Last Second Scoring

[Theisey]

Originally Posted by PSU213

.....

Going back even farther is the 1994 Colorado/Michigan game. COL scored on a final play Hail Mary to win by (I believe) 1. After the game the issue was raised of why they did not have to attempt a try since MICH could return it for two. The explanation given then was something to the effect that they (COL) could decline making a try in this situation. Considering this was over 14 years ago, my memory is foggy and I would not be surprised if something has changed with this scenario (NCAA rules experts needed here....).

In 1994, the TRY rule read as follows.
8-3-2a. the ball shall be put in play by the team that scored a six-point touchdown. If a touchdown is scored during a down in which time expires, the winner of the game has been decided and both coaches agree to forgo the try, the period is not extended.

[OverAndBack]

Originally Posted by PSU213

This very well could have changed since then, but I recall the Buffalo/New England game several years ago (perhaps 1998?). BUF was up by less than 6. NE drove down the field and was helped by several very 'suspect' calls (including a DPI call on what would have been the game endin Hail Mary by NE). NE scored and BUF was so upset at the manner in which they lost the game, they walked off the field, but NE was required to attempt a try. Since BUF had left the field and would not come back, NE scored an uncontested 2. The reason that NE 'had' to attempt a try is that point differential makes a difference for playoff qualifying/playoff seeding.

Could have been November 29, 1998 in Foxboro. Drew Bledsoe hit Ben Coates for the winning touchdown with no time left to make it 23-21 and Adam Vinitieri ran for the two-pointer. 25-21 final.

[PSU213]

Originally Posted by OverAndBack

Could have been November 29, 1998 in Foxboro. Drew Bledsoe hit Ben Coates for the winning touchdown with no time left to make it 23-21 and Adam Vinitieri ran for the two-pointer. 25-21 final.

That would be the game.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by ajmc

Outside of specific rules, the basic concept of a "Try" is to reward the scoring team with an opportunity to score an "extra point", because they were successful in scoring.

The scored upon team has earned nothing, and the idea that they are entitled to an opportunity to score themselves as a reward for failing to stop their opponent from scoring, seems odd.

Yes, it does, as I explain (among other details) here. Since the late 19th Century in rugby and derivative games, a "try" was instituted that was just as you describe it above, and traditionally the try could be declined. However, now with NCAA and (for at least a time, forgot whether it's still that way) Football Canada and CFL, 2 way scoring has made it such that team A has to go thru the rigmarole of taking a knee under circumstances where previously they could've declined the try.

2-way scoring is a step backward to the time when following an attacking touchdown, the ball was put back fully into play via punt-out instead of there just being the possibility of a try.

Robert

[With_Two_Flakes]

Several folks have quoted examples of games prior to 2006 that did not force the try to be run. Seems that those crews got it right by the rule in use at that time. Prior to 2006, as Theisey said in his post the rule said "a TRY down is mandatory unless the team behind in the score leaves the field".
The 2006 NCAA Rules changed it to read "try shall not be attempted unless the point(s) would affect the outcome of the game."

The reason I know the answer to this is because it was a question I got wrong on our annual Rules test here in the UK. I was ticked off that I got the question wrong and I couldn't see (with a 2 point difference in the score) that the Rules Ctte would want the try to be attempted. I found this NCAA newsletter that proved I was wrong and saved the link to it.
http://www1.ncaa.org/eprise/main/pla...PreviewState=0

NCAA Football Play Situations Bulletin No.2 issued Sept 15 2006 (specifically Situation 11) from John Adams.

11. On the last play of the 4th period, Team A has scored a touchdown to take a 32-30 lead. Ruling: The try must be "attempted" since Team B could score 2 points. Attempted is defined as running a legal play (8-3-2-a).