Q&A, Ask a Football Rules, Situation, Philosophy, or Call Question

[Pipe Line]

That guy is getting sued by Dean for sure. That was PREMIUM TUNNEL TALK INFORMATION.

There is literally no other place to get that kind of info. Dean will see his ass in court

 

[alt f4]

I fully agree with this.

There was one spot in which Buffalo was clearly short of the line to gain and was given a first down. And there was on other questionable one, both of which should have went to review. The other one I do believe he got it but not by the full yard they gave him.

LJ and FJ had a rough game for sure.

The FG in the last few seconds I thought was no good. It looks bad from the TV angle because it curves back to the middle after it crosses the upright.

 

[Jim14510]

There is literally no other place to get that kind of info. Dean will see his ass in court

Has to offset His losses to @slattimer

 

[Faux Sean Callahan]

@alt f4 would you give 2 points for the takedown here?

 

[slattimer]

@alt f4

Crack Shallow Screen OU ran early....blind side block? 1st Play in the video.

 

[Faux Sean Callahan]

@alt f4

Crack Shallow Screen OU ran early....blind side block? 1st Play in the video.

Fuck I thought it was targeting

 

[alt f4]

@alt f4

Crack Shallow Screen OU ran early....blind side block? 1st Play in the video.

Without a doubt. That defender had no way of defending himself. That's the very definition of blindside block.

 

[alt f4]

@alt f4 would you give 2 points for the takedown here?

This is an example of a clear hold that will never get called because of philosophy. The hold had no impact on the play and the defender would not have made a play on ball carrier and its not at point of attack.

 

[Jim14510]

This is an example of a clear hold that will never get called because of philosophy. The hold had no impact on the play and the defender would not have made a play on ball carrier and its not at point of attack.

I would rather have it that way. I hate holds and block in the back called when the defender is nowhere near making a play.

 

[slattimer]

Without a doubt. That defender had no way of defending himself. That's the very definition of blindside block.

That's what I thought. I was screaming like a lunatic at my TV when it happened. Precisely what they're trying to eliminate...and let that call go. Pretty big missed call at that point in the game.

 

[alt f4]

Fuck I thought it was targeting

That is exactly why it should have been called a blindside block. Essentially a blindside block is a decleater or blow up block that looks like a targeting, but doesn't target head or neck area. There should have been 3 officials seeing this block. Both line of scrimmage officials (their offensive keys then their zone/belt) and the umpire (he helps with passes over the middle).

 

[Faux Sean Callahan]

On the punt return... How can you get flagged for sideline interference during the play and it is treated like a dead ball foul though it happened during the play?

Hypocritical question. Let's say a fumble and the ball is rolling toward the offenses sideline. What is stopping them from coming off the sideline and basically hitting the ball out of bounds if it is obvious turnover in the works? Take the penalty but maintain the possession.

 

[hothouse_corn]

@alt f4, how do you have the temperament to be a sideline official, with seemingly constant bitching in your ear? Have you ever lost your cool?

 

[alt f4]

On the punt return... How can you get flagged for sideline interference during the play and it is treated like a dead ball foul though it happened during the play?

Hypocritical question. Let's say a fumble and the ball is rolling toward the offenses sideline. What is stopping them from coming off the sideline and basically hitting the ball out of bounds if it is obvious turnover in the works? Take the penalty but maintain the possession.

Sideline interference is administered as a deadball foul, although it during live ball. It should be a greater penalty because I've been taken out a couple of times running full speed through a team box on a turnover or long run. Doesn't feel good to run into a guy in full pads.

Physical interference with an official is a foul charged to the team for unsportsmanlike conduct. (A.R. 9-2-5-I) PENALTY—Team unsportsmanlike conduct. Administer as a dead-ball foul. 15 yards from the succeeding spot. Automatic first down for fouls by Team B if not in conflict with other rules.


Part 2 is something that we've never talked about before, mainly because I don't think it's ever happened. I do know there is a rule in place for a break away TD which someone comes off bench and trips that runner. I suppose you could go live ball illegal participation, an unsportsmanlike conduct for sideline interference. Decline illegal participation, 15 yard sideline interference, and if it was clear other team would have recovered, give them the ball.

PENALTY [5]—Unsportsmanlike conduct. The referee may take any action they consider equitable, which includes directing that the down be repeated, including assessing a 15-yard penalty, awarding a score, or suspending or forfeiting the game

 

[slattimer]

Part 2 is something that we've never talked about before, mainly because I don't think it's ever happened. I do know there is a rule in place for a break away TD which someone comes off bench and trips that runner. I suppose you could go live ball illegal participation, an unsportsmanlike conduct for sideline interference. Decline illegal participation, 15 yard sideline interference, and if it was clear other team would have recovered, give them the ball.

I was a part of a game in college where this occurred. NAIA game in KS. Our CB picked a ball off on the 2 or 3 yard line, and is racing down the opponents sideline, no one is catching him, and he gets decleated by a guy that comes off the bench. Both teams are at midfield moments later, talking shit, ready for a brawl. It was wild. For whatever reason, the refs gave a 15 yard penalty from where he intercepted the ball, no idea why it wasn't at least the spot of the foul, but I remember our HC absolutely losing his mind. We lost by 2 points that day...

2nd Bizzaro world, played a rival in a JV game as a freshman in college. Game is over, lots of hatred, shit talking going on throughout...pretty sure I murdered a DB that day on an INT return, knocked him into our bench, this FB ran up and kicked him in the gut. Same kid, walking through the line, socks another dude in the stomach, and it's on. Punches thrown, helmet swings, tackling...I don't know how the hell they got it to stop. We got in the lockerroom and the DC who was the JV HC, said "You guys know you're going to run till you die tomorrow right? But way to kick their ass." LOL. But yeah, the next day sucked balls.

 

[alt f4]

@alt f4, how do you have the temperament to be a sideline official, with seemingly constant bitching in your ear? Have you ever lost your cool?

This is a long answer, so bare with me, it's one that I really work on to make sure coaches like when we step onto the field.

When I was just starting out and younger, it was hell, I didn't know how to get the upper hand and prevent this from happening.

Besides those first years, it's actually pretty easy on the sideline, there are not a lot of coaches who get after us. Way more from the fans, I've made quite a few of those over the years pissed. The worst thing you can do is tune it out, need to communicate a lot.

I feel like I have a pretty good handle on the coaches that it doesn't rise to that bitching and yelling. There is a good correlation in the level of play and how coaches act, how good the teams are, and how disciplined of football they play. The higher the level, the easier sidelines get - youth (sucks the worst) -----------------------------------> junior high -> Freshman -> Reserves/JV -> Sub class B Varsity ----------------------> Class A/B Varsity ---------------------------------------------------------> College.

Through the years, I've seen pretty much the same Class A/B teams and college teams. I build a relationship with the coaches, pre-game I usually build that human connection talking to them about their kids, grand kids, or family, or just laugh and joke about something. During the game I try and communicate something with a coach every kickoff or between quarters. Between halves I also ask how we did in the first half and if there is anything we need to discuss or get better seeing. That relationship prevents a lot.

Also, having a great crew helps. I've had good to the best crews for the last 8-10 years. It's really never my call that gets under a coach, it's something across or in the middle of the field. Having a great crew prevents bad or missed calls, which helps the sideline. My college crew did 4 straight NAIA semi-finals games. If not for conference teams, we would had a final or two in that run. During a 6 year run until 2020 we had the most playoff games than any other crew, and even more than some conference's crews combined.

Also, I went to a camp years ago which had a session about handling coaches, of course Bo was brought up A LOT. The thing that I took away with is I have to see it through their perspective, not mine. Stuff like "Coach I understand you're angry about that pass interference call, as a coach I wouldn't like it either in that situation, however, by rule and philosophy the defender made early contact without playing the ball, which prevented the receiver from making a play on the ball." When you describe what was seen and cite by rule or by philosophy it helps clear up any argument right away.

There were only two that stand out right now. One, Dennis Wagner, he was horrible to work with, like just bitched to bitch sometimes. His last game at Briar Cliff, he was coming off the field at an injured player (his player said he was clipped, when actually it was him own guy falling on him). As he was coming off, he stared right at me, then took a route to intentionally bump into me. Nothing to hard, but UNS and I should have tossed him. He was that coach that just yelled something to yell.

Other was Coach Martin at Omaha North. When I've had him prior to this game, he's been great, gets worked up, but then gives it up. This game they were getting beat badly and there was roughing the passer call that went against them. Coach Martin to this point didn't say a single word about the game, comes unglued on me on the sidelines to the point any explanation out of my mouth became an argument about previous plays in the game. It became revolving to the point I just said I'll talk to you when you're calm at the next timeout. Well, then it became I'm ignoring him, his players start to join in. And sure as shit that timeout came right away. His assistant coach walks up to me on the field and puts a tablet in my face and says, look at that that call. Well that an automatic UNS. Damon Benning actually talked about it on his show that next morning as this was a Thursday game. Damon explained that it was the white hat's explanation on why Coach Martin came unglued, so it's all about how you explain something to coaches.

 

[Jim14510]

This is a long answer, so bare with me, it's one that I really work on to make sure coaches like when we step onto the field.

When I was just starting out and younger, it was hell, I didn't know how to get the upper hand and prevent this from happening.

Besides those first years, it's actually pretty easy on the sideline, there are not a lot of coaches who get after us. Way more from the fans, I've made quite a few of those over the years pissed. The worst thing you can do is tune it out, need to communicate a lot.

I feel like I have a pretty good handle on the coaches that it doesn't rise to that bitching and yelling. There is a good correlation in the level of play and how coaches act, how good the teams are, and how disciplined of football they play. The higher the level, the easier sidelines get - youth (sucks the worst) -----------------------------------> junior high -> Freshman -> Reserves/JV -> Sub class B Varsity ----------------------> Class A/B Varsity ---------------------------------------------------------> College.

Through the years, I've seen pretty much the same Class A/B teams and college teams. I build a relationship with the coaches, pre-game I usually build that human connection talking to them about their kids, grand kids, or family, or just laugh and joke about something. During the game I try and communicate something with a coach every kickoff or between quarters. Between halves I also ask how we did in the first half and if there is anything we need to discuss or get better seeing. That relationship prevents a lot.

Also, having a great crew helps. I've had good to the best crews for the last 8-10 years. It's really never my call that gets under a coach, it's something across or in the middle of the field. Having a great crew prevents bad or missed calls, which helps the sideline. My college crew did 4 straight NAIA semi-finals games. If not for conference teams, we would had a final or two in that run. During a 6 year run until 2020 we had the most playoff games than any other crew, and even more than some conference's crews combined.

Also, I went to a camp years ago which had a session about handling coaches, of course Bo was brought up A LOT. The thing that I took away with is I have to see it through their perspective, not mine. Stuff like "Coach I understand you're angry about that pass interference call, as a coach I wouldn't like it either in that situation, however, by rule and philosophy the defender made early contact without playing the ball, which prevented the receiver from making a play on the ball." When you describe what was seen and cite by rule or by philosophy it helps clear up any argument right away.

There were only two that stand out right now. One, Dennis Wagner, he was horrible to work with, like just bitched to bitch sometimes. His last game at Briar Cliff, he was coming off the field at an injured player (his player said he was clipped, when actually it was him own guy falling on him). As he was coming off, he stared right at me, then took a route to intentionally bump into me. Nothing to hard, but UNS and I should have tossed him. He was that coach that just yelled something to yell.

Other was Coach Martin at Omaha North. When I've had him prior to this game, he's been great, gets worked up, but then gives it up. This game they were getting beat badly and there was roughing the passer call that went against them. Coach Martin to this point didn't say a single word about the game, comes unglued on me on the sidelines to the point any explanation out of my mouth became an argument about previous plays in the game. It became revolving to the point I just said I'll talk to you when you're calm at the next timeout. Well, then it became I'm ignoring him, his players start to join in. And sure as shit that timeout came right away. His assistant coach walks up to me on the field and puts a tablet in my face and says, look at that that call. Well that an automatic UNS. Damon Benning actually talked about it on his show that next morning as this was a Thursday game. Damon explained that it was the white hat's explanation on why Coach Martin came unglued, so it's all about how you explain something to coaches.

You still do high school or just college these days?

 

[alt f4]

You still do high school or just college these days?

I still both, mainly class A with a few top B match-ups. I enjoy working high school football still, there's something about a Friday nights under the lights that I like. NAIA college can be a 6am to 8pm day. D2 is usually an overnight or 3am drive and get home 11pm.

 

[Jim14510]

I still both, mainly class A with a few top B match-ups. I enjoy working high school football still, there's something about a Friday nights under the lights that I like. NAIA college can be a 6am to 8pm day. D2 is usually an overnight or 3am drive and get home 11pm.

Let me know when you're doing a Prep game so I can come heckle you.

 

[alt f4]

Let me know when you're doing a Prep game so I can come heckle you.

Don't have them this year, unless it's in the playoffs. I used to have them 1-2 times per year when I was working Omaha Metro (2019 was last year there). Now I'm working mainly Lincoln area games.