While enduring another mediocre Big East game, I watched one of the bigger officiating debacles of the year. With the score 7-0 L'ville, the UConn returner clearly signalled for a fair catch with a single distinct wave of his arm over his head. After catching the ball, he paused and the closest coverage guy stopped completely, fearing the 15 yard penalty if he touches the returner. When the whistle doesn't blow, the returner starts running and returns it 74 yards for a TD since the whole coverage team stopped. Apparently, the refs couldn't review the call, and UConn went on to win 21-17 behind that bad call. The L'ville coach was irate, as he should have been. He might lose his job over that call (now 4-4, 1-2 conf).
[The 1:45 mark includes the fair catch controversy.]
What's the point of replay if you can't review very clear plays? What was the back judge watching anyway, the cheerleader under a poncho? This is yet another case of replay failing. Either the play isn't reviewable or the officials consistently come out with the wrong decision. I can't count how many times the ref has come out with a call that I thought was impossible watching the replay myself. Replay is a great idea, but there needs to be more accountability and more of an effort to get the call actually RIGHT instead of hiding behind the hazy definition of indisputable evidence. And what takes so long anyway, the announcers and all the viewers at home know what the call should be 2 minutes before the refs do (if they get it right). This applies to NFL replay too.
October 19, 2007
Instant Replay Blows Another Game
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12 Responses:
I'm torn on this. There are certain types of subjective calls I never want reviewed, including holding and pass interference.
A fair catch call seems like something that could be reviewed. It's a no-win situation, in that everyone on the field needs to know whether a fair catch has been declared or not. If one BJ doesn't think the signal was sufficient, the only way the other players know is to cream the returned and get the flag. You really can't play to the whistle when a guy clearly declares a fair catch.
I agree holding and pass interference, among others, would be a nightmare to review. But a fair catch signal should be. And why isn't there always a goal-line camera angle? Not enough money for the extra camera guy so that we have the shot right down the goalline, no speculation.
According to MSNBC,
The official definition of a fair-catch signal in the rule book calls for a player to raise his hand above his head and wave it back and forth more than once, something Taylor didn’t do.
Do we really want gunners to have to decide if the player waved more than once? How about any time a punt returned raises his hand above his head, we whistle it dead? That seems to make more sense.
And that might be the official definition, but everyone knows a last second wave is good enough.
"Fair catches are for pussies."
-Steve Suter
(this isn't an actual quote but I wish it was)
Yeah, if you're going to go out of your way to protect return men, then you have to make it clear when a fair catch has been called.
And if it wasn't a fair catch, shouldn't he have been penalized for simulating a fair catch? If I'm not mistaken, it's a penalty to fake like you're going to make a fair catch call to throw off the kicking team.
It is a penalty to simulate a fair catch or make one and then run with it. If you see a replay, the L'ville coverage guy looks at the official like "Hey throw a flag for that!"
Let's go straight to the source, the NCAA rule book.
Fair Catch
ARTICLE 1. a. A fair catch of a scrimmage kick is a catch beyond the neutral zone by a player of Team B who has made a valid signal during a scrimmage kick that is untouched beyond the neutral zone.
b. A fair catch of a free kick is a catch by a player of Team B who has made a valid signal during an untouched free kick.
c. A valid or invalid fair catch signal deprives the receiving team of the opportunity to advance the ball, and the ball is declared dead at the spot of the catch or recovery or at the spot of the signal if the catch precedes the signal (Rule 6-5-1-a Exception).
d. If the receiver shades his eyes from the sun, the ball is live and may be advanced.
Valid Signal
ARTICLE 2. A valid signal is a signal given by a player of Team B who has obviously signalled his intention by extending one hand only clearly above his head and waving that hand from side to side of his body more than once.
Invalid Signal
ARTICLE 3. An invalid signal is
any signal by a player of Team B that does not meet the requirements of a valid signal (Rule 6-5-3).
Under "Ball Declared Dead"
g. When a free kick or scrimmage kick (beyond the neutral zone) is caught or recovered by any player after a valid or invalid fair-catch signal; or when an invalid fair-catch signal is made after a catch or recovery by Team B (Rules 2-7-1, 2-7-2 and 2-7-3).
Under Interpretations
No Advance
ARTICLE 2. No Team B player shall carry a caught or recovered ball more than two steps in any direction after a valid or invalid fair catch signal by any Team B player (A.R. 6-5-2-I-IV and A.R. 10-1-5-II). PENALTY—Dead-ball foul. Five yards from the succeeding spot [S7 and
S21].
Invalid signal is not well-defined
Invalid Signals
ARTICLE 3. a. During a down in which a kick is made, no player of Team B shall make any invalid fair catch signal during a free kick or beyond the neutral zone during a scrimmage kick. Any signal is invalid after a scrimmage kick is caught beyond the neutral zone, strikes the ground or touches another player beyond the neutral zone. A signal is invalid after a
free kick is caught, strikes the ground or touches another player (A.R. 6-5-3-IV-VI).
b. A catch after an invalid signal is not a fair catch, and the ball is dead where caught. If the signal follows a catch, the ball is dead when the signal is first given (A.R. 6-5-1-II).
c. Invalid signals beyond the neutral zone apply only to Team B (A.R. 6-5-3-II).
d. An invalid signal beyond the neutral zone is possible only when the ball has crossed the neutral zone (Rule 2-15-7) (A.R. 6-5-3-I).
You might also find it interesting to know that the referee signals an invalid fair catch signal by holding his right hand up barely above his head, like he is being sworn in to testify.
Incredibly, none of the "scenarios" relating to invalid fair catch signals describe a half-assed signal
I thought I had seen 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties assessed for either half-assed or extremely late fair catch signals. But I may be remembering incorrectly.
Back to the original point though, it is clear that fair catch signals are not reviewable under NCAA or NFL rules.
It's five yards anytime the returner takes two or more steps after a fair catch. There is, however, a discretionary penalty for "unfair acts". An example of this is hiding the ball in your jersey, barking out cadence from the defensive side, or sneaking a substition onto the field just prior to the snap. The referee can enforce any penalty that is fair.
The only other penalty that gives the referee total discretion is "illegal interference". Think Woody Hayes choking the ball carrier.
And, by the way, "bowing at the waist after a good play" will get you 15 yards in college. Aren't we supposed to be teaching these young men good manners?
With regard to fake fair catch signals,
c. If an obviously unfair act not specifically covered by the rules occurs during the game (A.R. 4-2-1-II). PENALTY—The referee may take any action he considers equitable, including assessing a penalty, awarding a score, or
suspending or forfeiting the game.
The fair catch should definitely be a reviewable call, as should the two-yard halo or whatever players are allowed these days. The refs crack down so hard on the defenders that lay into the receivers making the signal, and then this dufus gets rewarded for abusing the system. He had to be as surprised as anyone else!
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