LSU-SC Game

JugglingReferee

Tough one by the U. I hope the Supervisor asks him about the play.

cmathews

Does anyone know if he got a bud light after that???

OverAndBack

A shot immediately afterwards:

OverAndBack

But, seriously, folks:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2008-10-20-sec-referee-tackle_N.htm

SEC spokesman Charles Bloom...said the league reviewed the video, and "we believe that in a move to protect himself the umpire raises his arm."

"And moves forward and delivers a blow," he didn't add, but should have.

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier on his weekly teleconference said, "He is trying to get out of the way. … Sometimes that will happen."

That's an odd way to get out of the way...by going into the way.

(Another video)

LDUB

OverAndBack wrote
But, seriously, folks:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2008-10-20-sec-referee-tackle_N.htm

SEC spokesman Charles Bloom...said the league reviewed the video, and "we believe that in a move to protect himself the umpire raises his arm."

"And moves forward and delivers a blow," he didn't add, but should have.

What is your point? Is delivering a blow not the correct thing to do?

OverAndBack wrote
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier on his weekly teleconference said, "He is trying to get out of the way. … Sometimes that will happen."

That's an odd way to get out of the way...by going into the way.

Well the official doesn't know where the way will be ahead of time.

BktBallRef

Those of you who don't have the 'nads to assume the position need to .

😀

waltjp

refbuz wrote
It looks like he did, then got caught in no man's land when the QB tried to bounce it outside. When the QB bounced he stepped towards the runner in an effort to force the runner to make a move off of him, when he didn't make the move he brought his arm up to deliver a blow as an act of self preservation.

That technique is exactly what I was told I was told as a younger Umpire. If if the runner is coming straight at you, to step towards him and force him to react to your movement. If he doesn't react, brace yourself and prepare to deliver a blow. If he can't make a move to "juke" an umpire out he's got bigger problems.

As I was told, if a running back is coming at you - stand still. The back will make a move and go around you.

If a QB is coming at you - get ready. He's going to hit you.

bossman72

How does an umpire get outside the tackles like that? I've never seen one that far outside before...

bisonlj

bossman72 wrote
How does an umpire get outside the tackles like that? I've never seen one that far outside before...

I move around on every play to make sure the offense can't plan a play to run a receiver off me. Sometimes I get wider than the tackle to get a good view of the snap and G-C-G. I usually line up in the middle or on the tackle opposite a TE. This was a technique taught to me by a couple Big 10 officials at a clinic this summer.

waltjp

bossman72 wrote
How does an umpire get outside the tackles like that? I've never seen one that far outside before...

He started on the left hash. The surge was up the middle, to his left. His natural reaction would be to his left and away from the pressure up the middle. The QB bounced the run outside where the U was standing. The U's position at the time of his tackle was only 2 or 3 steps from his starting position.

Welpe

waltjp wrote
As I was told, if a running back is coming at you - stand still. The back will make a move and go around you.

If a QB is coming at you - get ready. He's going to hit you.

Boy isn't that the truth! Full backs running middle screens don't move too well either...or so I've heard. 😮

jjrye22

I occationally start outside the O-tackles. I find I need to sometimes when the D is playing tight on the center (noseguard) and I can't see the ball very well.
One of the good angles to see the snap is a very flat angle from the weak side about the normal position of the TE.

The only comment I have to make about the videos is that I OFTEN have to tell myself I am an offical and repeat in my head "not allowed to tackle, not allowed to tackle" when things are comming at me!

OverAndBack

LDUB wrote
What is your point? Is delivering a blow not the correct thing to do?

Yes, that is my point. Absorb a blow, fine. That's one of the hazards of the gig. And if he was a player, he's not going to get killed by shoring himself up and taking the hit rather than delivering it.

Well the official doesn't know where the way will be ahead of time.

He sure showed good instincts, though, didn't it? Stepped forward and nailed him.

BktBallRef

jjrye22 wrote
I occationally start outside the O-tackles. I find I need to sometimes when the D is playing tight on the center (noseguard) and I can't see the ball very well.

Exactly. With more teams running a 3-4-4 or a 3-3-5 with a nickel back, the noseguard is so close to the ball, you can't possibly see it from the middle of the field.

Rich

OverAndBack wrote
Yes, that is my point. Absorb a blow, fine. That's one of the hazards of the gig.

I work umpire once in a while. Let's just say that the player would go down before I would if I see it coming.

refbuz

RichMSN wrote
I work umpire once in a while. Let's just say that the player would go down before I would if I see it coming.

Exactly. It's about self preservation in this situation. I gotta go to work tomorrow.

OverAndBack

RichMSN wrote
I work umpire once in a while. Let's just say that the player would go down before I would if I see it coming.

Well, we have long known that you're Superman, anyway.

I'm not saying you can't protect yourself. I'm sure you know after years of doing this that contact is an occupational hazard. But you can steel yourself against a blow or get out of the way before you have to resort to going forward and into an onrushing player.

I didn't know it was a player's responsibility to avoid us.

zebra2955

Well my theory is "If someone is going down it isn't me"

refbuz

OverAndBack wrote
I didn't know it was a player's responsibility to avoid us.

It's not, you're forcing them to react to you as they would to a defender. Some runners are just better at reacting than others. And if we do collide, its on my terms not his.

JRutledge

refbuz wrote
It's not, you're forcing them to react to you as they would to a defender. Some runners are just better at reacting than others. And if we do collide, its on my terms not his.

I do not think most players would have fallen down. The problem the player did, so all this hullabaloo about nothing if you ask me.

Peace