New Timing Rule is Awesome

Saturday's game was hot. Frickin hot. And then on top of that it was hot.

The field itself (grass) was in okay shape, we had a twenty-five second clock that actually worked, the chain-crew actually did a good job. The home team provided water and sports drink, towels and soap for showers. Nothing to gripe about.

The new NCAA timing rules seem to be working. Our game finish in exactly three hours. This was with twenty-five penalities, eleven time-outs, and final score of 38-16, so there were plenty of times where the clock stopped. Last season the average was something like 3:15. I'm loving the new clock mechanic.

In simple terms the clock is now only stopping on incomplete passes. For plays going out of bounds (could be a run, completed pass, fumble out of bounds, backward pass, etc.) the clock will start on the Ready. Once I put the ball down the White Hat starts the clock. The clock will still be start on the snap on change of possession and and will be stoped to move the chains as ususl. The twist is within two minutes in the 2nd and 4th quarters we fall back to the previous timing rules. But for 56 minutes, it is pure bliss.

The game started on a strange note. During the opening kickoff, the 25-second clock expired way before the kickers were even close to kicking the ball. When I say expired, I mean it was '00' for five seconds. I threw a flag for delay of game. As umpire, this is not my call, but no one seemed to be paying attention. I heard the coach say "that was ticky-tack". Well, ya, it was, but why bother having the rule if we aren't going to follow them. We keep getting preasured to speed the games up, so what the hell. And you damn well know if it was the the other team he'd be screaming. Nonetheless, I won't do that again.

We had an unusual Illegal Batting by the offense following a blocked scrimmage kick. Batting, in case you are not familiar, is intentionally striking or intentionally changing the balls direction with the hands or arms. So, in this case, the blocking of the scrimmage kick (punt) is technically batting, but that touching is ignored. What is not ignored is after the kick is blocked a player from the kicking team leaps in the air and intentionally strikes the ball so it goes forward. Batting is complicated because sometimes you can and sometimes you can't. I'll do a post just on batting soon. Luckily, batting does not occur often, but when it does it is a 15-yard, loss of down penalty. But there are exceptions to this also.

I threw flags for Chop Block, False Start, Ineligible Receiver Downfield, and a Defensive Holding.

The new Chop Block rule is also great. More on this next time.

There we also several defensive holding fouls during pass plays.

Gridiron Brain Fart - Part II

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.

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.

The Offensive Coach Unhappy with a DPI Call?

I worked college scrimmages, albeit inter-squad, last Thursday and Saturday.

Thursday's scrimmage only lasted about an hour. Okay, I guess, but not a lot of work for an hour drive. Our sixth official (a female) never arrived, so we did five-man mechanics. I don't think the coaches even noticed.

But the head coach was smart enough to ask an interesting question following a DPI call. Here is the scenario:

It was 2nd and 8 and a DPI was called 11 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. The pass was caught, they made the line to gain, and earned a first down. In these cases the DPI would be declined because DPI fouls within 15 yards are 'spot fouls'. There is no yardage penalty, but there is an automatic first-down at the spot of the foul. In a sense, DPI within 15 yards of the LOS, is an awarded catch. But since they made the line-to-gain there is no need for the automatic first-down. Just decline the penalty and let's get out of here.

But this cleaver coach asks - can I decline the spot foul (ignore the completed catch) and take the penalty from the previous spot? (DPI fouls beyond 15 yards are enforced from the previous spot). In other words, forgo the automatic first, but take 15 yards from the previous spot and gain 15 yards instead of 11. A net +4. He wasn't upset his man was fouled, but rather he was fouled too early. Interesting.

At certain times during the game yards are more important than and 'benefit' of an awarded catch. Its late in the game and they need yards to get close to field goal. It may be advantageous for the defense to foul if the passes are short. Better to give them the awarded catch than the chance of catching the ball and gaining even more yards.

The college rules have a bias towards punishing the defense, but in the case of DPI on short passes, the benefit may be in the favor of the defense.

Let me know what you think.

Friday night will be my first High School games for the season. I'm the White Hat for the JV game and then move to Line Judge for Varsity. I'm working with the leader of our association during the Varsity game.

As you may recall, I recently asked if I could be considered for the next available Varsity White Hat position. I think I'm being watched during the JV game... like a test. I'll let you know.

A full schedule

My first season as a full staff member at the college level is a full schedule - eleven games. This is very good news since the typical schedule averages eight-nine games.

I have a bye week 9/20, but I have two games on 9/13. The first is at 1:00 and the second is at 7:00. Since we have to be dressed and ready two hours before game time, and the first game is sixty miles away, my day will begin at 9:30AM and not end until about 10:30PM. The first game will end around 4:30 and then I rush to the second game. The good news is the second game is on the way home, but still a forty mile drive. Good thing I have the same White Hat for both games, so the games can't start without him. Still, a thirteen hour day.

For the eleven games , the total number of miles I'll be on the road is 1,540. I have two games with round trips greater than 250 miles with the longest being 310 miles. I can't complain too much about 310 miles because the Side Judge has a 494 mile round trip. I believe these are considered 'travel' games and they will pay for us to spend the night.

As far as White Hat's go this season is very different than last year. Last year I may have had the same White Hat only once. This season I have four games with Frank, three with Jim, two with Milt, and one with Jerry. Frank, Jim, and Milt are from my local college group as well as officials in my High School group. Milt was my High School Crew Chief for a period of time.

Scrimmages begin this Saturday, but as usual, there is some drama. As usual, the college scrimmages conflict with the High School clinic. I just got an email today saying we have two college scrimmages at 11:00. How are we supposed to do that and participate in the High School clinic?

Training Film

Below is a link to one of the training films we just received. This film is narrated by Rogers Redding, the Rules Editor for th e NCAA Football Rules Committee. Mr. Redding was one of the instructors at the Reno Football Camp I attended this summer.

The film emphasizes the 2008 Point of Emphasis. Each season the rules committee (this is true for High School also) works with coaches, administrators, and game officials to identify areas of the game which need some focus. As you will see from the film, most of these issues are safety related and the fouls are not being called.

Take a look. Let me know what you think.

http://web1.ncaa.org/web_video/football/2008FootballRules.html

Another Test Done. Still no Schedule.

Just finished the High School summer test. This is not the qualification test, but a good warm-up test to get you thinking about about the rules. The test consists of 100 true/false questions. Most are pretty easy and it is nothing like the college tests. Here are some examples:

• If a forward pass touches an official who is in the field of play, the pass is ruled incomplete even if it is subsequently caught by a player of either team?
• R1 (a player on the receiving team) may not fair-catch a free kick in the neutral zone?
• A dead ball may become live only by legal snap or free kick?
• Butt blocking is illegal in the open field but permitted only in close line play?
  

Send me your answers. I'll post the answer next in my next entry.

I still do not have my college schedule which is becoming frustrating.