Just the toes or the whole foot?

[Suudy]

Originally Posted by Bob M.

My last sentence referred to a situation where the first contact with the ground jars the ball loose. For example, receiver lays out (airborne) and secures the ball, firmly holding it. Now as he hits the ground, the ball pops loose. Incomplete pass. The youTube play you posted isn't what I was referring to. I can't say why that call (incomplete pass) was upheld. Once that first foot hits the ground in the endzone, the ball is dead, right? What happens afterwards is immaterial.

Thanks for the response (you too Juggling).

However, there is some talk amongst some fans (granted, not the most authoritative) that there is some "new" NCAA rule that "you have to keep control of the ball even after you hit the ground, out of bounds". This sounds like bunk to me. Now, given that you, Bob, work Fed, and you, Juggling, work Canadian, I understand you ruling it a TD. However, is there some NCAA'ism that could make this incomplete? Is there anything in the NCAA that would justify this being called incomplete?

[Bob M.]

Originally Posted by Suudy

Thanks for the response (you too Juggling).

However, there is some talk amongst some fans (granted, not the most authoritative) that there is some "new" NCAA rule that "you have to keep control of the ball even after you hit the ground, out of bounds". This sounds like bunk to me. Now, given that you, Bob, work Fed, and you, Juggling, work Canadian, I understand you ruling it a TD. However, is there some NCAA'ism that could make this incomplete? Is there anything in the NCAA that would justify this being called incomplete?

REPLY: There are new 2007 NCAA ARs (case plays) out there that seem to be causing some angst since they say that when the player returns to the ground he must maintain control of the ball. Some say that when his first foot hits the turf, he has returned to the ground; others seem to be inclined to wait till he falls (if he falls) to determine whether or not he has maintained control.