2011 Season Week 5 Clips
Unsportsmanlike Conduct This week we have 4 examples of unsportsmanlike conduct fouls. The individual official should judge for himself what type of act will rise to the level of a foul. Some may see these acts and judge they are worthy of a flag while others will disagree. As pointed out by the Rules Editor, "When such a situation arises, I encourage officials to wait a count, take a deep breath, and assess what they feel about what they have seen. If it feels OK, let it go. If it feels wrong, flag it. " Bottom line, players are taking a chance whenever they do anything "extra" that it could be called unsportsmanlike conduct. Costly Foul In this example, the penalty was enforced on the try which may have contributed to the subsequent missed PAT. The opponent scored a TD and the PAT on its possession, thus winning the game. Foul Enforced as Live Ball In this example the "foul" occurred during the TD run and the crew correctly enforced from spot of foul, negating the score. "First Down" This act, routinely seen in the NFL, will typically draw a flag under NCAA rules. Take a Bow Acts designed to draw attention to oneself will almost always draw a flag.
False Start or Illegal Motion ? Some officials still incorrectly judge a false start as illegal motion. A movement by ANY player which simulates the start of a play is a false start. Just because backs are permitted to be in motion at the snap does not mean they are exempt from false start fouls.
Kick Catch Interference and Valid Fair Catch Signals Perhaps it is time for a rewrite of the rules regarding fair catches and signals. The signal given in this clip is , by definition, NOT a "valid fair catch signal." (2-8-2) However, most anyone seeing this signal would know the intent of the returner is to attempt a fair catch. Should he receive all the protections afforded a player who makes a valid fair catch signal? One such protection is a continuing right to complete the fair catch, even after a muff, if the returner still has an opportunity to complete the catch. (6-5-1-b) The signal in the clip is invalid but the returner appears to have still been given the added protection.
High Hit and DQ Although we are seeing more and more flags for these high hits, there are relatively few DQ's associated with the fouls. This is an example of a high hit that DID include a DQ. The conference's supervisor will be the ultimate judge of whether or not the DQ was warranted. There is no doubt the flag was warranted. The defender left his feet and went high when he could have made a good defensive play at the receiver's midsection. The commentators make mention of a previous concussion suffered by the victim in a similar situation one week prior. Is that the sort of intelligence officials should have available and use when making rulings in a game. Example: Defensive lineman B76 suffered a serious knee injury in the game last week. If he is clipped this week should officials assume it was a deliberate attempt to injure him and cause him to leave the game?
Personal Foul or Unsportsmanlike Conduct ? DQ? A very bizarre act from this past weekend. The offending player appears to look to see if anyone is watching ( the R is right there) and then he executes one of the most offensive acts possible. Are there any unsportsmanlike conduct fouls that involve contact against an opponent or are all such fouls more correctly termed personal fouls? If this act does not qualify for a DQ, what does? If the offender had made this move and did NOT make contact, i.e. he was just trying to "scare" the opponent, what foul would you have and would a DQ be appropriate?
Intentional Grounding Rule Change A tweak to the intentional grounding rule this year (7-3-2-h Exception) requires that only the original receiver of a snap can legally throw the ball away top avoid a loss of yardage. In this clip, the QB pitches the ball to another player who attempts to legally ground the pass to conserve yardage. This is a foul this year.
Inadvertent Whistle and Options On 2d and 15 from the Team A 12 1/2 yard line, the Team A runner gained 10 yards to the 22 1/2 where he appeared to lose possession. An inadvertent whistle was sounded before ball came into possession of anyone. According to 4-1-2-b-2, the team last in possession (A) could choose to have down replayed or keep the ball where possession was lost. Choosing that option would have given them a 3d and 5 at the 22 1/2. Although not certain they would choose that over 2d and 15 from the 12 1/2, they do not appear to have even been given the option. An inadvertent whistle does not mean there must be a replay of the down in all cases. Although we do not know how well the TV clock mirrors the actual game clock, it appears the clock is not stopped until 10 seconds after the first official signals for it to stop.
Multiple Injured Players At times, both Team A and Team B will have players injured during the same down. If a timeout has to be charged to the officials to allow team personnel to attend to the players, are both injured players required to sit out at least one down? If not, how do the officials decide which one must sit the subsequent down? In this play, the punter was tended to on the field but was permitted to stay in the game and then kick again on the next down.
Fumble, Possession and IR In this play, the QB fumbles and the R reacts correctly. The H appears to rule the QB got the ball back while down (or perhaps he ruled it was never fumbled) and stops play. There does not appear to be any instant replay review nor is there any announcement re an inadvertent whistle. Is this reviewable (12-3-3-d)? If it is not reviewable, should it be?
Kick Catch Interference Without Contact In the past we have featured plays where a kicking team player contacted a kick thus preventing the Team B returner from catching it. In this play, ball hits the kicking team player causing it to ricochet away from the receiver. It is correctly ruled kick catch interference. At times when there is this much action on a kick, the covering officials can become confused about which team is A and which is B. The kick was recovered by Team B not Team A as is signalled.
Block by Fair Catch Signaller A Team B player who makes a valid or invalid fair catch signal and does not touch the kick cannot block or foul an opponent during the down (6-5-4). In this clip, the foul is enforced under Post Scrimmage Kick enforcement rule which means marking off the yardage from spot of foul (the 9) instead of the end of the kick (the 20).
"Horse Collar" Tackle ? To be called a "horse collar tackle" isn't the tackler required to have grabbed the inside back collar of the shoulder pads or jersey or the inside collar of the side of the shoulder pads and immediately have pulled down the ball carrier? Isn't the hair just another body part like the arm or a leg?