Proper spot and down?

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

You could whistle on the assumption that someone must have possession of it, but then how is your presumption any better than mine as laid out above?

Saw a Big 10 official do that on a fumble into the end zone at Wisconsin a couple years ago. The pile ensued and he stopped the clock to find the ball. What he didn't know (nor did any of the players on the pile) was the ball had come out the other side and was loose when the whistle blew. They had to treat it as an IW and Wisconsin took the ball at the spot of the fumble.

[MD Longhorn]

MOST of us believe in ... No ball, no whistle. Robert's assertion might be what he sees in his area ... but not mine.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

MOST of us believe in ... No ball, no whistle. Robert's assertion might be what he sees in his area ... but not mine.

Then if you don't whistle because you can't see the ball, what authority do you have to get the players off the ball? Does the ball stay live until the players get tired of laying in a heap surrounding it and go home?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

Then if you don't whistle because you can't see the ball, what authority do you have to get the players off the ball? Does the ball stay live until the players get tired of laying in a heap surrounding it and go home?

I suppose you're being sarcastic, but I'll answer anyway.

The play kills the play. The whistle doesn't kill the play (unless it does!). The play is dead when the play is dead - even if my whistle doesn't go off. NO, most good officials (around here) will not blow the whistle when they go in to clean up a pile.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

I suppose you're being sarcastic, but I'll answer anyway.

The play kills the play. The whistle doesn't kill the play (unless it does!). The play is dead when the play is dead - even if my whistle doesn't go off. NO, most good officials (around here) will not blow the whistle when they go in to clean up a pile.

But if you don't know the ball is dead -- because you can't see it -- what authority do you have to clean up the pile?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

But if you don't know the ball is dead -- because you can't see it -- what authority do you have to clean up the pile?

Are you familiar with rules fundamentals?

Peace

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

But if you don't know the ball is dead -- because you can't see it -- what authority do you have to clean up the pile?

Seriously? We have all the authority we need out there.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Seriously? We have all the authority we need out there.

You don't see a player in possession of the ball, so you can't rule that a runner is down. So what right do you have to interfere with play of a live ball?

[InsideTheStripe]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

Saw a Big 10 official do that on a fumble into the end zone at Wisconsin a couple years ago. The pile ensued and he stopped the clock to find the ball. What he didn't know (nor did any of the players on the pile) was the ball had come out the other side and was loose when the whistle blew. They had to treat it as an IW and Wisconsin took the ball at the spot of the fumble.

I remember that play. Felt so bad for the guy.