2010 Season Week 11 Clips
"Hit" after a " Fair Catch" Was the fair catch signal a valid signal? (2-7-2) Was there a "hit" after the catch?
"Tripping" Despite the announcer's protestations, NCAA rules do not prohibit runners from being tripped. (9-1-2-c)
Touchback, Safety, or Team A ball? This punt play generated substantial discussion in some circles. The play was incorrectly ruled on the field but instant replay corrected. The kick was clearly muffed in the field of play by Team B. Team B then touched the ball again (ruled on the field as another muff but IR judged it to be a recovery). The ball was finally possessed by Team A inside the 1. IR ruled that the kick had been recovered by the Team B player in his end zone and he lost it when his forearm hit the ground (no fumble) while the ball was still in B's end zone. Since the kick was recovered in the end zone and never made it totally out of the end zone, touchback was the final ruling.
Illegal Block Below the Waist ? A back in motion at the snap is restricted from blocking below the waist towards the original position of the ball at the snap if he is not more than 10 yards downfield. (9-1-2-e) Who should be keying this man in motion? Some are excusing the block claiming it was "accidental". The viewer can decide for himself.
Intentional Grounding Even if an eligible receiver is in the area where the ball is thrown, he must have a "reasonable opportunity to catch" the ball. (7-3-2-f) When the QB deliberately throws the ball into the ground short of that receiver, there was no such reasonable opportunity and a foul has been committed.
4th Down Fumble Rule When a player is attempting to hand the ball to another player and possession is lost before the handoff can be completed, there is a fumble and the fumble is charged to the HANDING player. (2-12-1-c) He is the only Team A player who can recover and advance the loose ball when this occurs before a change of possession on 4th down or a try. That is what occurred in this clip.
Forward Progress Passes are sometimes caught near a sideline and the receiver is then driven immediately backwards and out of bounds. Covering officials will correctly rule the clock to run and award forward progress at the spot where the hit started. However, if there is no such contact and a receiver is simply coming back for the ball on his own power, the clock should be stopped when he is ruled out of bounds and forward progress ruled based on where the ball crossed the sideline.