time out granted, or not?

[grantsrc]

Originally posted by BulldogMcC
You should never have to look back towards the field to make sure the play hasn't started. If the TO request from the HC comes so close to the snap you have to risk missing the snap to make sure it is him, it is too late. In the pre-game conference with the coaches, we always introduce him to the wing official on his side that he will be requesting the timeout towards and inform him that to grant the timeout we need to be looking at him and we cannot look away if the snap is imminent. We have never had a problem with it, but if wing looks away from the ball when the center has his hands on it, he may miss something that is his responsibility to keep observing. My ($0.02) anyway.

Why not quick check back? I guess what I meant was if the QB has started his cadence and a player is in motion and the coach is requesting a TO, then I wouldn't look away. But if they just break the huddle and I hear a request, then I would look back to the side and grant the TO. Maybe I was a little unclear.