Could not have said it better!

[Texas Aggie]

Coaches sideline antics are way more responsible for fan reaction than players

Yep. Had a JV game once where we got to 4th down and the (home) coaches were screaming that it was 3rd down. Wouldn't you know it -- it was a game where I forgot my down indicator -- probably one of 3 assignments ever where that's happened. I knew it was 4th, but on the off chance I had missed it, I (R) called in the other 3 guys. "I got 4th; anyone got anything else?" No was the universal response. They punt but the coaches are still screaming and I hear some idiot fan screaming too, "this is unbelievable." He had no idea what they were saying on the field.

The home chain crew told the HL that they didn't know why the coaches were doing that -- they knew it was 4th down. I, of course, knew -- they were trying to intimidate us. I probably should have filed a report, but I had no evidence of it. I went there a few weeks later and in the following years and the same guys were on their best behavior for the most part. Never mentioned that game.

[kenref1]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

Yep. Had a JV game once where we got to 4th down and the (home) coaches were screaming that it was 3rd down. Wouldn't you know it -- it was a game where I forgot my down indicator -- probably one of 3 assignments ever where that's happened. I knew it was 4th, but on the off chance I had missed it, I (R) called in the other 3 guys. "I got 4th; anyone got anything else?" No was the universal response. They punt but the coaches are still screaming and I hear some idiot fan screaming too, "this is unbelievable." He had no idea what they were saying on the field.

The home chain crew told the HL that they didn't know why the coaches were doing that -- they knew it was 4th down. I, of course, knew -- they were trying to intimidate us. I probably should have filed a report, but I had no evidence of it. I went there a few weeks later and in the following years and the same guys were on their best behavior for the most part. Never mentioned that game.

It sounds like the coaching staff just lost track of the downs. In 28 years, I have seen it all the time, especially in lower level games. I personally don't think they were trying to intimidate your crew. Football is a emotional game and they just over reacted.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by kenref1

It sounds like the coaching staff just lost track of the downs. In 28 years, I have seen it all the time, especially in lower level games. I personally don't think they were trying to intimidate your crew. Football is a emotional game and they just over reacted.

Sometimes "knowing you're absolutely correct" isn't quite enough. Depending on the extent to which the sideline was complaining, momentarily stopping the game and visibly conferring with crewmates to confirm the down, will silence (and satisfy) confused sideline personnel (without a word being spoken).

[jTheUmp]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

YWouldn't you know it -- it was a game where I forgot my down indicator -- probably one of 3 assignments ever where that's happened.

FWIW, i keep a spare set of everything (except maybe shoes) in my car for just such a situation.. and I seem to lose 2 or 3 down indicators each year... usually they get lost between games.

My crew also has a "bag of spares" (whistles, flags, bean bags, game cards, etc) that we stash somewhere just off the field (under a goalpost pad, next to a fence, wherever is convenient/out out of the way), in case something gets lost during the game. It's only been used once, but that's enough to justify it.