This correct call is the gift that keeps on giving. It's Monday and I am still smiling.
F*CK IOWA
- Thread starter FallOf81
- Start date
Glad EIU got beat, but this is a rule that would be easily clarified.
On any fair catch protection, the returning must wave his arm above his head, anything but that is considered a live ball and can be returned. For the protection to occur the arm must be extended above his head, the near official will immediately blow his whistle after the ball is caught, signaling a dead ball.
On any fair catch protection, the returning must wave his arm above his head, anything but that is considered a live ball and can be returned. For the protection to occur the arm must be extended above his head, the near official will immediately blow his whistle after the ball is caught, signaling a dead ball.
Hopefully he can fix his running motion, because to hear them talk in post-game one would think he looks like this at practice...Cooper DeJean practicing punt returns this week...
But that's not the rule in the books today. Nobody here is in position to change the rules. You can want to change the rules, but it doesn't change the fact that the correct call was ultimately made on the field.
What makes more sense: getting the call correct as the rules clearly state, or changing the rule book during the game because a group of people don't like how the rule can be interpreted?
The reason it is rarely called is because it rarely happens. How often do you see a returner wave people off, let the ball hit the ground, and then field the ball off a hop in a crowd of defenders and try to advance the ball? Most coaches don't want their returners doing that. And how often does that returner take it to the house?
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We have all read the rule, now tighten the rule up, get rid of the invalid fair catch which can be a judgement call and just tell the returner, if you want protection, then you must wave your hand over your head, and then the closest official on seeing it will blow the play dead after the ball is caught. Everything else is a live ball, not judgement by anyone on whether he was waving his hands to get away its nothing, unless its above his head, otherwise it's a live ball and can be advanced.
Counterpoint... teach the punt returners that if they wave off the return team with the get away signal they cannot return the ball. Seems easier to do that than change the rules.
This has been cited over and over again as not the rule you're referring to.
Imo it should stay as is; if you wave in any way, it counts as a dead ball if not caught. It got reviewed just like any other TD gets reviewed.
I didn't see it live so not sure if the ref explained it well enough but that's one part of the problem if they didn't.
I want to make sure that this does not happen again in the future, you are correct it cannot change anything from the EIU or this NW/Wisconsin game from a few years ago. Why make the officials make a judgement ruling did he wave his hand or was he just running to the ball? Make it clear, you want protection for a fair catch, it has to be above your head, otherwise it's a free ball. If the near official sees the hand up, he is therefore trained to blow his whistle after the ball is caught. It's an easy fix, hell you could do it this week and use it next weekend if you wanted. HS officials get letters from the state all the time about clarifying a rule or telling them this is how they want this called in the future, so does the schools. This is not a big deal to change, but if it stops confusion on whether a fair catch was called or not this would be an easy way to fix it.
At this rate I'm going to be hitting the 4 day mark rather than just the 4 hours to see a doctor.
He wasn't alerting his teammates to get away. His arms just naturally flail side to side when he runs.
And as soon as a returner uses his hand to shield his eyes from the sun, we have the same issue. Kicking team stops running because his hand is up, and then he takes off for a touchdown
Then it comes back to a judgement call by the official, did he wave his hand or not. That is what I would do away with. Make him wave his hand above his head for the protection otherwise it is a free ball that can be advanced, whether it is caught or bounces does not matter.
I have coached enough HS football games to realize the easier and stricter the rule is for the officials, the less confusion there is going to be, on getting a play called correctly.
And then they have to review it to make sure it was above the head?