Sunday wasn't just a day for NFL football, Liverpool-Manchester United, and "Mad Men." (And who are you supposed to be? Oof.) No, Sunday was also ACC media day, and the conference's players and coaches made at least one thing abundantly clear: No one likes the NCAA's new taunting rule.

First, the rule, which college football fans will know all too well. Since we last played college hoops, the NCAA has outlawed excessive celebrations or anything else that might be considered "unsporting behavior," which sounds like a rule you have to observe when your friend takes you to a really nice golf club. It's pretty vague phrasing for a sport that relies so heavily on intensity and emotion as its main draws. And so the ACC's players are worried. What if I dunk on a dude and dare to act happy about it? Will that hurt my team?

"What if you dunk on someone, and it's a crazy dunk, and you can't keep the emotions inside of you," [Greivis Vasquez asked.] "I guess that's what they want us to do. But, that's why they have rules.''

"If you dunk on someone or whatever -- that's just someone's game. They take pride in it," insisted Virginia Tech guard Malcolm Delaney. "They don't mean to disrespect people, but that's sometimes how it comes out."

Surprisingly enough, Maryland coach Gary Williams agrees (though I suppose we should never count out Gary Williams in a discussion about emotional body language; the man can empathize with enthusiasm):

"That's why college basketball is a great game, because of that exuberance,'' Maryland coach Gary Williams said, adding that there is a distinct difference between celebration and taunting. "These are 18-and-22-year-old kids who have grown up playing a certain way. It may not be the way I grew up playing it, but it's a great way to play. And I hope nobody gets penalized for making a great play and being penalized for it. You've seen it in football already,'' he added. "Hopefully, nobody loses a game over something like that.''

The problem is not that the NCAA wants to crack down on unsportsmanlike behavior; as much old-school sports types tend to be stuffy about personal style -- you can still find plenty of people who decry the NBA over something as silly as tattoos -- preventing silliness is a noble goal. The problem is that, like the new block-charge rule, the terms of the new rule are extremely vague. What qualifies as excessive? What's the line? And if the refs don't know, how can the players and coaches?

Paul Hewitt and Virginia Tech guard Malcolm Delaney wondered why the NCAA didn't survey players and coaches to get their input on the rule. Clearly, Hewitt and Delaney are not studied in the means of the NCAA. But there ought to be some sort of clarification here. Williams is right: If this rule plays a role in a team winning or losing a game this season, it will have gone too far. Deciding between affecting games and allowing players to pound their chest isn't really a decision at all.

Related: ACC Basketball, NCAA Rules and Regs