Referees generally don’t like it when an uninvited guest runs onto the field in the middle of a game.
Even if the “streaker” in question happens to be a squirrel or jack rabbit.
This past September, the highlight of the CFL’s Labour Day Classic between the Edmonton Eskimos and Calgary Stampeders was a great play on the field – not by a human, but a rather excitable jackrabbit.
As the clock ran down during the second quarter, a kickoff return by Edmonton’s Kendial Lawrence was overshadowed as a jackrabbit ran on the field.
The flying fluff-ball eluded players and staff before making a theatrical jump into the end zone.
WATCH: Rascally rabbit steals the show at Labour Day Classic in Calgary
Always looking to copy the Canadian game, a furry field-invader became a comical distraction during the NFL game between the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium in Minnesota this past Sunday.
On numerous occasions, cameras caught the squirrel running across the open field during the game, darting behind cheerleaders or across the player’s bench.
At one point, a hapless security guard tried to apprehend the rodent with what looks like a waterproof blanket – but to no avail.
“This squirrel has been causing havoc all day,” play-by-play man Joe Buck deadpanned at one point.
Still, in a stadium full of NFL scouts and personnel, the squirrel’s natural physical qualities couldn’t be ignored. He displayed great speed and acceleration in the open field, and his quick change-of-direction abilities would be the envy of any NFL running back.
But the CFL jackrabbit showed his own blazing speed, leaving Edmonton’s kickoff return man in the dust. We also can’t discount his propensity for endzone celebrations.
All that’s left is for a koala to run onto the field during an Australian rules football game and we’ll have a full-blown international incident on our hands.
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