Remember the controversy when Jim Mora was angry at the officials in the Arizona game? He objected to an obscure rule interpretation over an ineligible downfield (non) penalty. A Wildcat lineman went at least 8 yards down field on a pass play, and a flag was thrown.
However they picked it up, with the explanation that because the QB was out of the pocket, that negated the penalty. All hell broke out on the UCLA sideline with Mora yelling at the officials that's not in the rules. The officials in turn were adamant it was in the rules.
In a you'll probably never see it again moment on officiating disputes, they were both right with the officials holding the tie breaker. Here's how that works.
Most people aren't aware of it, but there are actually two books officials need to study and learn implicitly. The rule book which everybody body knows about...and what is officially called the the CCA (Collegiate Commissioners Association) Officiating Manual.
The rule about ineligible receivers downfield is in the rule book. The part where it's waved off, as happened in the Arizona game, is not in the rule book. In fact it's not even a rule, so in that respect Mora was correct but he was wrong on saying they made the wrong call.
Waving off the flag was called for by Officiating Manual, which doesn't have rules but rather interpretations thereof. So in that respect the officials had their tie breaker and made the right call, but wrongly said it was in the rules.
Thankfully in the end the call had no real bearing on the game's outcome, although it may have been talked about more than the outcome was.
Now here's another rule / interpretation you've never heard of, and it's a beaut'. While they rarely occur, all of us have seen games where the offense is stacked down on it's own goal and you start thinking about a safety.
So, when you get a safety it's always worth two points.....right? Not right.....in fact there's one way you can get a safety, but only get to put one point on the board. I could explain, but it's going to be much easier to actually see this play out in a game.
If you're still confused after viewing the linked video don't feel bad. The announcers were so confused, they thought the point was given to the wrong team. Then after reviewing the replay they said the ball was dead when the kick hit a lineman. They were wrong on both counts.
Here's a tip to figure out the puzzle. Read the first comment appropriately posted under the name THE TRUTH. He lays out what occurred perfectly, and why it was a one point safety. (Hint - aTm picked up the muffed kick and thereby established possession. At that point it become an offensive play for aTm).
However they picked it up, with the explanation that because the QB was out of the pocket, that negated the penalty. All hell broke out on the UCLA sideline with Mora yelling at the officials that's not in the rules. The officials in turn were adamant it was in the rules.
In a you'll probably never see it again moment on officiating disputes, they were both right with the officials holding the tie breaker. Here's how that works.
Most people aren't aware of it, but there are actually two books officials need to study and learn implicitly. The rule book which everybody body knows about...and what is officially called the the CCA (Collegiate Commissioners Association) Officiating Manual.
The rule about ineligible receivers downfield is in the rule book. The part where it's waved off, as happened in the Arizona game, is not in the rule book. In fact it's not even a rule, so in that respect Mora was correct but he was wrong on saying they made the wrong call.
Waving off the flag was called for by Officiating Manual, which doesn't have rules but rather interpretations thereof. So in that respect the officials had their tie breaker and made the right call, but wrongly said it was in the rules.
Thankfully in the end the call had no real bearing on the game's outcome, although it may have been talked about more than the outcome was.
Now here's another rule / interpretation you've never heard of, and it's a beaut'. While they rarely occur, all of us have seen games where the offense is stacked down on it's own goal and you start thinking about a safety.
So, when you get a safety it's always worth two points.....right? Not right.....in fact there's one way you can get a safety, but only get to put one point on the board. I could explain, but it's going to be much easier to actually see this play out in a game.
If you're still confused after viewing the linked video don't feel bad. The announcers were so confused, they thought the point was given to the wrong team. Then after reviewing the replay they said the ball was dead when the kick hit a lineman. They were wrong on both counts.
Here's a tip to figure out the puzzle. Read the first comment appropriately posted under the name THE TRUTH. He lays out what occurred perfectly, and why it was a one point safety. (Hint - aTm picked up the muffed kick and thereby established possession. At that point it become an offensive play for aTm).
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