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It’s Sunday Morning, has anyone figured out the fair catch call in the UA v. UT game yet?
Posted on 10/22/23 at 8:43 am
Posted on 10/22/23 at 8:43 am
I’ve played, coached, and watched a lot of football going back over 40 years. I’ve seen a lot of stuff that made me scratch my head. This play is up there with the weirdest. For those who missed it, here’s the backstory.
Bama had just scored in the 3rd. Qtr and were kicking off to the Vols. Both teams were in standard kickoff formation, UT having two return men deep. Bama kicks off, one of the UT deep men fields the ball around the 4 yard line and runs to around the 25 yard line before going out of bounds. The refs do a review. After the review the call is the other UT deep man, who didn’t field the kickoff, called fair catch, even though he never raised and waved either hand. The refs then say it’s 1st & 10 for the Vols on their own 4 yard line.
So, my questions.
1. Did anyone see this player call fair catch?
2. When did calling fair catch on a kickoff result in anything other than 1st down on the 25? Did that rule change?
Bama had just scored in the 3rd. Qtr and were kicking off to the Vols. Both teams were in standard kickoff formation, UT having two return men deep. Bama kicks off, one of the UT deep men fields the ball around the 4 yard line and runs to around the 25 yard line before going out of bounds. The refs do a review. After the review the call is the other UT deep man, who didn’t field the kickoff, called fair catch, even though he never raised and waved either hand. The refs then say it’s 1st & 10 for the Vols on their own 4 yard line.
So, my questions.
1. Did anyone see this player call fair catch?
2. When did calling fair catch on a kickoff result in anything other than 1st down on the 25? Did that rule change?
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Posted on 10/22/23 at 8:44 am to Darth_Vader
REC
Posted on 10/22/23 at 8:45 am to Darth_Vader
I’m sure the officials are correct in that it’s a rule in the rule book, just seemed a little thin to me.
One of those calls where officials inserted themselves to change the game when it was unnecessary imo.
One of those calls where officials inserted themselves to change the game when it was unnecessary imo.
This post was edited on 10/22/23 at 8:47 am
Posted on 10/22/23 at 8:46 am to Darth_Vader
Look it up.. it was the correct call.
Posted on 10/22/23 at 8:46 am to Darth_Vader
At this point, the officiating in this conference is just a joke. You just have to laugh. 
Posted on 10/22/23 at 8:48 am to Darth_Vader
Yeah it's called Saban and the SEC office paying the refs. Next question.
Posted on 10/22/23 at 8:48 am to Darth_Vader
Iowa had a td called back after they had a player do the same thing.
Be that as it may it didn't stop Tennessee from running their offense. Tennessee still had the ball. Tennessee offensively was bad the second half with some bone headed play calling and 4th down calls.
Be that as it may it didn't stop Tennessee from running their offense. Tennessee still had the ball. Tennessee offensively was bad the second half with some bone headed play calling and 4th down calls.
Posted on 10/22/23 at 8:49 am to Darth_Vader
quote:
1. Did anyone see this player call fair catch?
Yes. They even replayed it later and explained it.
quote:
2. When did calling fair catch on a kickoff result in anything other than 1st down on the 25? Did that rule change?
Since forever. If someone calls faircatch but then try’s to advance the ball, it’s a penalty.
Posted on 10/22/23 at 8:50 am to Darth_Vader
quote:
When did calling fair catch on a kickoff result in anything other than 1st down on the 25? Did that rule change?
Can't be, fair catching an onside doesn't send you back to the 25.
This post was edited on 10/22/23 at 8:51 am
Posted on 10/22/23 at 8:53 am to BFANLC
quote:
Be that as it may it didn't stop Tennessee from running their offense. Tennessee still had the ball.
Do you suppose getting the ball on your own 2 is better or worse than your own 25?
Posted on 10/22/23 at 8:56 am to Darth_Vader
Yes, there are two types of signals for a fair catch in college football, a valid fair catch signal and an invalid fair catch signal.
The player made an invalid fair catch signal!
The player made an invalid fair catch signal!
Posted on 10/22/23 at 8:58 am to MikeHuntVFL
Do you suppose getting the ball on your own 2 is better or worse than your own 25?
That's football...is Tennessee the first team to ever get the ball at the 4?
That's football...is Tennessee the first team to ever get the ball at the 4?
Posted on 10/22/23 at 8:59 am to Darth_Vader
https://www.si.com/college/2023/10/22/iowa-football-fair-catch-call-rule-explained-cooper-dejean-punt-return-minnesota
LINK to S.I. article
LINK to S.I. article
Posted on 10/22/23 at 9:05 am to Darth_Vader
Specifically in the Tennessee game
1. Yes they showed that Dee extended both arms out in the T formation signaling touchback. Which signals to the defense the play is dead.
2. In this case since a player other than the one who called the signal caught the ball. The ball is automatically dead the second they catch it.
If Dee had caught the ball and returned it, it would have been a penalty for advancing a ball after calling fair catch.
1. Yes they showed that Dee extended both arms out in the T formation signaling touchback. Which signals to the defense the play is dead.
2. In this case since a player other than the one who called the signal caught the ball. The ball is automatically dead the second they catch it.
If Dee had caught the ball and returned it, it would have been a penalty for advancing a ball after calling fair catch.
This post was edited on 10/22/23 at 9:06 am
Posted on 10/22/23 at 9:06 am to BFANLC
quote:
That's football...is Tennessee the first team to ever get the ball at the 4?
Is this the best that big brain of yours can do?
Posted on 10/22/23 at 9:08 am to Darth_Vader
the announcers mentioned it dude whole. The player away from the play put his arms and hands straight out which is another way of signaling for a fair catch on KO's. Even though the ball was coming to him it became a dead play. But the other guy caught it without signaling a fair catch and ran with it. You mislead the D when you signal a fair catch and you know the ball is not coming to you. Were you even watching or listening to CBS.
Posted on 10/22/23 at 9:08 am to MikeHuntVFL
I'm sorry you don't know football or kick off return rules.
How's that?
How's that?
Posted on 10/22/23 at 9:10 am to bubba35741
quote:
LINK
From your article: ‘“There is still a bit of wiggle room to complain about the call. It feels a bit ticky-tack, and “any waving of the arm” feels pretty broad when applied to a football player who will likely be using his arms to run and later, catch the ball that is coming his way.”’
Posted on 10/22/23 at 9:13 am to BFANLC
quote:
I'm sorry you don't know football or kick off return rules. How's that?
I swear. You Bama fans are the most sensitive collection of bleeding vaginas in all of college football. Ask a simple question about a bizarre play and you all get super defensive.
Posted on 10/22/23 at 9:13 am to cmayes56
quote:
Look it up.. it was the correct call
It’s the correct call of one of the returners actually signaled for fair catch.
They showed the replay and he absolutely did not.
His hand was at waist level.
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