Fair Catch?!

[LibertyVol]

Anybody believe that is called against bama?

 

[MegaVol615]

The refs got the entire thing wrong. The motion Dee made does not qualify as a fair catch signal. Spotting the ball at the place a fair catch was supposedly signaled is also incorrect. Didn’t get a good look at our sideline in the aftermath but our staff should have been all over the refs for this

 

[FlVols]

Nothing was called against Bama.

 

[adam.vol]

Check the finish of the Iowa game today. It’s an invalid signal (like faking the fair catch signal). I don’t believe Dee was waving him off a ball. He was facing the play not the returner. I can’t find a picture of it, though.

It’s a subjective call for sure.

No returner is looking away from the ball. I was referring to the blockers, some of who have to turn backs to the kicking team as they reposition. I don’t pretend to know what the Vols’ signals are, but I have seen returners communicate to their teammates this way before. I had never seen a player signal for a fair catch with hand out at the hip, palm down. Now I’m going to be wondering what the difference is when a punt returner waives his teammates away from a punt.

 

[adam.vol]

They said lifting the arms to the waist was giving the play up. Which is normally true, we do that when the ball is kicked over our heads. They said that gave the play up as an illegal fair catch signal, so the ball was dead where Cam touched it.

I can see their reasoning, if people see that signal, they give up. I don’t think Dee thought Cam was going to go catch it though.

How can that be? Every returner catches the ball with hands above the waist. That description is anything but normal.

 

[Cartervol]

Nothing was called against Bama.

Played their cleanest game all year. Vols Walking back to the locker room with Jerseys half tore off..

 

[Toucan Sam]

It wasn't a fair catch.

 

[UT_Tix79]

According to the NCAA rule book, “A valid or invalid fair catch signal deprives the receiving team of the opportunity to advance the ball. The ball is declared dead at the spot of the catch or recovery.” An invalid fair catch signal is defined as “any waving signal” by a member of the receiving team that does not meet the requirements of a valid fair catch signal.

 

[95 Vol Alum]

No returner is looking away from the ball. I was referring to the blockers, some of who have to turn backs to the kicking team as they reposition. I don’t pretend to know what the Vols’ signals are, but I have seen returners communicate to their teammates this way before. I had never seen a player signal for a fair catch with hand out at the hip, palm down. Now I’m going to be wondering what the difference is when a punt returner waives his teammates away from a punt.

I get you and that’s likely what he was doing, signaling the coverage with their backs to the ball that it was no return. Then the other guy fields and returns it which is why, I assume, they deemed it an invalid fair catch signal.

I believe a returner can point at the ball legally. And if they wave guys off and no catch is made, obviously there’s nothing to deal with it.

I was just as confused as everybody but understand better the call at least. Refs were bad on plenty of other stuff for sure. The defense alignment signal being construed as calling offense signals tripped my switch.

 

[adam.vol]

The defense alignment signal being construed as calling offense signals tripped my switch.

I almost forgot about that penalty. Be careful about how you move your hands when you communicate.

The lesson is: Refs can make an issue about anything and the broadcast booth is not trustworthy.

 

[volinSmyrna]

This new “T” signal is the signal on kickoff that it’s going to be a touchback. Every college and pro team uses it. Most of the time the returner doesn’t catch it and lets it go in the end zone. It is officially considered an invalid fair catch signal. I think he just did it as a reflex/habit thing. If Dee catches that, it’s our ball on the 25. Problem is Seldon caught it so it’s dead there. The return is irrelevant. If Dee would have caught it and run, then it is a delay of game penalty.

 

[bpalmer28]

It looked to me like he was signaling “let it go into the end zone” but then the other returner took off with it. Is that the same as a fair catch? Serious question.

No. It happens a lot actually. Bogus call

 

[bpalmer28]

This new “T” signal is the signal on kickoff that it’s going to be a touchback. Every college and pro team uses it. Most of the time the returner doesn’t catch it and lets it go in the end zone. It is officially considered an invalid fair catch signal. I think he just did it as a reflex/habit thing. If Dee catches that, it’s our ball on the 25. Problem is Seldon caught it so it’s dead there. The return is irrelevant. If Dee would have caught it and run, then it is a delay of game penalty.

The T was never formed tho. He stopped himself

 

[UT_Tix79]

No. It happens a lot actually. Bogus call

I have literally never seen it done and then caught by another player. Everytime it’s done, it’s a fair catch, or signaling the ball is going over their head into the endzone

 

[J C Higgins]

View attachment 589415Am I missing something?

ARTICLE 2. No Team B player shall carry a caught or recovered ball more than two steps in any direction after any Team B player gives a valid or invalid fair catch signal (A.R. 6-5-2-1-111).

This statement is ridiculous. So what constitutes an invalid fair catch signal. Almost any arm movement by any receiving team member could be declared an invalid fair catch signal.

How about "no runner can be tackled after he's gone out of bounds or hasn't gone out of bounds."?

 

[volinSmyrna]

The T was never formed tho. He stopped himself

He didn’t stop himself soon enough unfortunately. Like I said, I think it was habit/reflex and he didn’t mean to. Amazing the white hat saw that but not the 10 holds that happened right in front of him.

 

[Carl Pickens]

Who called for a fair catch? They never showed it happening

No one did. Williams slightly moved both arms, but not really any higher than his waist. They called it an “invalid signal”

 

[Carl Pickens]

According to the NCAA rule book, “A valid or invalid fair catch signal deprives the receiving team of the opportunity to advance the ball. The ball is declared dead at the spot of the catch or recovery.” An invalid fair catch signal is defined as “any waving signal” by a member of the receiving team that does not meet the requirements of a valid fair catch signal.

That’s an incredibly broad definition that could conceivably be called on every kick

 

[J C Higgins]

That’s an incredibly broad definition that could conceivably be called on every kick

Absolutely....just a ridiculous statement.

Addendum:

Not blaming the refs, just criticizing the wording of that rule. The way it's written it lends itself to being called and potentially abused on virtually every punt or kickoff.

 

[Volfan1000]

First of all I have never seen a fair catch called that way. Secondly if you call for a fair catch before the 25 it automatically goes to the 25. Why didn’t that happen?

These refs are atrocious!!!!!

I have never seen that call made in any football game.

 

[OrangeTsar]

I predict they will flag us against Georgia and claim that the receiver was mentally planning to return the kick and that counts as a signal. This is getting beyond parody. The SEC knows that they are playing us for fools and they know they we know. 1 penalty for five yards shows that they are simply rubbing our faces in it.

 

[PandamoniumReigns]

It was the correct call.

Nope.

 

[UT_Tix79]

I have never seen that call made in any football game.

It literally happened last week in a game. 1 returner called fair catch, and started running towards the ball, and his teammate caught it and the ball was placed on the 3 yard line instead of the 25, because no one but the player calling fair catch can touch the ball.

 

[90 Vol]

It was the correct call.

Wrong.

 

[Carl Pickens]

I’m explaining the rule. I’m not going to argue but the reviewed the call and replay showed the player signaled for fair catch. It gave us poor field position but TN coached and played like the entire 2nd half. It is what it is

Who specifically signaled ?