomas earlier in the game to set up a touchdown. He finished 17-of-23 for 229 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and ran for 26 yards on nine carries.

Best call: Trailing 33-28 in the fourth quarter after a Syracuse touchdown, Kansas State ran a flea flicker and completed an underthrown ball to Aubrey Quarles for 41 yards, setting up what they hoped was an eventual go-ahead touchdown, but the drive ended in the failed fake field goal.

Second guessing: I loved the late fake field goal from Kansas State, but hated the execution. That deep, there wasn't going to be enough room to run the ball up the middle, and the Wildcats needed some misdirection or trickery in the form of a pass to the kicker or a leaking receiver to make that play a success.

What it means: The Big 12 drops to 1-3 in bowl season now, with a pair of losses to Big Ten teams and one the Big East. The late flag will overshadow a bit of the loss, but the Wildcats return to the postseason for the first time since 2006 had an ugly finish.

Record performance: With his performance, Thomas moved into second place all-time for rushing yards at Kansas State. Only Darren Sproles has more, but most impressively, Thomas did it in two years as a juco transfer.

1. Stop giving up big plays. It's become a bit of what Kansas State's defense does, but it has to stop if the Wildcats are going to win this game. They gave up 75 plays of more than 10 yards in 12 games. Only Kansas surrendered more, and it gave up 76. K-State gave up 28 plays of more than 20 yards and 19 plays of more than 30 yards. Longer than 40 yards? 11 plays. Seven went for more than 50 yards and four went for more than 60. No team in the Big 12 gave up more than all of those, and Kansas State's offense isn't explosive enough to keep up if that continues in the Pinstripe Bowl.

2. Keep playing disciplined football. As bad as Kansas State has been defensively, they've been solid when it comes to not making mental mistakes that give opponents free yards. Kansas State has allowed just 466 penalty yards, which is eighth fewest nationally, and if they eliminate the above character flaw of big plays and accentuate the discipline they've displayed elsewhere, the Wildcats will be tough to beat. Syracuse, meanwhile, ranks 95th nationally in the stat with 741 penalty yards on 90 flags to the Wildcats' 66.

3. Win the rushing battle. It's pretty simple here. Everything that comes with doing this -- time of possession, points, momentum -- can mean a win in a game that'll feature a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Syracuse's Delone Carter and Kansas State's Daniel Thomas. It's not a cure-all -- turnovers and missed opportunities can swing the game one way or the other -- but the safe bet in this game is whichever team rushes for more yards leaves with a win.

Three keys for Syracuse in Wednesday's New Era Pinstripe Bowl matchup with Kansas State:

Make the Wildcats throw it: Kansas State ranked 20th nationally in running the ball and has a star player in tailback Daniel Thomas. In the latter part of the season, backup quarterback Collin Klein gave the Wildcats another running threat. Like Syracuse, though, they don't own a fearsome passing game. Klein is mostly a runner, and Carson Coffman has been erratic at times as a passer. Scott Shafer's defense works best when it can load the box and bring pressure against quarterbacks. Syracuse needs to make Kansas State one-dimensional -- in the dimension it doesn't want to use.

Run, Run, Run: Kansas State had the third-worst rushing defense in the FBS this season, a stat which must make Doug Marrone smile. You can count on one hand the number of 30-plus yard plays the Orange offense produced in the final weeks of the season, but the one thing they do well is run the ball hard between the tackles. The Syracuse offensive line should control the line of scrimmage and free Delone Carter and Antwon Bailey to get into the second level and make things happen. It could be a cold day at Yankee Stadium; if the Orange can keep the ball on the ground and burn clock, that would provide a huge advantage.

Special teams: Not having punter Rob Long, who is recovering from brain surgery, is a big loss for Syracuse. Long also handles kickoffs and is the holder for the Orange. Meanwhile, Kansas State kick returner William Powell led the nation by averaging 34.6 yards per return. No one knows quite how the winds will work at Yankee Stadium with its unique setup. Special teams can often be rusty after a long pre-bowl layoff, and in a game that could be low-scoring, the kicking game could be the difference.

Syracuse is bowling again. The Orange are back in the postseason for the first time since 2004, and they celebrate by ringing in the inaugural New Era Pinstripe Bowl in their home state. Here's a quick preview:

WHO TO WATCH: Syracuse running back Delone Carter. The Orange offense really struggled down the stretch of the regular season, and Carter remains its one true, dependable force. The muscular, 215-pound senior isn't a big-play threat most of the time, but he can wear down defenses with his straight-ahead, physical style. He went over 1,000 yards this year for the second straight season, and Syracuse must establish the ground game with him and Antwon Bailey to set up play-action. And in cold, potentially snowy conditions, the running game becomes even more vital.

WHAT TO WATCH: The Syracuse defense vs. Kansas State's run game. There's little secret to what the Wildcats like to do: Get the ball in the hands of playmaking tailback Daniel Thomas as much as possible. They're not a big passing team, so Thomas gets the bulk of the work and will take snaps out of the Wildcat formation. The Orange defense was this team's strength all season. The suspension of tackle Andrew Lewis could hurt, but Chandler Jones, Bud Tribbey and Mikhail Marinovich are stout up front, while linebackers Doug Hogue and Derrell Smith are among the best in the Big East. The Orange will need safety help in the box as well.

WHY TO WATCH: To see Syracuse return to the postseason. To see postseason football being played for the first time in new Yankee Stadium. To see an old-school, grind-it-out physical game in cold weather, the way football was meant to be played. To see an up-and-coming coach (Syracuse's Doug Marrone) against a living legend (K-State's Bill Snyder).

PREDICTION: Syracuse should have a home-field feel in the Bronx, and I think the Orange defense can do a good job slowing down Thomas. Still, Kansas State has the ability to make big plays, while Syracuse has only lurched forward in small chunks and will be missing an underrated field-position weapon in punter Rob Long. The Orange keep it close, but fall 17-14.

Time to continue our series looking at which players need to step up their games in order for their teams to have success in the postseason. We turn our attention now to the Syracuse Orange, who take on Kansas State in the Dec. 30 New Era Pinstripe Bowl. The player who's on the spot is:

Strong safety Shamarko Thomas. Kansas State has a terrific running game led by Daniel Thomas, and that will likely require some safety help for the Orange. Syracuse's Thomas has played well this season, but he often split time with senior Max Suter. Suter will miss the bowl game because of an injured shoulder, so it's all on Thomas to deliver at Yankee Stadium. The way the Syracuse offense performed down the stretch, it will need its defense to dominate the action.