Bizarre ending should actually have been touchback, right?

[rockchalk jhawk]

See this article...

Alert play leads to bizarre ending in Vermont football game - MaxPreps Articles

Now, I've worked varsity FB for a few years now, and every time we pre-game, we discuss that any punt or FG attempt that crosses the goal line dead and considered a touchback. After reading the article, can we safely assume that somebody botched this one or am I really missing something?

[bigjohn]

Bashing officials is frowned on at this forum you know!

[mbyron]

Do we know what rule code applies? NCAA and NFHS are different on this point, I believe.

[rockchalk jhawk]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Do we know what rule code applies? NCAA and NFHS are different on this point, I believe.

The article says it was a high school game, so I assume NFHS unless anybody knows if VT uses NCAA rules... That could make sense I guess...

[mbyron]

According to this site, Vermont uses NFHS rules.

[Bullycon]

Video of the play:

Leon Lett Is Finally Off The Hook - Oops - Deadspin

I cannot see that the ball clearly crossed the goal line from that angle. One of the officials should have rushed forward to the goal line to make sure the ball did not break the plane.

The spike also appears to have travelled backwards.

Until I see an angle that clearly shows the ball crossing the line, I say it's a touchdown.

[rockchalk jhawk]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

Bashing officials is frowned on at this forum you know!

Did you miss the part where I clearly stated that I'm a varsity football official?

I'm not bashing, I'm asking for clarification for my own education and to make sure I'm not missing something.

Just because you've never seen me of the football forum doesn't mean that I'm coming on here and official bashing. Paranoid much?

[InsideTheStripe]

Originally Posted by rockchalk jhawk

Just because you've never seen me of the football forum doesn't mean that I'm coming on here and official bashing. Paranoid much?

He's a coach who got lambasted by someone for publicly criticizing his game officials in violation of the NFHS Coaches Code of Ethics. After taking his ball and stomping away for the NFHS forum, it's his new schtick to point out anytime anyone criticizes officiating on other forums.

[InsideTheStripe]

I've yet to see any video that shows the ball breaking the vertical plane of the goal line. I have heard conflicting reports on whether or not it did. I'll reserve judgement until I see conclusive video.

[a4caster]

If you really want to dissect this thing, we have an illegal forward pass as well!! Of course, if it was described correctly in the paper, that is ignored because, as was said before, breaks the plane, call it dead. But htbt.

[kdf5]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

Bashing officials is frowned on at this forum you know!

John: bashing officials isn't frowned upon. Naming names, dates, places is frowned upon.

[bigjohn]

well the article in the OP definitely names names.

[rockchalk jhawk]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

well the article in the OP definitely names names.

it names the name of the alert player who scooped it up and ran it for a touchdown (kudos for him, he deserves to be named), not the name of the player who goofed by spiking the ball.

you really are a troll, aren't you?

[bigjohn]

The kick was about five yards short and was fielded in the end zone by an Otter Valley player who ran it out to his 11, where he spiked the ball and began celebrating.

[Canned Heat]

Maybe I'm seeing things, but if you pause it at the :19 mark, it looks as if he catches the scrimmage kick attempt at about the 2 or 3 yard line (I think I see goal line and 5 yard line on each side of the players...look at pylons, too) and advances to the 12 and then spikes it backwards...where it is picked up and returned for TD. Looks like a good call and score to me.

As for how we would handle that....In 5 man we would obviously have 2 men back under the posts for the FG attempt. When it was certain to be short by the BJ (or LJ) he would run up from the posts and make sure the ball did or did not cross the goal line (becoming dead) and either kill it or bag the spot and point the other way towards us so we knew we had a live ball situation. In 4 man (JV/FR) we would have LJ back and white hat catching the other post. LJ would run up to rule on ball crossing the GL and becoming dead or still live..as is what happened here. Good goal line reaction by BJ & LJ from the posts.

Also...is that an inadvertant whistle I hear right before the score..?