The Petey Pablo Effect: NCAA coaches spin shirts over their heads like helicopters
Sarkisian, Smart and Belichick defend shirtless sideline celebration: “Song is so catchy, we had a blast.”
CHAPEL HILL, NC — What began as Bill Belichick’s decision to appoint Petey Pablo his Minister of Culture has spread across college football, leaving defensive coordinators confused and several prominent head coaches without shirts.
Steve Sarkisian and Kirby Smart joined Belichick in an enthusiastic sideline demonstration, spinning their team-issued polos overhead while assistants attempted to determine whether anyone was still calling plays.
“Song is so catchy, we had a blast,” the three coaches said in a joint statement that contained no information about football.
Belichick insisted the celebration was consistent with his longstanding coaching philosophy.
“Petey gave us clear instructions,” he said. “We executed.”
Smart initially resisted, arguing that Georgia already had an established culture. His objection lasted until the beat dropped.
“I was going to keep my shirt on,” Smart said. “Then Bill made eye contact. At that point, you either commit or lose the locker room.”
Sarkisian described the experience as liberating, although Texas officials have asked him to stop referring to the celebration as “the Air Raid.”
The trend presents an immediate challenge to the new requirement that coaches wear full uniforms.
Belichick believes he has identified a loophole.
“The policy says the shirt has to be on your person,” he explained. “Mine’s in my hand.”
At press time, all three coaches had requested another timeout because the stadium DJ was “getting to the good part.”
