volinSmyrna
VFL!!!
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- Dec 3, 2012
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They did not have to add anything. As I have posted multiple times both 2-9-2 and 5-1-3 both specifically say that progress calls are based on the forward most position the ball reaches up to the time the ball legally becomes dead. Rule 4-1-3 states that progress like many situations SHALL be declared dead with a whistle or a SIGNAL. 4-1-2 further states that the ball becomes dead WHEN those two are employed, not before. The ball was actually dead when the ball broke the plane before he finally blew the whistle I heard. That is in the book too. If they have an early SIGNAL before the ball broke the plane then all they need to do is show it. Can you show me a rule that says an official gets to run in and retroactively point to a spot? He was within the rules to make a progress call, but none of them get to ignore these rules about progress and when the ball becomes dead.
I am not sure the signal made was by the book either. The signal he used is not to declare the ball dead, but to stop the clock. Lots of runs, even those progress declared calls do not stop the clock. As I said up this thread somewhere, there could be a ruling or ref instruction manual that says he could use this signal, but there was not a clock to stop in overtime, but the whistle is always good. On a two point TRY for example, also with no clock, in an identical scrimmage situation the correct signal would not be a stop the clock #3, but the #10 signal we more commonly see for incomplete pass. All in the book. Wish they would use it.
This is the challenge I want somebody to put out to the NCAA for confirmation. With the replays available showing no down by contact and showing the ball broke the plane before the whistle, do they stand behind the call. Pretty indisputable I think. This is no longer a philosophical argument about an official's mindset, but the video available and the rulebook. What was the forward most spot the ball attained when the whistle sounded.. Plain and simple.
They would have had to add the progress, which they cannot do by rule. The official ruled (idiotically, obviously) that his progress was stopped there. He was running in to spot the ball. There is absolutely nothing replay can do. The ball became dead at that point in time...not the whistle. The rule states the ball is dead on either a whistle OR when the ball is declared dead. The signal was because it was fourth down and an ensuing change of possession. The forward most spot of the ball when he ruled him to be stopped is where they marked it. Replay can't go in after the fact and move it forward. The main thing I have said from the beginning is the official doubled down on his ignorance when he clearly saw the ball cross the line as he is running in. He had time enough to tell the white hat he broke the plane, but he doubled down and said progress was stopped. He shouldn't call another game...period.
I would hope they would say he incorrectly and prematurely ruled his progress was stopped, but that isn't going to happen officially....ever!