Penalty discussion

[BruisedOrange]

As I remember it, young Griese, in the booth doing color for the game, relayed to the TV audience the official's explanation of "momentum going forward" then commented dismissively, "That's not what I saw."

On replay, the returner, facing the punt, lurched a half-step to his right--parallel to the goal line--to make the catch, then turned it back up field at full acceleration.

If Butch requests a reexamination from the SEC, he'll likely get a fair response. Remember this quote from Richt the week after the S.Carolina debacle?

"I’ll say this about [SEC coordinator of officials] Steve Shaw: He’ll shoot you straight and he’ll say exactly what he thought. Many times he’ll say, ‘I don’t know if this was a quality call.’ … If there’s an explanation needed, he’s always there."

 

[SamRebel35]

Yep, that's why you see them slap it down a lot of times.

It was deemed a forward pass, so if UGA catches it, its a regular interception. Only way we could have advanced the ball would've been if an eligible receiver had caught it.


EDIT: Just noticed Rex said pretty much the same thing.

Or if the ball had been hit by the pass rusher, thus constituting a "tipped pass", in which case a linemen is able to catch it and advance. But he never hit the ball, just the elbow.

 

[vol4220]

what about the punt that they grabbed Cam an pulled him to the side not giving him a chance to field it. I think that was the one that landed at the 2 1/2. No interference at all?

 

[GrowVol]

"Home Cook'n" calls
This is what my Bama fan boss refers to when Bama is playing at home and gets every little help along the way. He is long time fan.
(Before you bash...I know it was a Uga/Tn game..)
It's true, a favored team at home...gets favorable calls.
Gurley's "over the top" TD never came close to breaking the line....but called a TD. Had it been us.....no way.
Don't know if refs made enough of a difference, not trying to blame them for us loosing, but calls here and there...ultimately change momentum in a game.
Gurley spiked the ball in the 4th qtr TD run. Had we have spiked the ball.....penalty
Homecook'n........plain and simple
sucks

 

[WallyBalls]

Or if the ball had been hit by the pass rusher, thus constituting a "tipped pass", in which case a linemen is able to catch it and advance. But he never hit the ball, just the elbow.

Right, forgot to add that exception.

Either way, if I see the a lineman catch a tip/fumble/whatever I instantly go into "GETDOWNGETDOWNGETDOWN" mode. I always think they'll cough it up.

 

[GAVol]

Yep, that's why you see them slap it down a lot of times.

It was deemed a forward pass, so if UGA catches it, its a regular interception. Only way we could have advanced the ball would've been if an eligible receiver had caught it.


EDIT: Just noticed Rex said pretty much the same thing.

Slapping it wouldn't have changed the call though. It'd still be illegal touching.

 

[vollygirl]

"Home Cook'n" calls
This is what my Bama fan boss refers to when Bama is playing at home and gets every little help along the way. He is long time fan.
(Before you bash...I know it was a Uga/Tn game..)
It's true, a favored team at home...gets favorable calls.
Gurley's "over the top" TD never came close to breaking the line....but called a TD. Had it been us.....no way.
Don't know if refs made enough of a difference, not trying to blame them for us loosing, but calls here and there...ultimately change momentum in a game.
Gurley spiked the ball in the 4th qtr TD run. Had we have spiked the ball.....penalty
Homecook'n........plain and simple
sucks

Pretty sure he got an unsportsmanlike for that.

But the refs are obviously gonna hedge to the higher ranked team. Take your chances on the "better" team if you're in doubt I guess.

 

[vollygirl]

Slapping it wouldn't have changed the call though. It'd still be illegal touching.

So he isn't allowed to touch it at all? Or maybe the better question is, when is he allowed to touch the ball- if ever?

 

[limsol45]

Gurley spiked the ball in the 4th qtr TD run. Had we have spiked the ball.....penalty
Homecook'n........plain and simple
sucks

It was a penalty. They kicked off further back and Young ran it back to midfield on the KO return.

 

[loggervol]

The sideline penalty infuriated me, only because I think it was called only because the line judge that dropped the flag was absolutely unaware of the situation.

Play was run with only a couple seconds left of the clock, clearly the end of the half. Runner is tackled, refs watching the play blow it dead so everyone heads to the locker room. As the whistle were blown, one of the UT coaches turns to walk towards the locker room.

For some reason, the official in that position was moving to spot the ball (which was pointless as half was over). He bumped into the coach so he INSTANTLY drops a flag.

It should have been a simple sideline warning at most.

Like I said, it wasn't that it really changed the game, it was just another way you could tell that crew did not have a good handle on the game.

that's what I thought. usually the first one is a sideline warning.

the one that gets me was the non call for a block in the back when ga had that punt return.

 

[GAVol]

So he isn't allowed to touch it at all? Or maybe the better question is, when is he allowed to touch the ball- if ever?

Eligible receivers are the guys on either end of the line of scrimmage and the 4 guys that lineup in the backfield. If you're not one of those guys, you can't be the first player to touch a forward pass. The only way they can touch the ball is if the ball is tipped.

 

[Volosaurus rex]

Our players seemed to be the only ones aware he signaled for the fair catch. They all held up. And then threw their arms up when he took off. I don't remember how the play ended though.

I am inclined to think that Georgia's players and coaches, ahem, deliberately ignored this act and hoped that the officiating crew would do so as well. Unfortunately, the zebras followed suit.

 

[vollygirl]

Eligible receivers are the guys on either end of the line of scrimmage and the 4 guys that lineup in the backfield. If you're not one of those guys, you can't be the first player to touch a forward pass. The only way they can touch the ball is if the ball is tipped.

So it's all because it was considered a pass? If it was just a ball up in the air it would've been fair game?

If you're a lineman and you don't know, do you risk it and go for the ball always?

 

[utvolpj]

Gurley's "over the top" TD never came close to breaking the line....but called a TD.

I'd say it was a bit closer than you're making it out to be

 

[utvolpj]

So it's all because it was considered a pass? If it was just a ball up in the air it would've been fair game?

If you're a lineman and you don't know, do you risk it and go for the ball always?

I'm ok with a lineman who suddenly sees the ball in the air going ahead and catching it. Better than letting it go and giving it away

 

[GAVol]

So it's all because it was considered a pass? If it was just a ball up in the air it would've been fair game?

If you're a lineman and you don't know, do you risk it and go for the ball always?

That's exactly it. It was just a screwed up play.

I think the lineman has to alwaysassume it was tipped and go get it so that a defender doesn't get it and go the other way.

It sort of reminded me of the hook and lateral play they ran for Billy Bob in Varsity Blues.

 

[tnuhcvols]

what about the punt that they grabbed Cam an pulled him to the side not giving him a chance to field it. I think that was the one that landed at the 2 1/2. No interference at all?

I saw this, he signaled fair catch and a Ga player wrapped him up just before the ball hit the ground at about the 5. Obviously he was trying to fake the coverage coming down field to ensure the ball goes into the endzone untouched, but does that matter?

 

[Pump Guy]

I am glad it was brought up about the 15 yard sideline penalty at the end of the half.

The only possible way this could have been a sideline infraction was if there was time on the clock. If there was time on the clock, the half cannot end on a defensive penalty. Therefore Georgia should have been awarded a 15 yard penalty and given one more play.

 

[vollygirl]

I'd say it was a bit closer than you're making it out to be

It was close, with the second push. But it wasn't a touchdown. Our defense stopped him.

 

[Volosaurus rex]

So he isn't allowed to touch it at all? Or maybe the better question is, when is he allowed to touch the ball- if ever?

Offensive linemen can, of course, touch the ball on a fumble, but they aren't permitted to touch it on pass plays. They could even line up in the backfield and carry the ball if a coach wished to use a true "jumbo" package. The '85 Bears used "Refrigerator" Perry in this manner in goal line situations on occasion.

To further muddy the waters, there used to be what was called a "tackle-eligible play" where the tackle reported to the official prior to a specific play that he would be an eligible receiver. He had to be "uncovered" to do so, however, which means that no wide receiver could position himself on the line of scrimmage beside the "eligible" tackle. That play was ruled illegal in college football quite some time ago.

 

[GrowVol]

I'd say it was a bit closer than you're making it out to be

Did closer break the line.....or was it me pointing that out, that broke the line?

 

[Pump Guy]

The true game changer was the non-call on the fair catch interference when Georgia ended up downing it at the half yard line. Cam Sutton was hit, while signalling a fair catch, before the ball hit the ground.

The rule is clear; if a fair catch is called, the receiver cannot be touched.

This is the difference in the ball being on the half yard line and past the 20.

These should be easy calls.

 

[GrowVol]

Pretty sure he got an unsportsmanlike for that.

But the refs are obviously gonna hedge to the higher ranked team. Take your chances on the "better" team if you're in doubt I guess.

I don't recall seeing a flag and Mark Richt postgame interview....he said that Gurley got away with it and that something Gurley should never do.

 

[jjay2518]

I'm surprised no one mentioned the one that had the biggest outcome on the game. When Cam called a fair catch on the punt that was downed at the one, he was hit. By rule, it's a personal foul to hit a player calling fair catch whether he catches the ball or not. It would have been our ball at the 25 instead of the 1/2 yard line.

 

[GrowVol]

I'm surprised no one mentioned the one that had the biggest outcome on the game. When Cam called a fair catch on the punt that was downed at the one, he was hit. By rule, it's a personal foul to hit a player calling fair catch whether he catches the ball or not. It would have been our ball at the 25 instead of the 1/2 yard line.

I thought the same thing...but in all honesty, Cam did not signal fair catch....as far as him signalling goes.