UNC v Tennessee Martin Women's tourney (Video)
 

If you haven't heard today an armed gunman was spotted on UNC's campus during its 1st rd game against UT Martin.Carmichael Arena was locked down but the game continued.During UT Martin's 2nd to last timeout with 18 seconds to go the PA announcer announced the all clear.The UT Martin huddle stopped to listen to the PA announcement and the officials did not give UT Martin their timeout back forcing them to use their final timeout to draw up their final possession.Did the officials do the right thing here or should UT Martin have been allowed to have that timeout back? If someone could find video of this that would be much appreciated

I'm not awarding them another timeout ... not sure I could justify that.

If something like that happened in one of my (High School) games where there was some sort of emergency announcement during a timeout that everyone stopped to listen too, I would probably:

1) ask the timer to stop the timeout clock temporarily during the announcement
or
2) find an excuse to go consult with the timer/scorer for a few seconds after the timeout horn so that the teams might get a few extra seconds.

I don't work college, M or W, so perhaps I'm missing something, but why would you treat the two levels differently? Just asking.

I am restarting the timeout.

Rule 2-3.

Yep.

With the understanding that there may be other consderations when the game is televised.

He's not saying that. He's saying what he would do in his games, while letting us know he works HS ball.

Perhaps I misunderstood. I thought he was saying that in the college game, the team would be out of luck (and timeouts!), but in HS, he would find a way to extend the time so the team would not be penalized.

In the circumstances, an "all clear" message is important enough to stop the clock (edit: "game") so that everyone--fans, team personnel and officials--would hear it. Next year, there will be a case play ruling telling us, authoritatively, how to handle such a situation. :)

Welcome to the board LRZ- we look forward to your contributions.

I don't think I would necessarily treat them differently. But I'm not familar with any NCAA rules/cases that might address this. I was just pointing out that my statement about not having any way to justify crediting them with an additional timeout is based on my understanding of NFHS rules.

Basically what BadNewsRef said :)

OK, I get you now. Sorry about misunderstanding you.

I'm real old-school. Besides your suggestions, I would probably rely on NFHS 2.3, as there is nothing in the rules about dealing with crises and acts of God. I think it was Sid Borgia, the old-time NBA ref, who said, "I don't call fouls, I dispense justice."

In case people think I play fast and loose with the rules, not so. What I am saying is that when faced with situations so beyond what the rules anticipate, use common sense to do what's fair in the circumstances.

At my age and level, I am content with my assignments and am not overly concerned about what evaluators might say. If an assessor were to downgrade me because I used common sense to give an additional timeout in the circumstances, I can live with that. Of course, being retired and thus free for 3:15 games gives me some license. :)

SCalScorekeeper, thank you. I was tempted to write, "Sarcasm?" (another quote, this one from Sheldon Cooper), but decided to take you at face value. :)

I would do as you suggest, or something similar. In both college and HS.

Ain't it grand? :) :)

Welcome to the board.

My thoughts, exactly! And I'll raise you a smilie: :):):)

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What the the announcer lady smoking....the officials have zero control about what public information announcements are made when.

Terrible planning by the safety guys at the game. If you knew at halftime the threat was over, why not announce it to the whole crowd then? Why wait until the last timeout before the end of the game? Either announce it when you know or wait until the game is over.