DK Metcalf’s imprint on college football history extends well beyond highlight-reel catches and his eventual NFL future.
According to ESPN's David Hale, the most unforgettable college football moment of the 21st century is inseparably tied to DK Metcalf, even though he wasn’t the one flagged on the play.
Hale ranked Elijah Moore’s infamous celebration in the 2019 Egg Bowl atop ESPN’s list of uniquely college football moments, citing its absurdity and far-reaching ripple effects across the sport.
Moore’s act of crawling along the end zone and lifting his leg in a dog-like mime was an homage to Metcalf, who performed a similar, far less consequential gesture during the 2017 rivalry game.
This time, however, the stakes were massive.
Moore’s touchdown with four seconds left pulled Ole Miss within one point of Mississippi State. The ensuing unsportsmanlike conduct penalty pushed the extra point back 15 yards, and the Rebels missed the kick, losing 21-20 on Thanksgiving night.
The moment instantly became a viral sensation, creating endless memes and late-night punch lines. But its legacy went far beyond social media laughs.
Ole Miss finished 4-8 and fired coach Matt Luke, opening the door for the hiring of Lane Kiffin. Mississippi State also dismissed Joe Moorhead and hired Mike Leach, setting off a coaching domino effect that ultimately impacted more than 50 FBS programs and even several NFL staffs, according to a 2021 report by The Athletic.
In a sport defined by chaos, Moore’s celebration, that was originally inspired by Metcalf, perfectly captured college football’s ability to take a single consequence and turn it into an unforgettable moment.
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