Sleeper Play

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

I have no audio on the thing for some reason... so I'm assuming there was some sort of, "Coach, this is the wrong ball" or something of the sort. If not, this is no more illegal than the play where Andre Ware walked away from under center hollering at the WR, and the ball was snapped directly to "RB" David Klingler, with Ware sprinting down the field uncovered.

So assuming something verbal, I also have USC.

But those calling this snap illegal are WRONG in both codes. In fact, there is a team that snaps the ball like this quite often (usually to a shotgun QB though). The snap must be continuous, and backward - this snap was exactly that, and was actually quite common long ago.

You could clearly hear someone, the narrator said it was the center, yelling that they had the wrong ball.

[PSU213]

My first comment is shame on the coach for trying this. Second, shame on the officials for letting this one go.

My other thought is this...I'm not really of the mindset to dissect whether the snap was legal or not, as we do not need any technicality to penalize the use of this play. It became illegal when the "wrong ball" strategy was used. If it is not a legal snap, why let the coach feel that this play will somehow become legal just by revising how the ball is snapped? He needs to get the message that this type of play is clearly illegal.

Futhermore, A has come up to the line of scrimmage. If it is an approved ball (going under the assumption that that umpire "tests" the footballs pregame), why would it even matter if this wasn't the ball they wanted? Maybe they have a kicking ball, etc., but if the ball is legal, approved, etc., and they are coming up for the snap, it really does not matter whether or not this is the exact ball that they want.

[Blue37]

Originally Posted by PSU213

Futhermore, A has come up to the line of scrimmage. If it is an approved ball (going under the assumption that that umpire "tests" the footballs pregame), why would it even matter if this wasn't the ball they wanted?

Did you mean to say (going under the assumption that the Referee "approves" the footballs pregame)? The umpire has jurisdiction over player equipment, not footballs.

[Jim D]

Good point, PSU. In addition to all the other crap going on, the officials were remiss in 1) letting A change balls 2) letting the players handle the change of balls rather than the officials. That makes me suspect that the crew had been told by the coach about this "trick" play and knew what was happening. Otherewise, you'd think they would have stopped the clock to either deny the change to to handle it themselves.

[KSRef]

In Kansas this is USC. Rick Bowden, (KSHSAA) has ruled that this type of deception (and this specific play) have no place in HS football.