ARKANSAS PLAY ILLEGAL...

[BIGGREBEL]

PER SB Nation (posted by Neal):

"On fourth down before a change of team possession, when a Team A fumble is caught or recovered by a Team A player other than the fumbler, the ball is dead. If the catch or recovery is beyond the spot of the fumble, the ball is returned to the spot of the fumble. If the catch or recovery is behind the spot of the fumble, the ball remains at the spot of the catch or recovery."

Everybody gets this right? Okay, they are saying the tight end's transfer of the ball (to the running back) was a pass, not a fumble. But it was first batted by #70 for Arkansas before the running back picked it up and should have at that point been ruled a fumble (and not advanced):

Rule 2-11-1 "To fumble the ball is to lose player possession by any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing. The status of the ball is a fumble." (You can argue the tight end was passing the ball backward, but #70 was not passing the ball to the running back.)

The ball stopped being a pass when #70 batted the ball and it hit the ground before the running back picked it up.

The question is not whether the tight end fumbled or made a backwards pass. The question is what do you call what #70 did. (It sure wasn't a backwards pass.)

 

[BIGGREBEL]

PER SB Nation (posted by Neal):

"On fourth down before a change of team possession, when a Team A fumble is caught or recovered by a Team A player other than the fumbler, the ball is dead. If the catch or recovery is beyond the spot of the fumble, the ball is returned to the spot of the fumble. If the catch or recovery is behind the spot of the fumble, the ball remains at the spot of the catch or recovery."

Everybody gets this right? Okay, they are saying the tight end's transfer of the ball (to the running back) was a pass, not a fumble. But it was first batted by #70 for Arkansas and should have at that point been ruled a fumble (and not advanced):

2-11-1 "To fumble the ball is to lose player possession by any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing. The status of the ball is a fumble."

The ball stopped being a pass when #70 batted the ball and it hit the ground before the running back picked it up.

The question is not whether the tight end fumbled or made a backwards pass. The question is what do you call what #70 did. (It sure wasn't a backwards pass.)

And the initial commentary by the CBC announcers revolved around this very question (whether another Arkansas player touched the ball before the running back picked it up...but then they left it to the refs.)

 

[ctate1906]

Every one who is anyone has already confirmed today that it was legal. Try another excuse.

 

[BIGGREBEL]

Every one who is anyone has already confirmed today that it was legal. Try another excuse.

Well, if indeed illegal, we just need to adjust the win-loss recored the way Arkansas does with one of our wins from a few decades ago! Some satisfaction I suppose in knowing that they didn't really do it within the rules.

 

[GOREBSGO]

Does it really matter?? We never stopped them. They laid 50+ points on the Lamesharks.

 

[BIGGREBEL]

Well I guess it only matters if you care who one the game! The object of the game is to win. If the other team gains an advantage by playing outside the rules and thereby wins (which Arkansas did) something ought to be done. (Like the astericks you see in the record books after some of Mississippi State's "victories" in the 70's that were forefeited.)

You don't have to play a perfect game to win. You don't even have to play well to win. You should have to play by the rules to win. Ole Miss played well enough to win last night. Can't deny that, no matter how poorly the defense played. One play where a fumble was advanced on 4th down changed the outcome of the game. Does it matter?

 

[Orallesa]

That was not a fumble. All the crying in the world is not going to make it a fumble. On an option roll out pitch can the ball be advanced by the running back if the pitch is mishandled? What is so hard to understand about this?

 

[BIGGREBEL]

Not on fourth down...or so the rules say.

 

[Dewey Eye]

Not on fourth down...or so the rules say.

you cant be serious lol. an option pitch cant be advanced if its mishandled on fourth down? LMAO. the whole "advancing fumble" stuff was started to avoid fumbling it FORWARD to avoid being tackled, ala the "Holy Roller" play. a backward pass CAN ALWAYS be advanced. no matter what down. and im a PITT fan. couldnt care less who won your game

 

[BIGGREBEL]

"On fourth down before a change of team possession, when a Team A fumble is caught or recovered by a Team A player other than the fumbler, the ball is dead. If the catch or recovery is beyond the spot of the fumble, the ball is returned to the spot of the fumble. If the catch or recovery is behind the spot of the fumble, the ball remains at the spot of the catch or recovery."

 

[Dewey Eye]

"On fourth down before a change of team possession, when a Team A fumble is caught or recovered by a Team A player other than the fumbler, the ball is dead. If the catch or recovery is beyond the spot of the fumble, the ball is returned to the spot of the fumble. If the catch or recovery is behind the spot of the fumble, the ball remains at the spot of the catch or recovery."

that is premised on the ball being a 'fumble'. a lateral is not a fumble. it is a purposeful backward pass. If your reading of the rule was correct, every end-of-the-game lateral play (which took place on fourth down) in the history of football would be called dead.

 

[Count Hogula]

How many of you have seen a team punting on fourth down and the ball is snapped over the punter's head and the punter scoops it and runs or attempts a pass? He is allowed to do that on 4th down because a long snap, including in the shotgun formation, is considered a backwards pass, not a fumble, and is live when hitting the ground, even on 4th down.

 

[BIGGREBEL]

I can only figure that #70 did not have "possession" even though he manipulated the ball and therefore, must concede they did it within the rules. Even though the quoted rule suggests #70 "fumbled" the ball, he didn't have possession so he couldn't fumble it.

 

[older_reb]

Strange play indeed....football is truly a game of inches --- if #70 tips/bats that ball just a bit more forward then it would/should have been ruled dead. Can't bat the ball forward on a lateral/backward pass. However, a much greater concern is what happened to the "best in the land", "number 1", "fierce-some" , "land shark" defense? You can almost bet that our remaining opponent's coaching staffs will dissect in detail the Memphis and Arky games.

 

[Me so hawgie]

It's also illegal for your players to run on the field durning that play also. Look at the film....several ole miss players with their helmets off was on the field thinking the game was over, that should've been flagged.

 

[older_reb]

It's also illegal for your players to run on the field durning that play also. Look at the film....several ole miss players with their helmets off was on the field thinking the game was over, that should've been flagged.

Oh, there's lots of plays that "should have been flagged" on both sides that weren't....enjoy the win --- AK came prepared and deserved it. But, allow the OM faithful to grumble some.......

 

[Me so hawgie]

Oh, there's lots of plays that "should have been flagged" on both sides that weren't....enjoy the win --- AK came prepared and deserved it. But, allow the OM faithful to grumble some.......

Hey guys I had us losing, no way did I think we would hang with Ole Miss at your stadium. That defense you guys had against Bama was scary bad.
It was crazy game for sure. Good luck the rest of the season. Freeze has Ole miss heading the right direction.

 

[TheRebels'Advocate]

I saw nothing illegal on the lateral. Ole Miss made more mistakes than Arky and lost. Game over. Enjoy the win Arky, and see you next year. Moving on to LSU.

 

[Beatlesreb]

It was legitimate. I was there, among Hog fans, saw the replay, and said "Oh, @#^5!" We just had no secondary, and it caught up to us. The tight end was open all night! You have to feel sorry for Haynes, though, who grabbed the face mask. Done great for all season long, and that happens. Has to live with that.

 

[hammyhogzolez]

Sucks to get beat on a bs once in a lifetime play. Can understand how you guys are feeling. Maybe one of us will play defense this week for a change. Good luck Rebs!

 

[Beatlesreb]

Have seen nothing but classy posts from Arkansas fans. Truly appreciate it as a Reb. Hope y'all do well.

 

[jacksoj]

Kelly played a great game and showed a lot of class afterward.

 

[SoTexHog]

PER SB Nation (posted by Neal):

"On fourth down before a change of team possession, when a Team A fumble is caught or recovered by a Team A player other than the fumbler, the ball is dead. If the catch or recovery is beyond the spot of the fumble, the ball is returned to the spot of the fumble. If the catch or recovery is behind the spot of the fumble, the ball remains at the spot of the catch or recovery."

Everybody gets this right? Okay, they are saying the tight end's transfer of the ball (to the running back) was a pass, not a fumble. But it was first batted by #70 for Arkansas before the running back picked it up and should have at that point been ruled a fumble (and not advanced):

Rule 2-11-1 "To fumble the ball is to lose player possession by any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing. The status of the ball is a fumble." (You can argue the tight end was passing the ball backward, but #70 was not passing the ball to the running back.)

The ball stopped being a pass when #70 batted the ball and it hit the ground before the running back picked it up.

The question is not whether the tight end fumbled or made a backwards pass. The question is what do you call what #70 did. (It sure wasn't a backwards pass.)

Cry yourself a bridge and get over it!

 

[Beatlesreb]

Cry yourself a bridge and get over it!

Sorry, Biggrebel. I was there. If you can find that the NCAA is investigating or ESPN stating Ole Miss was screwed, then post. We had no defense!