Rule Book on the Field

[Ed Hickland]

Originally posted by hab_in_exile
It seems to me that the rulebook on the field is just asking for trouble. If you look up one thing, then the coaches will likely ask after every call that you look it up. The rulebook is a little like having a bull's eye on you in my opinion.

Avoid one replay, have a thousand arguements with coaches. I guess it is a tough call.

Finally, it sounds like the officials screwed up in Georgia, and re-reading the rulebook likely would not have helped. If you misread the situation, correctly reading the rulebook would not help much.

Regarding the Georgia debacle. I corresponded with one of the reporters covering the story. It was a live ball personal foul but enforced as a dead ball personal. Was the difference between 3/18 or 1/10 deep in the offender's territory. The coach requested a timeout and argued the misapplication. A simple glance at the book and the story would have never been told.