Alabama-Arkansas final minute

[bballref3966]

Did anyone else see this last night?

Fourth quarter, clock is running, Alabama has the ball, third down, leading 14-13. Called for a false start at 1:01. Penn Wagers, the referee, winded the clock and Alabama snapped the ball with at :38, and therefore didn't have to run a fourth down play (Arkansas had no TOs). So, in essence the false start actually helped Alabama and negated any last shot Arkansas would have had.

Shouldn't the clock have started on the snap in accordance with 3-4-3?

[CT1]

Apparently so.
Southeastern Conference says referee in Alabama-Arkansas game mistakenly ran clock - ESPN

[Reffing Rev.]

So to take a fan tirade into an official's discussion:
At what point do we invoke the option to not start the clock on the ready. Tonight for instance in a lower level game team A up by 8 with about 4 minutes to play has a false start, and I thought long and hard and wound the clock. During a subsequent timeout, the U who is my usual BJ asked if I should have held the clock since A got a free 25ish seconds?

At what point do you hold the clock? 2 minutes? 1? 4?

[Cliffdweller]

Originally Posted by Reffing Rev.

So to take a fan tirade into an official's discussion:
At what point do we invoke the option to not start the clock on the ready. Tonight for instance in a lower level game team A up by 8 with about 4 minutes to play has a false start, and I thought long and hard and wound the clock. During a subsequent timeout, the U who is my usual BJ asked if I should have held the clock since A got a free 25ish seconds?

At what point do you hold the clock? 2 minutes? 1? 4?

If you feel the team got the false start intentionally, then don't start the clock on the RFP, otherwise, if clock was running, wind it.

[jTheUmp]

Originally Posted by Cliffdweller

If you feel the team got the false start intentionally, then don't start the clock on the RFP, otherwise, if clock was running, wind it.

This.

I'd also add: if it's the first false start, wind it... if it's the second in a row, then think about starting it on the snap. If it's the 3rd... start on the snap. Once is a fluke, twice is coincidence, three times is a trend.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Cliffdweller

If you feel the team got the false start intentionally, then don't start the clock on the RFP, otherwise, if clock was running, wind it.

Intent has little to do with it. Being able to take an unfair disadvantage is what I'm looking at.

[Cliffdweller]

Originally Posted by Rich

Intent has little to do with it. Being able to take an unfair disadvantage is what I'm looking at.

The rules state that if a team attempts to conserve or consume time illegally, the referee shall order the clock stopped or started. Rule 3-4-6