UConn's UNFAIR catch

Simply the worst blown call in football this year if not in football history. These ref's should never work another college football game again. NCAA rules state that even if a player makes an invalid signal, he still cannot advance the ball once he caught it.

Officials determined that the play was not reviewable.

The performance of the officiating crew in this game, however, is. And the Big East's commitment to dealing with these kinds of game-turning mistakes also is.

More to come. This botched call doesn't let U of L off the hook for the loss. It doesn't prevent questions about how what was the most potent offense in college football suddenly has ground to a halt.

What it means tonight is that there were two losers in this football game -- U of L and the Big East Conference.

And both have some major questions to answer.


Now, for your reading pleasure, the NCAA rule (italics mine) . . .


SECTION 7. Fair Catch

ARTICLE 1.

a. A fair catch of a scrimmage kick is a catch beyond the
neutral zone by a player of Team B who has made a valid signal during a
scrimmage kick that is untouched beyond the neutral zone.

b. A fair catch of a free kick is a catch by a player of Team B who has made
a valid signal during an untouched free kick.

c. A valid or invalid fair catch signal deprives the receiving team of the
opportunity to advance the ball, and the ball is declared dead at the spot
of the catch or recovery or at the spot of the signal if the catch precedes
the signal (Rule 6-5-1-a Exception).

d. If the receiver shades his eyes from the sun, the ball is live and may be
advanced.

Valid Signal

ARTICLE 2. A valid signal is a signal given by a player of Team B who
has obviously signalled his intention by extending one hand only clearly
above his head and waving that hand from side to side of his body more
than once.

Invalid Signal

ARTICLE 3. An invalid signal is any signal by a player of Team B that does
not meet the requirements of a valid signal (Rule 6-5-3).

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Louisville
• UConn
• Football

[TheMattswish]

Play to the whistle? That would make fair catching pointless since it ALWAYS takes the ref a second to blow his whistle after the returner catches the ball on a fair catch.

[HighTyro05]

@barnzNkeevz This isn't word for word of course, but I believe the rule states; "Any motion or attempt to raise the arm above the head is considered to be a fair catch." This guy definitely had his arm above his head, should have been flagged and fixed.

[shrekthefrog22]

what should happen is next punt you level him even if he calls a fair catch, tell the ref you didnt see him signal fair catch

[ionn513]

Well your right but I think someone is a Louisville fan.

[someguy84841]

I'm a little confused here. Why do they keep saying that this isn't reviewable?

[BSGabesterrFan]

You cant hit someone after they call for a fair catch which is why he stopped... He probably coulda chased him afterwards though, but thats 100% refs fault. He OBVIOUSLY raised his hand above shoulder lvl which (by rule) is a fair catch.

[RedXlV]

That's Big East officiating for you. A Big East crew also managed to get an extra point call (the absolute easiest call in football) wrong. Twice, once on the field and once on the replay.

[PooPoo2U]

@HighTyro05: Actually the rule clearly states that your hand must be raised and waved from shoulder to shoulder more than once. Not sure of the precise wording but I I am sure of the "more than once" part.

[SashaNein]

How in the hell did they miss that? Two zebras lined up with his catch, and they just said 'fuck all y'all'

Apparently this game was poorly officiated on both sides. I hope most of these idiots lost their jobs, but I'm sure they're reffing some key Top 25 matchup somewhere this very weekend or god forbid Alabama-LSU if some went to the SEC. I don't want these numbnuts deciding who goes to the national championship game if they're blind as shit.

[hydroman333]

@sman884 Agreed. This is one of the few plays when you have to stop before the whistle because of momentum. You can't immediately stop yourself once the whistle blows, so you'd get a penalty.

[bigb771]

fuckin cheating ass thug...look at him smiling too, i'd beat the fuck out of him. Thats not even right dude, you can't call a fair catch and run, if you not gonna run it don't catch it is how i see it. let the ball bounce and let physics decide where it stops. it's not fair for you to decide where to stop it. Oh yes if he called a 'fair catch' again i would pop the SHIT out of him not caring how bad he gets hurt or what kind of penalty we get.

[sman884]

This commentator is a complete dumbass, if they continued the play they would've been flagged for a 15-yard penalty. What a complete fool