Several Long Island high school students have recently been suspended for “Tebowing,” despite claims that they were just paying tribute to the Denver Broncos QB.

For a week, about 40 students at Riverhead School took part in the act of bending on one knee in a prayer stance. However, school officials said the act caused a traffic jam and was a fire hazard.

Nancy Carney, Riverhead School District Superintendent, maintained that the suspensions had nothing to do with the religious undertones of the Tebowing action.

“This is not about religious discrimination,” Carney said in a New York Post report. “It is about being sure kids are able to get to class on time and keeping the kids safe and orderly.”

As a result of violating the safety expectations for the school, twin brothers Tyler and Connor Carroll, along with classmates Jordan Fulcoly and Wayne Drexel, were handed out one-day suspensions.

Carney said the students were warned that their behavior would result in consequences.

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“These students were warned and did it again,” Carney told the New York Post. “If the kids aren’t going to abide by rules, there are consequences.”

However, some of the students contested Carney’s claim in the publication.

Carroll Connor, a senior linebacker for Riverhead, had planned the Tebowing high school activity.

“It was basically just a tribute to Tim Tebow,” said Carroll Connor, 17, who planned the prank with his brother and friends. “I just don’t think it’s fair. We were never given any warning. They said they did, but that’s completely false.”

Connor explained that the Tebowing action was aimed to be a moment of silence.

“It was more than a religious thing,” Connor said. “There was some of that involved obviously, because he prays. I guess it was basically like a moment of silence.”