From: SCHMIDT@LSTC2VM.stortek.com (Jon Schmidt)
Subject: Re: You make the call
Organization: StorageTek SW Engineering
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 20:29:46 GMT

In article <1993Jan21.214529.24596@watson.ibm.com>
TJFAN@WATSON.IBM.COM writes:
>
>This is a fake scenario and maybe a dumb question.  I don't have
>answers and like to ask yours:
>
>Scenario: ND 27, USC 23, 0:03 left 4Q, USC has the ball, 1st down and
>10 at their own 20-yard line.
>
> Pass complete, the receiver broke off all the tackles and heading to
> the end zone. All the ND defenders are at least 10 yards away and it
> looks like a for sure winning TD, time runs out.
>
> With no hope to stop this run, one of the ND players from the sideline
> rushes into the field (illegally of course) and tackles down the USC
> receiver before he reaches the endzone. What's the call?
 
Everybody who's responded so far has made the correct call:  Touchdown
USC.  The relevant NCAA football rule is 9-1-4, "Illegal Interference,"
which states, in part:
 
  a. No substitute, coach, authorized attendant or any person subject to
     the rules, other than a player or official, may interfere in any
     way with the ball or a player while the ball is in play.
  PENALTY--15 yards from the enforcement spot most advantageous to the
           offended team.  The referee may enforce any penalty he
           considers equitable, including awarding a score.
 
 
As an aside, the illegal interference rule goes on to state:
 
  c. No person not subject to the rules may interfere in any way with
     the ball or a player while the ball is in play.
  d. When anything other than persons subject to the rules and those not
     subject to the rules interferes in any way with a player or the
     ball in play, it is illegal interference.
  PENALTY--The referee may replay the down or take any action he deems
           equitable, including awarding a score.
 
Section (d) is the intriguing part.  It seems to me that every person in
the universe belongs to either the class "persons subject to the rules"
or the class "those not subject to the rules."  So I must conclude that
section (d) is meant to deal with things, other than people, that
interfere with a play.  What might these "things" be?  Two types come to
mind:  (1) stuff that falls from the sky (e.g. airplane parts or "blue
ice") and (2) animals (e.g. mascots) that run onto the field.  I have
this vision of Ralphie, the CU mascot, getting loose and running amok on
the field during a play with referees and players scattered like bowling
pins.
 
> Similar situation, suppose there is one ND defender tracing the
> runner. While there is no hope to tackle the runner, he face-masks him
> and bring him down.  What's the call? I believe that this won't be a
> USC win, probably 15-yard beyond the foul and one more play? In that
> case, I think the ND defender makes right decision.
 
I must note that this second scenario is inconsistent.  At first the ND
defender has "no hope to tackle the runner" but then he proceeds to
tackle the runner.
 
Again, everybody who responded made the correct call:  5- or 15-yard
penalty against ND, enforced from the end of the run, and the game is
extended for one more play.  However, most responders used some
variation of the phrase "the game cannot end on a defensive penalty" as
their basis for extending the game by one more play.  This may, in fact,
be an NFL rule -- certainly most NFL TV commentators believe it is.
However, it is not an accurate description of the relevant NCAA football
rule.  In particular, the NCAA rule does not distinguish between
offensive and defensive penalties.  Here's the NCAA's rule, Rule 3-2-3
titled "Extension of Periods."
 
  A period shall be extended until a down (other than a try), free
  from live-ball fouls not penalized as dead-ball fouls, has been
  played when:
  a. A penalty is accepted for a live-ball foul(s) not penalized as a
     dead-ball foul that occurs during a down in which time expires
     (A.R. 3-2-3-I-VI).
  b. An inadvertent whistle is sounded during a down in which time
     expires.
  c. A touchdown is scored during a down in which time expires
     (Exception:  If the winner of the game has been decided and both
     coaches agree to forego the try, the period is not extended).
  d. Offsetting fouls occur during a down in which time expires.
 
Here are the Approved Rulings associated with Rule 3-2-3:
 
  I. During the extension of a period after the ball is ready for play
     and before the snap, Team A commits a foul.  RULING:  Dead-ball
     foul.  Team A is penalized for the foul and is entitled to complete
     the down (3-2-3-a).
  II. Time expires during Team A's free kick.  A1 encroached on the
     kick.  RULING:  Penalty--Five yards previous spot, the period is
     extended.  Repeat free kick (3-2-3-a).
  III. Time expires during Team A's attempted field goal.  Team B was
     offside or committed another foul less than three yards beyond the
     neutral zone during the kick.  RULING:  Penalty--Five, 10 or 15
     yards previous spot, the period is extended (3-2-3-a and 10-2-2-e
     Exception 5).
  IV. A Team A player interferes with the opportunity to catch a kick
     (not a try) during a down in which time expires.  RULING:  Five- or
     15-yard penalty, spot of foul, extend the period (3-2-3-a).
  V. Time expires during Team A's run for a touchdown after A70 fouls at
     the snap or clips during the down.  RULING:  Penalty--Five yards
     previous spot or 15 yards basic spot, extend the period (3-2-3-a).
  VI. Team A scores a touchdown during a down in which time expires.
     After the touchdown, but before the try, either team fouls.
     RULING:  The period is not extended other than for the try.  The
     penalty may be enforced on the try, on the kickoff to start the
     next period or at the succeeding spot in extra periods.
  VII. Team A scores a touchdown during a down in which time expires.
     During Team A's successful try, Team B fouls.  RULING:  The period
     is not extended for the kickoff.  Team A may accept the penalty and
     replay the try, or the penalty may be enforced on the kickoff to
     start the next period or at the succeeding spot in extra periods.
  VIII. Team A scores a touchdown during a down in which time expires.
     After the try ends, either team commits a dead-ball foul.  RULING:
     Although the try may be repeated due to an accepted penalty for a
     live-ball foul that occurred during the try, the dead-ball penalty
     may not be enforced on the replayed try.  The period is not
     extended to enforce the dead-ball foul.  If accepted, the penalty
     must be enforced on the kickoff to start the next period or at the
     succeeding spot in extra periods.
 
Whew!  Penalty administration has to be the most complicated aspect of
the football rules.  Below are some basic definitions that might help
clarify the "Extension of Periods" rule.
 
A try is the play after a touchdown during which extra point(s) may
be scored.
 
Team A is the team which puts the ball in play and A1 is one of the
players on Team A.
 
A dead-ball foul is one which occurs before the snap or after the
whistle blows a play dead.  Dead-ball penalties are administered
separately and in order of occurrence.  For instance, suppose player A77
jumps offside before the snap and then, in frustration, slugs a Team B
lineman.  These would both be dead-ball fouls.  First the penalty for
the offside would be enforced and then the personal foul penalty would
be enforced (for a total of 20 yards in penalties).
 
A live-ball foul is one which occurs while the ball is in play.
 
I know of only one type of live-ball foul that is penalized as a
dead-ball foul and that is unsportsmanlike conduct.
 
So now, let's consider one last scenario with the situation the same as
described by TJFAN above.  This time USC runs for a touchdown as time
expires but a SoCal receiver is flagged for clipping at the ND 25
yardline.  ND accepts the clipping penalty, thereby negating USC's
touchdown.  What's the call?  The game-cannot-end-on-a-defensive-penalty
"rule" seems to imply that the game CAN end on an offensive penalty.  If
so, the game ends at that point and ND is the winner.  However, Approved
Ruling 3-2-3-V, above, suggests that USC would have the ball at ND's 40
and with one more chance to win the game.
 
-- 
Jon_Schmidt@stortek.com  Storage Technology Corporation
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