starting game clock
 

NCAA rules:

I was watching our local DII college team play last night and there were a couple plays that I have a question on. Both plays were pretty much the same and were administered the same. I am confused on why the game clock was started when it was.

A running play around end and the ball carrier end up being tackled out of bounds. There is a holding penalty on the offense during the run. They administer the penalty and the game clock started on the ready for play whistle and not the snap. As I mentioned this happened twice.

I thought that it should have started on the snap. It would have at the high school level correct?

It would depend on where forward progress was ruled to have been stopped. If it was ruled that forward progress was stopped in-bounds, then the clock should start at the ready.

In NCAA, clock starts on the ready on plays that end OOB, except in the last two minutes of the half. The penalty has nothing to do with it.

NCAA

3-3-2 e Starts on the Referee’s Signal. For each of the following reasons, the game clock is stopped on an official’s signal. If the next play begins with a snap, the game clock will start on the referee’s signal:

3. Other than with fewer than two minutes remaining in a half, a Team A ball carrier, fumble or backward pass is ruled out of bounds.

4. To complete a penalty (Exception: Rule 3-4-4-c).

Fed

Snap.

Run oob in NFHS, clock starts on the snap.
Run oob in NCAA, clock starts on the ready unless under 2 minutes left in the 2nd or 4th qtrs.

Thanks for the answer to my question. I guess there are enough differences in rules at each level that we never know for sure when we have a legitimate gripe :p

When in doubt the officials are always right :D

I should clarify the "we" was used as a general term...as an official myself I try very hard to never gripe...

I've used that line many times...and tell people to remember that without the officials it would not be a game, but only recess.