2012 Post-Season Week 3 Clips
TECHNICAL NOTE: For those not aware, when viewing these videos in the You Tube window, you can adjust the resolution for a sharper view. Notice in the lower right hand corner of the video player window a setting icon that looks like a gear. Click on that and you can adjust the setting up to 360p, 480p or even 720p in some cases. This will give you a sharper image.
Poll Results:
In last week's poll, we examined a play where a team tries to conserve time by requesting a timeout as soon as the down ends, before realizing their is an injured player and the clock is stopping anyway. 74% of our crew judged the timeout should not be charged to the requesting team. There were comments submitted by officials on both sides of the argument. Those in favor of charging the timeout pointed to the number of seconds saved by granting the timeout initially instead of waiting until officials determined there was an injured player and stopped the clock. Those on the other side pointed to the different play clocks and game clock re-start (ready or snap) that would have to be considered by the coach who initially requested the timeout so he could decide if he still wanted the charged timeout.
We Don't Need No Steenken Helmets! This week's video play comes from a Texas HS championship game courtesy of a viewer who hails from those parts. As most regulars here know, Texas and Massachusetts, play high school football under NCAA rules (with very limited exceptions). The play in this video is applicable to officials at any level of football using the NCAA code. This year we have dealt with the problem of players losing their helmets through play by requiring those players cease their participation in the game as soon as they lose the helmet. (9-1-17) There is considerable room for interpretation over what constitutes "continued participation beyond the immediate action in which the player is engaged.) Did the helmetless player in this video commit a foul? (As a side note...if a player WITHOUT a helmet, engages in a head first hit against a ball carrier's helmet, is that being "tough" as the announcer suggests or is it being reckless and dangerous?) Please view the video and take the poll below. (Please remember to scroll down and click on the DONE button after making your choice.)
Personal Foul ? Some player actions just before or after the ball becomes dead are at least somewhat related to football. It is not clear at all how A59's actions at the end of this play are remotely like any "normal" football action. He places himself and anyone he might have hit in danger by his acts but was not flagged.
No Need to Measure If crews are following the generally accepted practice of starting all new possessions on a yard line, and the chain crews are setting up the chains correctly on that yard line, it is possible to determine whether or not the 1st line to gain has been reached very easily. Is the ball touching the yard line 10 yards from where the possession started? If so, "First Down!!" Coaches, players, fans, and announcers may not understand why there was no measurement when the ball appeared to be close to the line to gain. However, all the R has to do is determine if the ball is breaking the rearmost part of the yard line. If it is, there is no need to measure, unless doing so for "appearance purposes." In this video, you will see where the possession started, and then where the ball was on subsequent downs. It was easy for the R to eventually see the ball just breaking the rearmost part of the line to gain yardline so he awarded the first down without resorting to a measurement. The TV network's yellow line is on the screen IN FRONT of the line to gain yardline which may lead many to think the first down was awarded too quickly. The line would have been more accurate had it been placed OVER the line to gain yardine.
Illegal Formation Wave Off 7-1-4-a-4 requires the offense have no more than 4 backs at the snap. In this play, the L correctly observed 2 backs on the A-45 and 3 others even further back. The ball was snapped at the A-47. It is not clear what conversation between the H and L resulted in the "wave off." If the H reported that both players split out wide to his side were on the line of scrimmage then he should have had a flag down for an ineligible receiver downfield. (It is noted even the tackle on the H side was aligned questionably.)
Catch Off the Legs This incredible catch reminded some old-timers of a blast from the past ( Nebraska - Missouri Play ). By definition, kicking the ball is intentionally striking the ball with foot, lower leg, or knee. When in question if the act was intentional, then we rule it was not a kick. (2-16-1) While the play by A5 in the Nebraska-Missouri game might arguably be called a "kick" (he has "confessed" the act was deliberate), it would be hard to say the act by A4 in today's clip included an "intentional kick."
Initiating a Block Out of Bounds 9-1-7-c makes it illegal for a player who is clearly out of bounds to initiate a block against an opponent who is out of bounds. The spot of the foul is where the blocker crosses the sideline in going out of bounds. A76 is clearly out of bounds when he initiates contact in this video. Perhaps the covering official judged the contact was so ineffectual that it could hardly be called a "block." Viewers can decide for themselves but from this seat, it would be hard to penalize a team 15 yards for this act.