Quote:
Originally posted by stevesmith
Quote:
|
[i] This is good because it keeps the crowd from creating a riot. This is just one of the ways to educate those unaware of the rules. Normally a fan will expect the flag and then they get real rowdy, but after explaining that the QB was out of the pocket things quiet down and all is back to normal.
|
I have to disagree. I believe it is the league's job to educate the public, whether it be before or after the game. During the game, there are announcers who can do this. But the game doesn't stop so a coach can explain why he called that play, or for the quarterback to explain how he misread the coverage. Imagine the following speech by the referee after each play.....
"On the previous play, the defensive end didn't hit the quarterback in the head so I didn't have a personal foul. The umpire saw #64 hold the nose guard but it wasn't at the point of attack and didn't affect the play, so we don't have a foul. The HL had seven men on the line of scrimmage so he doesn't have an illegal formation. The LJ saw the defense jump across the line of scrimmage but he wasn't unabated to the quarterback, no offensive player moved, and the defensive player got back before the ball was snapped, so there is no foul. The SJ saw contact between the receiver and the cornerback but it was within 5 yards so there is no foul. The FJ counted 11 players before the snap so there is no foul. And finally, the backjudge was watching the 40 second clock and the ball was snapped prior to the clock running out, so it is a legal play. By rule, since there were no fouls, it will now be second down."
[/B]
|
Steve, you are getting a little carried away here. One reason they do so much of "the QB was out of the pocket" is cuz the "sides and backs" throw a flag when they see illegal contact outside of 5 yards on a receiver, but that is NOT A FOUL if the QB is out of the pocket. The mic helps especially the coaches know why a foul may not have occured when a flag was thrown. It is great knowledge for fans, observing officials, announcers, players, and coaches, and no matter what you say, keeping the fans at the game understanding why a flag was picked up, or not thrown, is a benifit to all. Do you want to work a game where the fans are totally going nuts, which insinuates the players and coaches as well, when you can use the microphone to help the crowd understand. IMO, the NFL R's use the mic to explain things better, and in better detail than NCAA officials, and it is a good thing that I think will filter down to NCAA. You have to explain that stuff to the coach anyway, so using the mic eliminates taking more time to go over to the sideline, plus then everyone knows you got it right.