Sleeper Play

[Suudy]

It's coaches (and officials) like this that make people think this kind of stuff is legal. I think this is clearly a sleeper-type play that should have been flagged as USC on the coach.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YnnnnyMjCw

What do you guys think?

[Huskerblue]

BUSH LEAGUE!!!!!!!

[MN BB Ref]

As a white hat I never would've let this play stand. It is clearly intended to deceive in an unsportsmanlike manner and against the spirit of the rules.

[Bob M.]

REPLY: Note that the fully informed commentator says that "...the play is completely legal."

Any coach who teaches this stuff embarrasses not only his players but himself as well.

[RoyGardner]

There is no question that this play is illegal in both codes. There can be no "deception" based on the substitution process, or based on the "wrong equipment" (tee, shoe, ball, etc) swap, especially when the sideline is actively participating in the act.

This should be flagged without hesitation.

[Theisey]

Based on the position of the "wing" official (at the top of the picture) who is practically next to the ends, it appears they were expecting the offense to take-a-knee.

Anyone know the game time remaining..
Otherwise if looks and smells like the we've got the wrong ball play. Shame on the coach... shame of the officials for not killing the play. Yes, I mean killing the play.

[JasonTX]

But Ref, we seen it on "youtube" and the guy said it was a legal play.

[SWFLguy]

isn't that an illegal snap ??
the center/snapper lifts the ball and hands it to
the QB--- dead ball foul-- illegal snap ???

[OverAndBack]

I believe they said it's the first play of the game. So I don't think they were expecting them to take a knee.

I would like to download this, too, but it's a .swf file with some javascript that calls for a certain file, so good luck. If anybody is geeky enough to figure it out, I'm sure we'd all love to be able to grab it.

[Suudy]

Originally Posted by OverAndBack

I would like to download this, too, but it's a .swf file with some javascript that calls for a certain file, so good luck. If anybody is geeky enough to figure it out, I'm sure we'd all love to be able to grab it.

Hint, hint: keepvid.com

I think it's use may be questionable. And the file is in FLV format, so work from there!

[OverAndBack]

After studying the rule book last night, I think I'm going with illegal snap on that. In addition to 2-38.2, I'd cite:

7-2-1 3...Following the ready-for-play and after touching the ball, the snapper shall not:
d. Following adjustment, lift or move the ball other than in a legal snap.

[kdf5]

I saw that on Real TV sometime back and cringed at the commentator's remark that it was legal. Flag it and don't look back.

[Grey Hare]

Not only could this be considered an illegal snap, but look at all of the "movement" by the other team members once the QB goes "in motion"! At the very least this is a penalty for illegal shift, not to mention the obvious unsportsmanlike situation. Also, I sure hope the wings were anticipating the QB taking a knee, but even so, the wing at the top of the screen was WAY TOO CLOSE.

GH

[The Roamin' Umpire]

Originally Posted by OverAndBack

I believe they said it's the first play of the game. So I don't think they were expecting them to take a knee.

I would like to download this, too, but it's a .swf file with some javascript that calls for a certain file, so good luck. If anybody is geeky enough to figure it out, I'm sure we'd all love to be able to grab it.

If you use Firefox as your web browser, there's an extension called VideoDownloader that will let you do this. Take a look at https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/2390/

[Suudy]

Originally Posted by SWFLguy

isn't that an illegal snap ??
the center/snapper lifts the ball and hands it to
the QB--- dead ball foul-- illegal snap ???

I thought the same thing. At first I thought there was a rule about the snap going between the legs of the center. But after reading (and your point), I think it was an illegal snap. 2-38.2: "In a snap, the movement must be a quick and continuous backward motion...."