Flag fest
 

I was the WH last night for a varsity game where we had 27 penalties for 218 yards, evenly distributed. No matter how much we wanted to keep the flags away, we just weren't given much of a choice. There must've been at least 10 turnovers, too -- that part was conveniently left out of the boxscore. Game lasted 2:53. Ugh.

I broadcast a game like that two years ago. I don't remember the actual number of penalties, but the home team had 105 yards and the visiting team had 175 yards, including two dead ball UCs on one play. 30 yards enforced. I asked the coach if he called the right play for 2nd and 40 and he just laughed. A lot of bad blood especially after the home team got shellacked by the visitors the year before and both teams are perennially in the top ten.

Two Fridays ago, we had 25 penalties for 202 yards, including two PFs that offset.

Only 4 were mine! :)

Sometimes, there's just nothing you can do.

The problem was that neither team could really line up well and my crew is used to calling a varsity game like, well, a varsity game.

Once, we had 2 players going in motion in the opposite direction at the same time. At least 5 times we had receivers not knowing the snap count and getting a head start downfield. Every time there was a sweep, a receiver TACKLED someone. I was the WH and all the flags I saw the activity for -- they were good flags.

Ironically enough, we worked a freshman game at 8:30 the next morning. One false start. One illegal shift. I worked umpire for the first time all season and I think I threw one flag the entire game.

Sounds like the team wasn't very well coached, and the fouls called themselves.

REPLY: Rich...look at the bright side: you got a lot of good practice on your signals! :D