OT: The Iowa "Fair Catch"

[Sheffielder]

I am a little surprised this didn't become a topic of conversation here.



For the uninformed...Iowa's punt returner ran one back for a breathtaking late-game/game-changing TD that the refs eventually called back, ruling that he called for a fair catch.

Feelings about Iowa aside (if that's possible), I'm genuinely interested in how people here felt about this one. I tend to think the refs blew it, especially since they didn't blow the whistle at any point during the return nor did they seem to call a penalty on Minny special teams for making initial contact after the alleged fair catch...

 

[TheC]

I'm always amazed that punt coverage guys who are sprinting down the field and trying to get around blocks ever see a fair catch signal in the first place. Thus, anything that even remotely resembles a fair catch signal should count as one. I think this was absolutely the right call.

 

[phatcat]

Look at #24 before the catch. He clearly stopped, thinking it was a fair catch. I'm with the punt cover guys since they get penalized for the most trivial contact, as opposed to the wrasslin between WR and DB

 

[Sheffielder]

I'm always amazed that punt coverage guys who are sprinting down the field and trying to get around blocks ever see a fair catch signal in the first place. Thus, anything that even remotely resembles a fair catch signal should count as one. I think this was absolutely the right call.

I think you bring up an excellent point of how any hand signal could be misconstrued by actual players on the field and in the moment...for me this first boils down to the lack of any whistle blown, and then a closer look at his hand gestures directing his teammates on their coverage makes it a one-two punch for me...I think they get screwed.

 

[FeralFelidae]

I am a little surprised this didn't become a topic of conversation here.

View embedded media

For the uninformed...Iowa's punt returner ran one back for a breathtaking late-game/game-changing TD that the refs eventually called back, ruling that he called for a fair catch.

Feelings about Iowa aside (if that's possible), I'm genuinely interested in how people here felt about this one. I tend to think the refs blew it, especially since they didn't blow the whistle at any point during the return nor did they seem to call a penalty on Minny special teams for making initial contact after the alleged fair catch...

There was a similar, controversial return called back in the game we won at Wisconsin during Thorson's freshman season. (I was in attendance, and the students also threw snowballs at their own cheerleaders.)

We won that game, so I guess I favor the run being called back.

 

[hdhntr1]

I am a little surprised this didn't become a topic of conversation here.

View embedded media

For the uninformed...Iowa's punt returner ran one back for a breathtaking late-game/game-changing TD that the refs eventually called back, ruling that he called for a fair catch.

Feelings about Iowa aside (if that's possible), I'm genuinely interested in how people here felt about this one. I tend to think the refs blew it, especially since they didn't blow the whistle at any point during the return nor did they seem to call a penalty on Minny special teams for making initial contact after the alleged fair catch...

It was on the Rock

 

[hdhntr1]

I am a little surprised this didn't become a topic of conversation here.

View embedded media

For the uninformed...Iowa's punt returner ran one back for a breathtaking late-game/game-changing TD that the refs eventually called back, ruling that he called for a fair catch.

Feelings about Iowa aside (if that's possible), I'm genuinely interested in how people here felt about this one. I tend to think the refs blew it, especially since they didn't blow the whistle at any point during the return nor did they seem to call a penalty on Minny special teams for making initial contact after the alleged fair catch...

The call was not that it was a fair catch but that it was an invalid fair catch signal. The reason they have the rule is that waving of arms as was done is potentially deceptive. The refs called it right

 

[hdhntr1]

I think you bring up an excellent point of how any hand signal could be misconstrued by actual players on the field and in the moment...for me this first boils down to the lack of any whistle blown, and then a closer look at his hand gestures directing his teammates on their coverage makes it a one-two punch for me...I think they get screwed.

Sorry but the rule of "invalid fair catch " is there for a reason. Hand movements such as he made can be deceptive. As far as why whistle was not blown immediately, now days they let a lot of plays continue that in the past they used to blow immediately. They figure it is better to sort things out after than make a mistake that cannot be undone. It was the right call.

 

[FeralFelidae]

Sorry but the rule of "invalid fair catch" is there for a reason. Hand movements such as he made can be deceptive. As far as why whistle was not blown immediately, now days they let a lot of plays continue that in the past they used to blow immediately. They figure it is better to sort things out after than make a mistake that cannot be undone. It was the right call.

That's exactly right and, again, people here should revisit the 2015 game vs. Wisconsin to see where we benefited from this rule.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

He put both arms up to shoulder height and waved them.
Easy call.
Even the play-by-play guy says "He's not gonna touch it" immediately after the arm-waving.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I just like that Iowa got punked

 

[NUCat320]

As a fan of cool plays, I hate the call. But, it was the right one.

The video itself is edited. Were they initially reviewing out of bounds, then recognized the penalty? Or was it simple delayed for a standard “everything gets reviewed” review?

 

[dillonpgp]

I agree with the excellent earlier post from “TheC”.

I’d like to add one point and that is that the college review system (all plays subject to review) has created a certain style of collegiate officiating, one that lets everything happen and trust replay to sort it out at the end. The alternative (in this situation), is for the official to blow the okay dead and replay can not remedy what might have happened had things be allowed to continue. This has to do with things like “was the knee down?”

As a tangent, I’d like to see an official who made the call be able to state “this is my best guess as to what happened, but I trust visuals to provide the best outcome” rather than an official’s inaccurate “guess” stand, because replay was not 100% conclusive. In other words, in certain situations, a ~75% threshold should suffice.

 

[TheC]

I agree with the excellent earlier post from “TheC”.

I’d like to add one point and that is that the college review system (all plays subject to review) has created a certain style of collegiate officiating, one that lets everything happen and trust replay to sort it out at the end. The alternative (in this situation), is for the official to blow the okay dead and replay can not remedy what might have happened had things be allowed to continue. This has to do with things like “was the knee down?”

As a tangent, I’d like to see an official who made the call be able to state “this is my best guess as to what happened, but I trust visuals to provide the best outcome” rather than an official’s inaccurate “guess” stand, because replay was not 100% conclusive. In other words, in certain situations, a ~75% threshold should suffice.

I agree with this excellent post that my earlier post was excellent!

 

[NUCat320]

I agree with the excellent earlier post from “TheC”.

I’d like to add one point and that is that the college review system (all plays subject to review) has created a certain style of collegiate officiating, one that lets everything happen and trust replay to sort it out at the end. The alternative (in this situation), is for the official to blow the okay dead and replay can not remedy what might have happened had things be allowed to continue. This has to do with things like “was the knee down?”

As a tangent, I’d like to see an official who made the call be able to state “this is my best guess as to what happened, but I trust visuals to provide the best outcome” rather than an official’s inaccurate “guess” stand, because replay was not 100% conclusive. In other words, in certain situations, a ~75% threshold should suffice.

The only reason we use the ‘indisputable visual evidence’ threshold is because otherwise we’ll hurt the on-field official’s feelings. It’s dumb.

 

[KramerCat91]

I recall the same call made against us at home this season. We didn't return the punt for a touchdown so I don't really remember the details, but I think it was a small gainer.

 

[STPGopherfan]

Look at #24 before the catch. He clearly stopped, thinking it was a fair catch. I'm with the punt cover guys since they get penalized for the most trivial contact, as opposed to the wrasslin between WR and DB

Especially when my Gophers were penalized for not giving Dejean space during a punt return. Video shows Dejean initiating contact by pushing Nubin.

 

[hdhntr1]

I agree with the excellent earlier post from “TheC”.

I’d like to add one point and that is that the college review system (all plays subject to review) has created a certain style of collegiate officiating, one that lets everything happen and trust replay to sort it out at the end. The alternative (in this situation), is for the official to blow the okay dead and replay can not remedy what might have happened had things be allowed to continue. This has to do with things like “was the knee down?”

As a tangent, I’d like to see an official who made the call be able to state “this is my best guess as to what happened, but I trust visuals to provide the best outcome” rather than an official’s inaccurate “guess” stand, because replay was not 100% conclusive. In other words, in certain situations, a ~75% threshold should suffice.

Replay needs to be 100% threshold

 

[hoquat63]

Check out YouTube for UConn unfair catch in game against Louisville about 20 years ago