College replay rules/ requirements

[JasonTX]

Originally Posted by chas

Settle down fellas! I'm 57 and I've watched countless sporting events. My wife bemoans the fact that she married me in March. I watched the Illini lose to Austin Peay whilst on our honeymoon back in 1985. I do know not to listen to various announcers, like a Billy Packer, but in this situation I couldn't figure out why they went to replay when it was obvious the O lineman went into the endzone. That's when I figured maybe they were looking at who touched the pass first, thinking that somehow an O lineman isn't eligible to touch no matter who touched the pass first.

Officials just get upset that announcers 99% of the time are feeding the fans incorrect information and they take that information as being true so we end up getting the abuse by fans with false information. Now to the specific question you asked. Per rule, an original ineligible player becomes eligible only after the ball is touched by a Team B (defensive) player or an official. Imagine the QB passing the ball and it bounces off the umpire into Guard #56 for a catch and runs into the end zone. Legal play since the ball touching an officials makes everyone eligible to catch the pass.
Don't tell the coaches that cause I'm sure they may start creating some trick play by deflecting the ball off the umpire.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by JasonTX

Don't tell the coaches that cause I'm sure they may start creating some trick play by deflecting the ball off the umpire.

Heck, I already recommend using the umpire as a pick to get open.

[HLin NC]

My question, just from the clip I saw was, wouldn't he have been downfield before the pass crossed the LOS?

[With_Two_Flakes]

I just saw the post about this by TxMike on refstripes and he linked to a YouTube clip.

YouTube - Fresno State vs. Illinois 2009 2-point Conversion

Looks pretty clear on the slomo replay that the lineman was on about the 3yd line (2yd line at worst) when he gets the ball and he had been engaged in blocking a defender. I've got no Ineligible downfield.

[Patton]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

My question, just from the clip I saw was, wouldn't he have been downfield before the pass crossed the LOS?

NC, here's the NCAA rule regarding ineligibles downfield...it just changed this year:

Ineligible Receiver Downfield
ARTICLE 10. No originally ineligible receiver shall be or have been more than three yards beyond the neutral zone until a legal forward pass that crosses the neutral zone has been thrown (A.R. 7-3-10-I and II).
PENALTY—Five yards from the previous spot [S37].