Kick-off return or touchback

[HawkeyeCubP]

Kirby - You're correct. (I'm on a roll.)

And I'd bag it, if I saw it that way, since I always have my bag in my hand in kicking situations when I'm back there.

[kdf5]

Man is that close! Not a TB.

[SouthGARef]

When in doubt, give them the return.

No touchback.

[Theisey]

I wonder how this vote would go if the team-R players return wasn't shown or if the team-R player was tackled on the 5 yard-line or less.

[grantsrc]

Very close. I think you should give him the return.
My question is, what college did the wing guy run track for? Man was he fast! I wish I had wheels like that.

[BuckeyeRef]

The camera is so far away it is difficult to tell. It looks to me like he caught the ball outside the endzone. Since the referee was right there when the ball was caught I don't think I can second-guess his call.

[Warrenkicker]

This play took white from leading 18-14 to blue leading 21-18 which was also the final score. This was blue's only positive play in the second half. White's radio announcers were convinced it should have been a touchback and were not kind in their comments toward the officials after that play.

I agree that R is too close to the play. L should not have been trying to stay stride-for-stride with the returner. He could have been wiped out on this play very easily. BJ, at the goal line, was in great position.

[parepat]

Originally Posted by SouthGARef

When in doubt, give them the return.

No touchback.

Interesting. At a recent state meeting we were told that when in doubt it is a touchback.

[Warrenkicker]

The official's manual gives guidelines for when in doubt and the only thing in there is when it is a question about a touchback or a safety go with a touchback. In this situation it was either a touchback or a momentum situation thus it is left to the official in that position to decide on what to call it.

[dumbref]

I wonder if R dropped a bean bag???

[voiceoflg]

We had one similar Friday night, except the returner was in the end zone and leaped into the air, caught the ball, landed in the field of play, and returned it for a touchdown. From my angle in the pressbox and the camera's it was impossible to tell if the ball broke the plane or not.