Casebook error?

[regas14]

Originally posted by Bob M.

REPLY: Not really true...when the ball is placed and blown ready-for-play for the fourth down, it's still a dead ball. It doesn't become live until it's snapped. As a rookie you'll learn a lot this season. Look at the definitions of live ball and dead ball in Rule 2 (NF 2-1-1 and 2-1-2). Blowing the ball RFP doesn't make it live.

Thanks Bob, but I think we're saying the same thing. My choice of words may not have been clear, but what I'm trying to say is that placing the ball is done at the end of 3rd down, not the beginning of 4th down. Therefore once the ball is snapped (made live) for 4th down, that error which was made during 3rd down cannot be corrected. If the error is detected before the ball is made live for 4th down it can be corrected. Is that correct? My thinking is that any error made after the ball is snapped for 3rd down may only be corrected until the ball is snapped for 4th down, correct?

I hope I'm right because I already been berated in the Basketball forum today. If I'm wrong still I'd appreciate the correction.