Opening Kickoff: Ohio State Florida

[JasonTX]

If you pause the video at :49 it is very close to the goalline. Without seeing this from an better angle I would have to go with the call on the field. Even being where he was lined up at he should still be able to tell if the ball touched the goalline.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by JasonTX

If you pause the video at :49 it is very close to the goalline. Without seeing this from an better angle I would have to go with the call on the field. Even being where he was lined up at he should still be able to tell if the ball touched the goalline.

He might not have had the best conceivable view, but it looks like he had a damn good one. Had he been on the field-of-play side of the GL, he might've been screened out by the ball itself as to whether it hit the GL, but where he was he would've seen if there was space between the point where the ball hit and the stripe.

In NCAA, does the ball have to touch ground that is behind the front of the goal line to be dead (if an untouched free kick)? Or does the ball merely have to touch the ground and be in the end zone (i.e. part of the ball that's off the ground) simultaneously? If the latter, then he really would have needed a view on the goal line extended to make a close call; if the former, then his view was easily adequate.

[JasonTX]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

He might not have had the best conceivable view, but it looks like he had a damn good one. Had he been on the field-of-play side of the GL, he might've been screened out by the ball itself as to whether it hit the GL, but where he was he would've seen if there was space between the point where the ball hit and the stripe.

In NCAA, does the ball have to touch ground that is behind the front of the goal line to be dead (if an untouched free kick)? Or does the ball merely have to touch the ground and be in the end zone (i.e. part of the ball that's off the ground) simultaneously? If the latter, then he really would have needed a view on the goal line extended to make a close call; if the former, then his view was easily adequate.

The ball has to touch the front part of the line in order to be dead in the end zone.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by JasonTX

The ball has to touch the front part of the line in order to be dead in the end zone.

Gentlemen, with all due respect, moving 6-8 inches closer to the goal line would unlikely have provided a better view of the goal line than the Linesman enjoyed. Often a camera view provides an advantage to the view of the covering official, this is NOT one of those instances.

He had a perfect vantage point to observe a moving ball and didn't hesitate to call what he obviously believed he saw. Presuming he totally understands both the rules regarding touchbacks and free kicks OOB, you have to accept his judgment.