Varsity Game
During Friday's Varsity game, I moved to Line Judge. I have not worked the wings for quite some time, but soon felt at home.
The game was a one-sided runaway game with the visitors winning 35-6. The visitors scored thirty-five points and I threw flags for holding which called back two touchdown runs. On the second holding call two of the other officials also threw flags and said "number thirty-nine, right?" Yup.
I also threw a flag for a huge facemask. The White Hat also threw a flag for this. It always looks good when there is more than one flag on these fouls.
We did have this awkward moment as a crew. When the home team was driving for their only score they got to the 1/2 foot line. Then they false started. The crowd was deflated. Then, they drive back to to the 1/2 foot line. The tension in the stadium was thick. People were pissed we didn't just give them a TD. On the next play, they run to the opposite hash mark. I have no idea where the ball actually is, but I'm pretty sure they have scored. I'm looking at my partner across the field... what the heck, is it a score or not... dude, you're killing us here. After something like ten seconds he finally rules TD.
The best part for the night, which made up for my brain fart (see previous post), was correcting our association leader. He was working Umpire and walked off a holding penalty. The problem was it was an all-but-one enforcement and he marked it off from the end of the run. This was a six yard distinction. After he had already marched it off and put the ball on the ground, I had remind him the flag was behind the end of the run. And, yes, I am gloating.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Gridiron Brain Fart
Friday night I worked a JV and Var game. The JV report is list below. The Var will be next posting.
"Do not, for one repulse, forego the purpose that you resolved to effect." Shakespeare, "The Tempest". This will make more sense as you read on.
JV Game:
Excluding an Inadvertent Whistle the JV game, the contest was pretty routine for a season opener. I was anxious before I arrived at the stadium, but once I got there I settled in. After a series or two, I was back into the routine. There was the ubiquitous holdings, false starts, and encroachments. Nothing too exciting. Until early in the 4th quarter.
The visitors intercepted a pass at the six yard line. Then a false start took them back to the three. On the next play the QB drops back for a pass, the pocket breaks down, he scrambles for his life, and finally fumbles the ball in the endzone when the defenders reach him. He was not making an attempt to throw the ball. So, now we have a loose ball in the endzone. This is not going to end well for the offense no matter what happens.
Now, this is where I forgo-ed the purpose I resolved to effect. I made a colossal screw-up because I could not make-up my frigging mind.
During certain situations in the game, one of the axioms officials use is -- try to make the play what it wants to be. I wanted to make this play an incomplete pass. This poor team was getting killed and this unfortunate set of circumstances wasn't helping. I did not want to give the home team a Safety, but I just couldn't turn it into an incomplete pass.
So since I'm not ruling incomplete pass the play cascades into a scrum for the ball. But I still haven't given-up trying to make this an incomplete pass. Ok, fine its a fumble. Sorry guys. When I awake from this stupor, I'm thinking, oh crap, this is a loose ball... in the end zone... this is going to end in a Safety or TD... oh crap, which color is offense again... oh crap, why didn't I just rule incomplete... oh crap, why am I blowing my whistle!!!
As I'm blowing my frigging whistle the defenders jump on the ball. I pause. Oh my god, what have I done. So, now I want to crawl in a hole. How am I going to get out of this one?
My crew said my hands go up and it appeared I was ruling Safety, but then I separated them to rule TD. They were right. I was so focused on the Safety, or the prevention of the Safety, only at the last second did it register this was a TD for the defense.
Technically, I blew an inadvertent whistle, however it would be splitting hairs whether it impacted the outcome of the play. There were no offensive players around the ball. The play ended the way it would have ended.
If I was thinking clearly, I should have swallowed my pride and given the offense the Inadvertent Whistle. They could have replayed the down... better than ruling an incomplete pass.
In retrospect, in a JV game with the score 33-0, had the QB been tackled, I would have no choice than to rule Safety. But, it was a pass play, I'd make the play what it wants to be -- an incomplete pass even if it wasn't.
I haven't had a brain fart like this is a long time.
"Do not, for one repulse, forego the purpose that you resolved to effect."
Bill, you're right. Make up my mind and stick with the decision.
"Do not, for one repulse, forego the purpose that you resolved to effect." Shakespeare, "The Tempest". This will make more sense as you read on.
JV Game:
Excluding an Inadvertent Whistle the JV game, the contest was pretty routine for a season opener. I was anxious before I arrived at the stadium, but once I got there I settled in. After a series or two, I was back into the routine. There was the ubiquitous holdings, false starts, and encroachments. Nothing too exciting. Until early in the 4th quarter.
The visitors intercepted a pass at the six yard line. Then a false start took them back to the three. On the next play the QB drops back for a pass, the pocket breaks down, he scrambles for his life, and finally fumbles the ball in the endzone when the defenders reach him. He was not making an attempt to throw the ball. So, now we have a loose ball in the endzone. This is not going to end well for the offense no matter what happens.
Now, this is where I forgo-ed the purpose I resolved to effect. I made a colossal screw-up because I could not make-up my frigging mind.
During certain situations in the game, one of the axioms officials use is -- try to make the play what it wants to be. I wanted to make this play an incomplete pass. This poor team was getting killed and this unfortunate set of circumstances wasn't helping. I did not want to give the home team a Safety, but I just couldn't turn it into an incomplete pass.
So since I'm not ruling incomplete pass the play cascades into a scrum for the ball. But I still haven't given-up trying to make this an incomplete pass. Ok, fine its a fumble. Sorry guys. When I awake from this stupor, I'm thinking, oh crap, this is a loose ball... in the end zone... this is going to end in a Safety or TD... oh crap, which color is offense again... oh crap, why didn't I just rule incomplete... oh crap, why am I blowing my whistle!!!
As I'm blowing my frigging whistle the defenders jump on the ball. I pause. Oh my god, what have I done. So, now I want to crawl in a hole. How am I going to get out of this one?
My crew said my hands go up and it appeared I was ruling Safety, but then I separated them to rule TD. They were right. I was so focused on the Safety, or the prevention of the Safety, only at the last second did it register this was a TD for the defense.
Technically, I blew an inadvertent whistle, however it would be splitting hairs whether it impacted the outcome of the play. There were no offensive players around the ball. The play ended the way it would have ended.
If I was thinking clearly, I should have swallowed my pride and given the offense the Inadvertent Whistle. They could have replayed the down... better than ruling an incomplete pass.
In retrospect, in a JV game with the score 33-0, had the QB been tackled, I would have no choice than to rule Safety. But, it was a pass play, I'd make the play what it wants to be -- an incomplete pass even if it wasn't.
I haven't had a brain fart like this is a long time.
"Do not, for one repulse, forego the purpose that you resolved to effect."
Bill, you're right. Make up my mind and stick with the decision.
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