Will's You Make The Call #2

[WJMorris3]

It's early in the second quarter of a game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes.

On fourth and seven, the Buckeyes line up to punt from their 20 yard line. Instead of punting, however, the punter lofts a high, arcing pass down the left sideline. The Michigan player signals for a fair catch and is drilled just as he attempts to catch the ball at the Michigan 45 yard line. The returner muffs the catch and the ball goes out of bounds, without touching the ground, at the Michigan 43 yard line.

During this time, the Michigan players are constantly blocking the Ohio State gunner, who would have almost certainly had an opportunity to catch the ball had he not been held and blocked.

What is your ruling? Include down, distance, yard line, and possession.

[sc49erfan15]

On fourth and seven, the Buckeyes line up to punt from their 20 yard line. Instead of punting, however, the punter

lofts a high, arcing pass down the left sideline. The Michigan player signals for a fair catch and is drilled just as he

attempts to catch the ball at the Michigan 45 yard line.

You can't call a fair catch when you're trying to intercept a pass. What is this guy trying to pull?

The returner muffs the catch and the ball goes out of bounds, without touching the ground, at the Michigan 43 yard line.

Word. Not a bad pass for a punter.

During this time, the Michigan players are constantly blocking the Ohio State gunner, who would have almost

certainly had an opportunity to catch the ball had he not been held and blocked.

Oh, those cheating, cheating Wolverines. Pass interference on the defense. Spot foul, first down.

What is your ruling? Include down, distance, yard line, and possession.

Buckeye ball, 1st and 10 from the Michigan 43.

[ROCHitman]

It doesn't matter.

Michigan routes the *uckeyes 34-3 no matter how you rule it

Maize & Blue

[wheateater]

It's early in the second quarter of a game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes.

On fourth and seven, the Buckeyes line up to punt from their 20 yard line.  Instead of punting, however, the punter lofts a high, arcing pass down the left sideline.  The Michigan player signals for a fair catch and is drilled just as he attempts to catch the ball at the Michigan 45 yard line.  The returner muffs the catch and the ball goes out of bounds, without touching the ground, at the Michigan 43 yard line.

During this time, the Michigan players are constantly blocking the Ohio State gunner, who would have almost certainly had an opportunity to catch the ball had he not been held and blocked.

What is your ruling?  Include down, distance, yard line, and possession.

(OK. First off, what is this Michigan doofus doing signalling for a fair catch on a forward pass in the first place??? )

As you word it, it seems the play is nothing more than a fake punt resulting in a passing play. In that case, the aforementioned doofus should've attempted to make the interception. However, he muffs it, knocking the ball out of bounds. And as long as the Ohio State gunner was not being illegally held (was this bump-and-run coverage? I'm not clear on that), there's no way to tell if the ball was catchable in the first place, meaning evidence is inconclusive for a pass interference call. In the end, being 4th down, the result of the play is a turnover on downs; Wolverines ball, 1st and 10 on the Buckeyes' 20.

BTW, all this confusion could've been avoided had this been Canadian football. No 4th down, no problem. Punt on a 2-and-out. It's that simple.

[winters in buffalo]

I'm not sure if the NCAA rule is the same as the NFL, but I would think that there would be offsetting pass interference calls...

It's still 4th and 7 at the Buckeye's 20.

[slapshot]

We were just discussing this rule at my football referee meeting tonight. The NCAA added a rule this year that there can be NO defensive pass inteference when a play is obivously a kick formation but the punter throws a pass that simulates a punt (a high throw, as described, that looks like a punt). It's a trick play, and at the snap, the defenders are blocking the ends of the offensive team down the field.

If it were a normal pass play, there would be defensive pass inteference beyond 5 yards from the line of scrimmage. But you can't penalize the defensive players who are most likely unaware it's a pass and not a kick, especially if it carries the same trajectory. There may be other defensive penalties, such as blocks below the waist, blocks in the back, etc, against eligible receivers, but not specifically defensive pass inteference.

Here is a summary of what has happened:

1) there is no punt, so there is no defensive pass inteference on the blockers going down the field

2) there may be offensive pass inteference against the players who drill the original punt returner

3) since it is a pass, there is no muff, and once the ball hits the ground or goes out of bounds it is simply an incomplete pass

I believe Michigan would have the option of the following choices:

a) Penalize Ohio State for Pass Inteference. This would give Ohio State the ball, 4th and 17 at Ohio State 10.

b)Treat it as an incomplete pass on 4th down, thus Ohio State turns the ball over to Michigan. 1st down, goal to go for Michigan, on the Ohio State 10 yard line.

[WJMorris3]

Very good, JP! Though this leaves me to ask, are you a college ref or did high school add the rule too this year?

[slapshot]

I ref Pop Warner (youth up to age 14), high school and semi-pro. Our organization goes by the NCAA rule book, and each level may have separate modifications. The semi-pro league is modified NFL rules, like one foot in-bounds for a catch, a 5-yard halo for punk returns, kickoffs from the 35 yard line, etc.

[wheateater]

Well, at least I was kinda close...