Game Eight: #1 Ohio State 44, Indiana 3 (10/21/06)

[Dryden]

I watched the DVD last night and finally saw the incident that brought up the "3rd down punt."

First, the penalties were "illegal hands to the face," which is a polite way of saying that Downing punched a D-Lineman in the head, and the D-Lineman swung back.

The ref clearly announced "during the play ... those penalties off-set, the down remains 2." I believe the ref making the announcement was mistaken though, because it appeared that Downing's penalty was a live-ball foul, but the other was a dead-ball foul, or else both were live-ball fouls and were simply administered as dead-ball fouls since they were of the personal foul/fighting variety and were inconsequential to the outcome of the play (an incompletion on the other side of the field).

The official box score reflects that the penalties occured on 2nd down, the officials signaled 3rd and 15, and the correction from the announced penalty was noted:

O 1-10 O46 OHIO STATE drive start at 05:08 (2nd).
O 1-10 O46 Smith, Troy deep pass incomplete to Ginn, Jr., Ted.
O 2-10 O46 Deadball foul, PENALTY OSU false start 5 yards to the OSU41, NO PLAY.
O 2-15 O41 Smith, Troy sideline pass incomplete to Hall, Roy (Porter, Tracy), PENALTY OSU personal foul off-setting, PENALTY IND personal foul off-setting.
O 3-15 O41 3rd and 15.
O 3-15 O41 Smith, Troy pass complete to Ginn, Jr., Ted for 10 yards to the IND49 (Porter, Tracy).
O 4-5 I49 Trapasso, A. J. punt 43 yards to the IND6, fair catch by Porter, Tracy.
--------------- 3 plays, 5 yards, TOP 01:02 ---------------

Here's the appropriate section of the NCAA rulebook (Rule 10: Penalty Enforcement):

Offsetting Fouls
ARTICLE 4. If live-ball fouls by both teams are reported to the referee, each such foul is an offsetting foul, the penalties cancel each other, and the down is replayed (A.R. 10-1-4-II, IX and X).

Exceptions:

1. When there is a change of team possession during a down or at the end of a down by rule, the team last gaining possession may decline offsetting fouls and thereby retain possession after completion of the penalty for its infraction if it had not fouled before last gaining possession (A.R. 10-1-4-I-VIII).
2. When Team B?s foul calls for postscrimmage kick enforcement, Team B may decline offsetting fouls and accept postscrimmage kick enforcement.
3. When a live-ball foul is administered as a dead-ball foul, it does not offset and is enforced in order of occurrence.
4. Rule 8-3-4-c (during a try after Team B possession).

Dead-Ball Fouls
ARTICLE 5. Penalties for dead-ball fouls are administered separately and in order of occurrence (A.R. 10-1-5-I-VIII) [Exception: When unsportsmanlike or dead-ball personal fouls by both teams are reported to the referee and before any of the penalties have been completed or the order of occurrence cannot be determined, the fouls offset, the number or type of down established before the fouls occurred is unaffected, and the penalties are cancelled, except that any disqualified player must leave the game (Rules 5-2-6 and 10-2-2-a)].

Live-Ball?Dead-Ball Fouls
ARTICLE 6. When a live-ball foul by one team is followed by one or more dead-ball fouls (including live-ball fouls penalized as dead-ball fouls) by an opponent or by the same team, the penalties are administered separately and in the order of occurrence (A.R. 10-1-6-I-VII).

[BB73]

ozone

Players of the Week
By John Porentas

OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel announced the players of the week for the Indiana game at his weekly press luncheon today. They were as follows:

Offensive Player of the Week: Troy Smith
Defensive Player of the Week: Antonio Smith
Attack Force Player of the Week: James Laurinaitis
Special Teams Player of the Week: Brian Hartline
Jim Parker Offensive Lineman of the Week: Kirk Barton
Scout Team Defensive Player of the Week: Ryan Lukens
Scout Team Offensive Player of the Week: Dan Potokar
Scout Team Special Teams Player of the Week: De'Angelo Haslam

There were three nominees by the coaching staff for the Jack Tatum Hit of the Week. They were Hartline, Jay Richardson, and Antonio Smith. According to Tressel, the actual winner of the award will be determined by a vote of the team today.

Tressel indicated that around 12 offensive players and nine or 10 defensive players graded out to winning performances against Indiana.

In injury updates, Tressel said that defensive tackle David Patterson will be available and at full go this week for the Minnesota game. Tressel also indicated that wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. incurred a minor foot injury (broken little toe) last Wednesday during practice. Ginn played vs. Indiana and is expected to play vs. Minnesota with no ill effects from the injury. Defensive end Lawrence Wilson, who left the Indiana game with an injury, is fine and will play against Minnesota.

In other personnel news, Tressel confirmed that OSU wide receiver Ray Small was held out of last week's game for an infraction of team rules, but will play this week against the Gophers.

Troy Smith
Antonio Smith
James Laurinaitis
Brian Hartline




Kirk Barton
De'Angelo Haslam
Ryan Lukens
Dan Potokar