According to high school athletics in Columbus, TX, pointing to the sky, expressing any religious freedom is a rule not to be broken. In fact it can get your victorious track team disqualified. That's what happened to Derrick Hayes, and a team of young runners for using a "God" gesture after crossing the finish line Friday. Unfortunately, because of their "excessive celebration" the team cannot compete at the state level.

The University Interscholastic League released a statement Monday explaining why Derrick Hayes was disqualified for "behaving disrespectfully" and ignoring a referee's warning to not raise his hand [a 'God gesture] after crossing the finish line.

"The UIL has concluded the investigation and has found no evidence to suggest that the disqualification took place as a result of the student-athlete expressing religious beliefs," according to the statement released Monday.

If not on the track, the battlefield, where should one be free to express such beliefs?

"Many in the town, including the runner's father, called it a violation of religious freedom, but the school insists the gesture is not banned because it is religious, but because it is celebratory."

Of course no parent wants their kid kicked out of school, so they're obviously complying with school-sanctioned statements, but is it really fair to penalize a team, a student, for an "act of faith"?

We see it all the time in sports. Many athletes honor their religious beliefs after scoring a touchdown, hitting a home run, nailing a game winning three pointer. Maybe TV is a bad influence. But is God?

What do you think of penalizing a student athlete for making "a God gesture" during a victory celebration.