“Fair Catch” explained

#6
#6
I could almost see the call if Dee made that motion. But he didn't. The other returner was probably signaling that the ball wasn't coming to him. Whatever it was, it obviously wasn't a fair catch call and I've never seen a fair catch called like that.

The clapping call is something else I've never seen. I've never seen that penalty called that way. It happened during a string of calls that seemed intent on keeping Bama in the game.

The ghost review, after an obvious first down by Milton, that even CBS's biased announcers couldn't ignore, was another example. It sure looked like the officials were trying create an opportunity for Bama to substitute.

All these are perfect examples of SEC refs working at changing momentum in games IMO.

I don't know why Tennessee is thier punching bag this year. But I've never seen it this bad.
 
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#9
#9
JCHateSteve said:
I could almost see the call if Dee made that motion. But he didn't. The other returner was probably signaling that the ball wasn't coming to him. Whatever it was, it obviously wasn't a fair catch call and I've never seen a fair catch called like that.

The clapping call is something else I've never seen. I've never seen that penalty called that way. It happened during a string of calls that seemed intent on keeping Bama in the game.

The ghost review, after an obvious first down by Milton, that even CBS's biased announcers couldn't ignore, was another example. It sure looked like the officials were trying create an opportunity for Bama to substitute.

All these are perfect examples of SEC refs working at changing momentum in games IMO.

I don't know why Tennessee is thier punching bag this year. But I've never seen it this bad.
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I dont think we are their punching bag.

I do think the CFP means too much money to not insure the teams with the easiest path there to get the calls.
 
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#13
#13
JCHateSteve said:
I could almost see the call if Dee made that motion. But he didn't. The other returner was probably signaling that the ball wasn't coming to him. Whatever it was, it obviously wasn't a fair catch call and I've never seen a fair catch called like that.

The clapping call is something else I've never seen. I've never seen that penalty called that way. It happened during a string of calls that seemed intent on keeping Bama in the game.

The ghost review, after an obvious first down by Milton, that even CBS's biased announcers couldn't ignore, was another example. It sure looked like the officials were trying create an opportunity for Bama to substitute.

All these are perfect examples of SEC refs working at changing momentum in games IMO.

I don't know why Tennessee is thier punching bag this year. But I've never seen it this bad.
Click to expand...
I'm usually apprehensive to blame officials, and I think what we observe is generally their ineptitude; but that entire sequence to end the first half was beyond bizarre.
 
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#15
#15
GAVol said:
I mean… who even looks at the opposite return man 30 yards from the ball to pick up a hint of an arm motion? It’s crazy.
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You would think the only fair catch motion considered would be by the player actually receiving the ball. That is the player with intent to catch. Even still, that was nowhere close to a fair catch signal. Egregious.
 
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#16
#16
GAVol said:
I mean… who even looks at the opposite return man 30 yards from the ball to pick up a hint of an arm motion? It’s crazy.
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In the post game heupel thought it was a “front line guy” who made the signal. Maybe we are all missing something?

But I still don’t understand why it doesn’t come to the 25
 
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#17
#17
The most egregious calls of games were complete judgement calls. No way was the kick returner Dee Williams calling fair catch. Thats the sign everyone uses in dual return for get behind me as the wedge is forming. So taking an adequate return and slapping the team back to the 4 yard line was crushing. Your entire playbook gets whittled down to a handful when you are in jumbo protection mode down by your own end zone.
 
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#18
#18
Vol737 said:
You would think the only fair catch motion considered would be by the player actually receiving the ball. That is the player with intent to catch. Even still, that was nowhere close to a fair catch signal. Egregious.
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Oh, I’ve seen fair catch signals from non-returners before -usually in high school. That part makes sense because you don’t want one guy signaling fair catch to distract the coverage so the other guy can catch it and take off.

In this case though, somebody needs to show proof that Dee Williams ever raised his hands above his waist to cause a whistle. The whistle was going to be the real problem. Even if they didn’t call it a fair catch, the ball was going to be dead as soon as the whistle blew regardless of what that goofy replay review was for.
 
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#19
#19
The “T” signal is the signal everyone is using these days on kickoff return. You see it all the time on Saturdays and Sundays. My take is that it was just a reflex/habit for Dee to do it. Then he realized it was short and to Seldon and it was too late. Here is the application of the rule that got us. Do I think the official could have looked the other way? Sure. Goodness knows he is perfectly capable of doing that for Bama.
 

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#20
#20
Vol8188 said:
In the post game heupel thought it was a “front line guy” who made the signal. Maybe we are all missing something?

But I still don’t understand why it doesn’t come to the 25
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Yah, I heard the announcers say that, too. I want to watch the replay, looking at the guys up front, see if one of them raised a hand over his head and waved it for some reason.

Otherwise, it makes zero sense. But maybe one fella did. Would love to hear why, if so.
 
#21
#21
VFL-82-JP said:
Yah, I heard the announcers say that, too. I want to watch the replay, looking at the guys up front, see if one of them raised a hand over his head and waved it for some reason.

Otherwise, it makes zero sense. But maybe one fella did. Would love to hear why, if so.
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Still don’t understand why that wouldn’t put the ball on the 25
 
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#22
#22
Vol8188 said:
Still don’t understand why that wouldn’t put the ball on the 25
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Because it was an invalid fair catch signal and another player touched it. It is down where that player touched it. If Dee had caught it, we would have had the ball at the 25.
 
#23
#23
volinSmyrna said:
Because it was an invalid fair catch signal and another player touched it. It is down where that player touched it. If Dee had caught it, we would have had the ball at the 25.
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Sounds like the refs were saying it was a valid fair catch signal and didn’t they spot it where it was caught instead of minus 5 or half the distance?
 
#24
#24
There is no “penalty” in that situation. If Dee would have caught and advanced it, then there would have been a delay of game penalty. Dee signaling and Seldon catching makes it dead at the spot of catching.
 
#25
#25
volinSmyrna said:
There is no “penalty” in that situation. If Dee would have caught and advanced it, then there would have been a delay of game penalty. Dee signaling and Seldon catching makes it dead at the spot of catching.
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Then it’s not an invalid fair catch but rather a fair catch.
 
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