“Fair Catch” explained

[hog88]

Makes me think that Bama noticed it, pointed it out to the refs, and intentionally didn't kick that one out of the endzone.

Bama pointed out to the replay official? Since when does a team have contact with the replay official?

 

[bamawriter]

Bama pointed out to the replay official? Since when does a team have contact with the replay official?

They moved the ball before it went to replay.

 

[hog88]

They moved the ball before it went to replay.

Yet not one official blew a whistle when the ball was caught. You think a personal foul would have been called if he hadn’t have ran and was hit by a Bama player? No! There was no whistle the white hat had not indicated a fair catch was called and no attempt to stop the play was ever made.

 

[GAVol]

Bama pointed out to the replay official? Since when does a team have contact with the replay official?

Probably pointed out to an on field official working on the Bama sideline either right after they saw it happen or just before the kickoff where the fair catch was called. Somebody was clearly blowing the whistle between the time the kick was fielded and when Seldon was tackled.

 

[hog88]

Probably pointed out to an on field official working on the Bama sideline. Somebody was clearly blowing the whistle between the time the kick was fielded and when Seldon was tackled.

I haven’t heard that whistle on any of the replays.

 

[GAVol]

I haven’t heard that whistle on any of the replays.

I remember seeing it live and thinking “Why do I hear a whistle?” Probably happened about the time Seldon was at the 10 or 15 yard line. Right or wrong… somebody on the field spotted what they thought was a signal.

 

[bamawriter]

I haven’t heard that whistle on any of the replays.

You can definitely hear the whistle on the broadcast.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

I remember seeing it live and thinking “Why do I hear a whistle?” Probably happened about the time Seldon was at the 10 or 15 yard line. Right or wrong… somebody on the field spotted what they thought was a signal.

Such a joke of a call. There’s always something weird that happens down there in a tight game . Always. I rarely buy into that sort of narrative. but it’s always something bizarre.

 

[Voltopia]

Such a joke of a call. There’s always something weird that happens down there in a tight game . Always. I rarely buy into that sort of narrative. but it’s always something bizarre.

That's the thing though. I don't believe in vast conspiracies either, but I can believe there are officials who hold an internal approval of Alabama, or who just tend to favor Alabama because of their Hall-of-Fame coach, who knowingly - or even subconsciously - make decisions in Alabama's favor. Nothing big, nothing flashy. Say you miss a hold on a crucial running play. Or you flag someone for a ridiculous hand signal that never gets called. It doesn't have to be big. It just has to be at the right time. "Well, it's Alabama, they're a tough and physical team, and the other team just isn't playing as physical." No flag. Play on. As long as you never admit it, what can anyone do about it? Throw 'em an occasional bone (like they did in Knoxville last year) and get on with it.

Hell, the collective sports media just jokes about it anyway. Look at the online "we say what we really think" sports shows this week. Josh Pate said "I don't want to talk about it, it is what it is." Joel Klatt said the same. The JD guy that does On3 said the same as well. Andy Staples went a bit further but still blamed Tennessee for losing. "Shut up about it." That's the collective message. "Win anyway." They're happier talking about Alabama's dominance and collecting those clicks than they are rocking any boats. Same in the big traditional media too. And so here we are, and Alabama gets to keep right on rolling.

 

[GulfCoasterVol]

Such a joke of a call. There’s always something weird that happens down there in a tight game . Always. I rarely buy into that sort of narrative. but it’s always something bizarre.

Similar occurrences will take place in games all over the country the rest of the season as they likely have for years and have never and will not be called.
(Unless they are told to emphasize the call now because the public will be zeroed in on anything that could possibly be construed as a "Signal" of any kind whatsoever!!)

 

[rjd970]

The only time I've had serious issues with the officiating in this game was 2019 and now 2023. Both times Tennessee had a legitimate shots to win the game and the officials inserted themselves. Still not sure which game was worse, but the single penalty on Bama for 5 yards probably makes this one worse. Completely and totally one-sided.

From a game management standpoint, this are the most frustrating ones:

- Tipped pass to our TE in the endzone - should have been defensive holding
- The clap call was very frustrating, but I can swallow that one. Still, it was a LB away from the line trying to get someone's attention, this needs to be evaluated at seasons end.
- The clock running at the end of the 1st half when Tenn player went out of bounds - you have to want to see forward progress stopped there.
- Second play out of halftime was a flagrant, obvious, and dangerous holding foul that should have been called, no way to miss it - resulted in Bama TD
- The "fair catch"
- The ticky tack DPI that extended a drive and Bama got points - they were letting all sorts of other things go all afternoon, especially with Bama

Nothing will be done about it, and we were our own worst enemy in the second half which was the ultimate reason for the loss. But the officiating was absolutely horrid and clearly one-sided, and IMO Bama fans should be raising hell too because it gives a reason for fans to question the outcome.

Let's be real, I'm used to losing to Bama, they have just been the better team and I can accept that. What I can't accept is one-sided officiating where all the calls, especially in critical situations, always go to Bama. To this day, you can't convince me there wasn't something shady, unconscious or not, with the 2019 and 2023 games.

 

[rgvol]

That was a terrible call bottom line

 

[barney]

ok so I wonder if our frontline guys have been taught to point the direction the ball is going towards for the receivers. I know Heup said our guys are not coached to do this, but the fact that it was two different players on different plays makes me think that is whats happening here.

 

[Volosaurus rex]

View attachment 589546

That confirms my impression. He didn't bring his hands above his waist, let alone above his shoulders, which means, by their definition, there categorically was no foul.

 

[JRich]

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.

Has to be above his shoulders according to OP's source. I mean, if flexing your hands out to your side breaks the rule, these guys technically can't move at all if it's open to such a broad interpretation. I'd hardly call that a "waiving signal."

Unreasonable. Ref can throw a flag on any player that wipes his nose or rubs his hands together. Scam call to pin UT deep and swing momentum.

 

[UT_Tix79]

One of our front line guys was basically calling for a fair catch on every kick, Alabama noticed it, told the ref, and they saw it on that kickoff and called it.

Now, why he does it every kick is something I can’t begin to even imagine. Maybe he’s waving at someone in the stands, but it’s extremely weird, going back and looking he’s been doing it almost every kickoff to us

 

[JRich]

Better explanation later in the thread @volinSmyrna. Ignore my comment. It was one of the upmen.

 

[barney]

also: what was the ruling on this play? if it was an invalid fair catch, the rules state unambiguously that the ball is spotted at the 25
A valid or invalid signal results in the ball being spotted at the 25 yard line.


A five yard penalty results when a team player advances the ball more than two steps in any direction. So the ball should have been placed at the 20 yardline, not the 4 yardline.

 

[barney]

The frontline player never waved his hand.

 

[UT_Tix79]

The frontline player never waved his hand.
View attachment 590117

 

[barney]

I guess we need to define wave in the rules? Putting you hand above your head and then pulling it back down does not seem like a wave to me.

 

[UT_Tix79]

If you’re trying to run full speed with your hand above your head, I promise it does not stay still.

It’s also just a terrible way to run, Coach said the player said he was pointing at the ball as it traveled over his head. But heck if I know, I went back and watch a bunch of kickoffs, and he’s done it a lot. No clue why, but Coach said it was not a taught thing

 

[bamawriter]

also: what was the ruling on this play? if it was an invalid fair catch, the rules state unambiguously that the ball is spotted at the 25View attachment 590113
A valid or invalid signal results in the ball being spotted at the 25 yard line.
View attachment 590114

A five yard penalty results when a team player advances the ball more than two steps in any direction. So the ball should have been placed at the 20 yardline, not the 4 yardline.

"During a free kick, if a Team B receiver gives any waving signal..., AND SUBSEQUENTLY CATCHES THE BALL..."

The receiver who gave the waving signal did not subsequently catch the ball, so the rule in question isn't applicable.

Go to the interpretations of invalid signals in Article 3, Approved Ruling 6-5-3:

VI. While a free kick is in the air, B21 gives a waving signal that does not meet all the requirements of a valid fair catch signal. The ball is caught by: (a) B21 and the B-5; or (b) B44 at the B-5. RULING: The ball is dead when caught. (a) Team B ball, first and 10 at the 25-yard line; (b) Team B ball, first and 10 at the 5-yard line.

Emphasis is mine to highlight what happened in this instance.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

"During a free kick, if a Team B receiver gives any waving signal..., AND SUBSEQUENTLY CATCHES THE BALL..."

The receiver who gave the waving signal did not subsequently catch the ball, so the rule in question isn't applicable.

Go to the interpretations of invalid signals in Article 3, Approved Ruling 6-5-3:

VI. While a free kick is in the air, B21 gives a waving signal that does not meet all the requirements of a valid fair catch signal. The ball is caught by: (a) B21 and the B-5; or (b) B44 at the B-5. RULING: The ball is dead when caught. (a) Team B ball, first and 10 at the 25-yard line; (b) Team B ball, first and 10 at the 5-yard line.

Emphasis is mine to highlight what happened in this instance.

Thanks for the rule clarification. I only wonder if the rule is impacted by one player making the signal and another catching the ball.

I have not read back through this whole thread but finally found the rule defining a valid signal.

Valid Signal

ARTICLE 2. A valid signal is a signal given by a player of Team B who has obviously signaled their intention by extending one hand only clearly above their head and waving that hand from side to side of their body more than once

How anyone could assume the double arm wave off below the numbers could be an attempt to fake a signal is beyond me. It is clear he is indicating he is not going to catch the ball and warning teammates to get away.

 

[bamawriter]

Thanks for the rule clarification. I only wonder if the rule is impacted by one player making the signal and another catching the ball.

I have not read back through this whole thread but finally found the rule defining a valid signal.

Valid Signal

ARTICLE 2. A valid signal is a signal given by a player of Team B who has obviously signaled their intention by extending one hand only clearly above their head and waving that hand from side to side of their body more than once

How anyone could assume the double arm wave off below the numbers could be an attempt to fake a signal is beyond me. It is clear he is indicating he is not going to catch the ball and warning teammates to get away.

Wrong guy. The signal came from Telander near the front line.