WJMorris3 Posted September 8, 2004 Share Posted September 8, 2004 It's time for the World's Biggest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Georgia leads Florida 30-28 with about 30 seconds left in the game. The Gators face a fourth-and-two at the Bulldogs' 40 yard line. Florida tries to run the ball to get the first. However, Ciatrick Fason is hit at the 39 yard line and fumbles. Alertly, Chris Leak picks up the ball and runs to the 36 yard line.A flag is thrown on the play. Florida has been caught with an illegal formation call - they did not have enough players on the line of scrimmage. You are the Georgia coach. Do you tell your players to accept or decline the penalty? Why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mings Posted September 8, 2004 Share Posted September 8, 2004 decline it, because then the ball is turned over on downs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJMorris3 Posted September 8, 2004 Author Share Posted September 8, 2004 Joshua, I want a clarification. If the Gators advanced the ball to the 36-yard line, they make their first down, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mings Posted September 8, 2004 Share Posted September 8, 2004 with an illegal formation, they play would be called dead at the line of scrimmage, but this play would be called dead at the 39 yard line, so georgia should decline and get the turnover on downs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slapshot Posted September 8, 2004 Share Posted September 8, 2004 I am going to make my judgment on the assumption that Leak and Fason are both Florida players.4th and 2, Georgia 40. Fason gets to the 39 and fumbles, where his teammate Leak recovers the ball on the 36. Florida has an illegal formation penalty.Georgia should decline the penalty, and here's why.An illegal formation is not a dead ball penalty. The referees do not stop the clock upon seeing the formaiton, they let the play run and see what happens. Then, when the play ends, the referee discusses the options with the defensive captain.This is different from a false start/illegal procedure, where the referees would throw their penalty flags and kill the clock immediately.Back to the play: on a fourth down, only the ball carrier may recover and advance his own fumble. So in this case, since it was 4th down, Fason fumbled at the 39, the ball is returned to the spot of the fumble, the Georgia 39.Georgia declines the penalty, because by rule, the end of the play is the Georgia 39. Florida needed to advance to the 38 for a first down. If Georgia accepts the penalty, it would be 4th and 7 for Florida at the 45. Back-to-Back Fatal Forty Champion 2015 & 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJMorris3 Posted September 8, 2004 Author Share Posted September 8, 2004 Mings had it at first. Thank you JP for the clarification! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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