Rules Question

[AnnArborBuck]

On the second from last play of the game, shouldn't a Delay of Game penalty been called on the Marshall DL who was laying on our lineman and wouldn't let him get up. As soon as the OL (the one whom was not set on the next play) would try to get up the DL would just fall down on him again. I thought that if you try to delay the O from getting to the line it was Delay of Game which is a 15 yard penalty. That would have made the kick only 35 yards instead of 55 (we wouldn't of had the illegal motion call). We won so I really don't care, I was just curious. Can anybody clarify the Delay of Game penalty? Thanks.

[BuckeyeInTheBoro]

Not sure of the rule, but I've never seen anything called. It's pretty common practice to "get up slow" from the pile in that situation, but I think it's cheap and takes away from the game.

[slickman]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeInTheBoro

Not sure of the rule, but I've never seen anything called. It's pretty common practice to "get up slow" from the pile in that situation, but I think it's cheap and takes away from the game.

It was egregious.

Were those MAC refs? They looked like they were missing holding calls all day on their o-line.

[BuckeyeNation27]

big 10 refs i believe....but the real penalty shouldve been called on OSU for running that play. what the hell was that? you need a first down or a throw to the sidelines.

zwick saved us there with stopping the clock even though hamby wasnt set.

[BB73]

The refs won't call a delay penalty on somebody holding up the offense by laying on top of a guy too long. They can, however, stop the clock if somebody does it for more than a second or 2. That play was close to where they should have stopped the clock.

Hamby, however, took an extra second himself after he got up, in order to bark at the guy and give him a little shove. That's what cost the team the 5 yards, but Nuge bailed him out. I'm sure Tress will talk to the team about that, telling them to keep their head in the game and not react to the other team's BS. I think Mangold will also get an example made of himself, for his retaliatory shove that gave Marshall half the distance to the 13.

Just before Tress's own mistake of accepting the penalty to give Marshall 3rd and 20 instead of 4th and 9 from the 12. How could he do that with a 7 point lead in the 4th quarter?

[craigblitz]

Just before Tress's own mistake of accepting the penalty to give Marshall 3rd and 20 instead of 4th and 9 from the 12. How could he do that with a 7 point lead in the 4th quarter?

I know!!!! I hate to question the Coach, but my god...What 4th and 9 yeah they will punt..... Ughh I was jsut shocked.. Literally shocked. Not JT like at all!

[jimotis4heisman]

i believe it should have been delay of game on the def, 15 yards and an auto 1st down, they were big ten officials.

on the 4th and 9 or 3rd 20 it was a tough call i wanted them to decline and eveyone was yelling at me, BUT to that point marshall had not been able to throw the ball down the field and that makes it a long kick with their [censored]ty, i mean [censored]ty kicker (did anyone else see him warm up???) they played percentages and got burnt, i woulda forced em and given them the three but oo well

[Oh8ch]

BuckeyeBill has it right. There is no penalty but the refs can simply stop the clock in that situation. However, it is a judgement call (I have seen it done several times).

This was the same situation that caused Woody to throw Wayne Duke up against a wall following a loss to MSU many years ago - a game where the refs used horrid judgement in that very situation. OSU ran a play with 29 seconds to go and when they were finally able to snap the ball again and scored what should have been the winning TD the refs ruled that time had expired.

[chille37]

How about the fact that the clock didn't start again as soon as they put it in play and blew the wistle to start the play clock. I mean... if you can just run up there and spike the ball without having everyone lined up, and it only cost you 5 yards.... why don't teams just have any two players get to the ball as quick as possible. Snap it, and spike it.

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

I was screaming "Delay, dammit Delay!" I do believe he stayed on top of Hamby too long. Hamby did not get up and run back like he should have either. Not that it mattered in the end.

The 4th and 9 v. 3rd and 20 wasn't a bad coaching call. OSU had been stuffing them in long yardage situations all day long. Chances where they'd not convert and be facing a longer FG. In retrospect, it was a bad call. If only Tress had a crystal ball. I don't doubt that decision at all. If I were coaching, I think I would have declined it. I remember thinking that when we were waiting for the decision. Of course, if I were coaching, and I had declined it, I'm pretty sure there would be those that would be saying, "I can't believe he declined a 10 yard penalty and all but gave them 3 points." It's a lose lose.

[BuckeyeNation27]

How about the fact that the clock didn't start again as soon as they put it in play and blew the wistle to start the play clock. I mean... if you can just run up there and spike the ball without having everyone lined up, and it only cost you 5 yards.... why don't teams just have any two players get to the ball as quick as possible. Snap it, and spike it.

because thats more than just an illegal shift penalty. everybody was behind the lind of scrimmage...but hamby was still moving.

[jimotis4heisman]

Originally Posted by Oh8ch

BuckeyeBill has it right. There is no penalty but the refs can simply stop the clock in that situation. However, it is a judgement call (I have seen it done several times).

This was the same situation that caused Woody to throw Wayne Duke up against a wall following a loss to MSU many years ago - a game where the refs used horrid judgement in that very situation. OSU ran a play with 29 seconds to go and when they were finally able to snap the ball again and scored what should have been the winning TD the refs ruled that time had expired.

yes their are actually multiple penalties for this infraction


1)Illegal delay (5 yards)
2) their is a clause which gives the referee the ultimate power to deem interference to take action "he deems equitable"
3)"any delayed act"- or not returning the ball directly to the official or leaving it near the dead ball spot or "any unsportsmanlike act or actions which delay the game (dead ball 15 yards and ejection) [i saw this in the late 90s in a thurs night game i believe thats how i knew

http://www.ncaa.org/library/rules/20...ball_rules.pdf
1)obstruction -15 yards and auto 1st down
2) obstruction/interference of the ten yard variety
3) Interference

the other intresting thing on that link is who is on the rules committee
lloyd
beamer
saban
eugene smith (asu)
deromedi (central mich)
sec rules editor john adams of the wac