I screwed this one up...(I think)

[SoGARef]

Unsportsmanlike fouls committed by both teams on the same down do not constitute offsetting fouls. Both are walked off and the resulting down would be 3rd and two for A at B's 32. The reason is that dead ball fouls do not offset the opponent's foul. While this particular play makes it seem silly to end up back at the same spot if there was a case where one team was within the half the distance to goal the mark off would not result in the ball being at the same spot as where the foul was committed. Also, the down and distance is not determined until all of the fouls have been administered. Therefore, A never obtained the line to gain under the administration of the penalty.

[SouthGARef]

Originally Posted by SoGARef

Therefore, A never obtained the line to gain under the administration of the penalty.

Actually, they did.

He said that the USC on B occurred first. So you'd mark off the 15 yards on B which moves us to the 17 yard line, giving A a first down. THEN you'd enforce the foul on A, which moves them back to the 32 yard-line.

1st & 10 from 32 yard line.

Crappy rule? Yes.
The rule? Unfortunately.

[ljudge]

This is why you should walk off both penalties. You should walk off the penalty for B's foul, THEN signal first down at that point, THEN walk off the penalty for A's foul, and finally, set the chains.

[SoGARef]

You are correct, Todd. I got my synapses crossed up.

[MJT]

Originally Posted by ljudge

This is why you should walk off both penalties. You should walk off the penalty for B's foul, THEN signal first down at that point, THEN walk off the penalty for A's foul, and finally, set the chains.

True ljudge, IF the foul by B is 1st and WILL result in a first down for A. If the first foul was by B, or cuz it is more than 15 yards to the LTG, there is no reason to step both off if you will end up in the same spot and have the same down.

Another time you must walk them off is if either of them will be a 1/2 distance walkoff cuz you will not end up in the same spot after the walkoffs.

[Rich]

When the penalties are close enough to being simultaneous so that nobody could possibly argue otherwise, I always enforce them in the order that doesn't benefit one of the teams. If enforcing B's first gives A a first down, I'll enforce A's first. If enforcing one gives us the "half-the-distance" followed by 15, I'll enforce the other one first.

Don't get me wrong, if I know one foul is clearly after the other, we'll do it by the book. Every time.

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

When the penalties are close enough to being simultaneous so that nobody could possibly argue otherwise, I always enforce them in the order that doesn't benefit one of the teams. If enforcing B's first gives A a first down, I'll enforce A's first. If enforcing one gives us the "half-the-distance" followed by 15, I'll enforce the other one first.

Don't get me wrong, if I know one foul is clearly after the other, we'll do it by the book. Every time.

Just curious ... A's ball on their own 20, 3rd and 10 after the play is over. Nearly simultaneous 15-yarders on A and B... under the above philosophy, which do you walk first? Either way gives one team an advantage.

[Sonofanump]

I'd think that you would walk off against A first, give them 5 yards, but not a first down. JMO. Path of least resistance.

[Jim D]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

Just curious ... A's ball on their own 20, 3rd and 10 after the play is over. Nearly simultaneous 15-yarders on A and B... under the above philosophy, which do you walk first? Either way gives one team an advantage.

If you can't be sure which came first then the penalties offset. Don't give one team an advantage by guessing.