Alabama/Auburn

[PAUmpire]

On the final play. Anyone else see that player in the back field waving his hand back and forth? Could that have been considered a fair catch signal? while the ball was in flight.


I wouldnt have called just curious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqIBNX0CXDc

[Rich]

Originally Posted by PAUmpire

On the final play. Anyone else see that player in the back field waving his hand back and forth? Could that have been considered a fair catch signal? while the ball was in flight.


I wouldnt have called just curious.

No. Not unless common sense took an inopportune vacation.

[HLin NC]

He was waving before the snap. Exhorting the crowd.

[asdf]

How about the sideline not covered on the return?

The L is stuck inside when he pinches in after the kick. The F is under the upright and has no chance to get to the sideline. While Davis does not go out of bounds, that sideline was challenged and not covered until the L recovers from the hash (you see him weaving between players) and gets there after Davis passes him and cuts it back inside....

[Rich]

Originally Posted by asdf

How about the sideline not covered on the return?

The L is stuck inside when he pinches in after the kick. The F is under the upright and has no chance to get to the sideline. While Davis does not go out of bounds, that sideline was challenged and not covered until the L recovers from the hash (you see him weaving between players) and gets there after Davis passes him and cuts it back inside....

The L got sucked in. Thankfully, replay would've been there if the runner had stepped out of bounds.

[maven]

Originally Posted by Rich

The L got sucked in. Thankfully, replay would've been there if the runner had stepped out of bounds.

Maybe. I've still seen no sideline shot, and the sideline cameras might have been retasked for "end of game" shots and not watching the sidelines during the runback.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by maven

Maybe. I've still seen no sideline shot, and the sideline cameras might have been retasked for "end of game" shots and not watching the sidelines during the runback.

One shot didn't have the straight on angle, but it sure looked like he was in-bounds all the way down.

I'm an F and I know for a fact that the second the kick's blocked, I'm sprinting for the sideline -- so while the L is not there, it could very well be the case the F is on the sideline (albeit many yards away).

[tmagan]

Originally Posted by Rich

The L got sucked in. Thankfully, replay would've been there if the runner had stepped out of bounds.

Here is the problem, at midfield, the camera was blocked by the Alabama player, which means the Auburn player could have stepped out of bounds and no one would have saw it, since there was the double umpire format.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by tmagan

Here is the problem, at midfield, the camera was blocked by the Alabama player, which means the Auburn player could have stepped out of bounds and no one would have saw it, since there was the double umpire format.

The S is the double umpire. The F is on the L's side. My first movement on a blocked kick or a returned FG/try is to bust for the pylon and work reverse mechanics.

No matter. At the moment that Alabama player cut in front of the camera, it's obvious the player is in bounds. Also, the L is working to get back there and you don't have to be standing on the line to see if a player hits white.

I'm not excusing the line judge - he got sucked in - but I don't see it as a huge disaster, not on this play.