[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Mark Padgett:

I agree with you regarding the rules reference and my first inclination would be to follow the rule (there are many coaches and officials out there that will tell you that I am a stickler for the rules). But I think that you and I would agree, that to give the ball to Team B via the AP Arrow is unfair and I hope that the intent of the rules in this case is to be fair. I think that this is a rare situation that the NFHS and NCAA Rules Committees should address.

We all know that sometimes the rules require something that seems unfair to one team. One of the fundamentals of any set of rules for a game is that a team should not gain advantage it is not entitled too. I cannot speak for the rules committees but I still think that they would be hard pressed to say that Team B should get the ball because of an inadvertent whistle under this unique situation.