Golden Tate on Celebration: 'I Forgot That Was Michigan State's Band'

Notre Dame wide receiver Golden Tate scored the winning touchdown in Saturday's victory over Michigan State, but what has everyone talking about Tate three days later isn't the score itself, it's the way he celebrated afterward: Tate did a flying leap into the Michigan State band.

Tate could have injured himself or the members of the Spartan Marching Band, but fortunately the Michigan State band members in the vicinity got out of the way, and Tate wasn't hurt when he hit the ground. Tate explained that as he launched himself into mid-air, he was thinking it was the Notre Dame band he was going to celebrate with:

"I thought the people were going to catch me, but I forgot that was Michigan State's band," Tate said. "And, like, I jumped up and they scattered real quick and there was the ground hitting me hard."

Tate is lucky he wasn't hurt -- or flagged for an excessive celebration penalty -- but since no harm was done on the play, we're all free to laugh at one of the funniest moments of this young college football season. And on that note, I'll leave you with this video remix of the Tate leap:

What did you think of the celebration? Tell me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

9-22-2009 @ 4:50PM

mike said...

Should've been a 15-yard penalty. Give Michigan State another 15 yards on their final drive and they win.

9-22-2009 @ 5:58PM

D. Bobilin said...

The not get a penalty almost makes up for the TD they took away from ND on Floyds catch.

9-23-2009 @ 11:36AM

Will said...

msu sucks

9-22-2009 @ 5:18PM

chilly16 said...

The band geeks didn't even know what to do.LOL

9-23-2009 @ 9:29AM

Tommy said...

This one time at band camp

9-23-2009 @ 9:32AM

chicsheila46 said...

Further proof of the absolute "genius" of Notre Dame. I lived in South Bend for 19 years and sharp tacks like Tate are the university's most prized possessions. How sad. At least no one, player or musicians, was injured.

9-23-2009 @ 9:35AM

ericmaryanne said...

Geeks? Smarter than the player. Marching band knew exactly what to do. They got out of the way and ignored him. Too bad Golden boy didn't know his team colors.

9-23-2009 @ 9:44AM

Cyn~~Boo said...

Why was the band down there anyway! They should have been in the stands! I use to be in the band and of course I wouldn't have seen that coming but hey.... it was funny!

9-23-2009 @ 10:00AM

Visiting bands are rarely allowed space in the home-team stands.

9-23-2009 @ 10:39AM

prevost997 said...

If you used to be in the band, then you should KNOW what they were doing down there...before their halftime performance, the band will leave the stands, go outside the stadium to warm up and tune up...then they file in, and stand outside the endzone for the last few minutes of the half, until the players are finished. The time constraints placed upon the bands are so tight that not a second can be wasted. But you were in the band, so you knew that, right??

9-23-2009 @ 10:57AM

mindymed said...

Prevost-
You obviously didn't notice that this was NOT half-time, it was the end of the game. Know what you're saying before you try to discredit someone else!

9-23-2009 @ 9:46AM

Nick said...

LMFAO, that was funny watching him land on his head. What a nitwit!

9-23-2009 @ 9:52AM

kdonnell03 said...

seriously.... the whole thing happened so quickly you can hardly blame him for his mistake. He just caught an amazing pass, scored what would be the winning touchdown, and got caught up in the moment.

By the way, just because someone plays a musical instrument it does not make them a "band geek"... but thanks for continuing to perpetuate stereotypes. The world needs more people to judge others based on no knowledge whatsoever

9-23-2009 @ 9:54AM

Travis said...

I didn't see anything excessive about that celebration...it was frakking hilarious though..hahaha!!!

9-23-2009 @ 9:56AM

Melissa said...

hahahaha oh man that is frakkin hilarious

Hi Evelyn said...

I can't believe he wasn't penalized for excessive celebration. Does anyone remember last year when University of Washington's QB Jake Locker barely, barely shimmied after a TD and was penalized? Not fair - if they are going to enforce the rules, they need to do so fairly.

9-23-2009 @ 9:59AM

mindirella said...

What an idiot! His band or not his band - the way he flew in the air and jumped on those guys was stupid! It happened so fast - not everyone got out of his way. He could have really hurt someone - and destroyed some expensive instruments. Dumb!

9-23-2009 @ 10:05AM

Gator said...

Let's see...Michigan is Green and White, Notre Dame is Blue and Gold. Either he is color blind or attending college on a special education scholarship! What a 'tard!