(12-31-2021 11:38 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  Just watched the end of the UT vs. Purdue game on YouTube. It seemed the forward progress of the UT ballcarrier laying on top of the Purdue player clearly was stopped for a sufficient bit of time before the UT man reached the ball over the line. Thus the play (as I understand the rule, and I could easily be wrong) was dead regardless of whether the official was tardy in blowing the whistle and/or waving the hands. There are "gray areas" in play stoppage and the officials simply ruled in favor of Purdue in this case.

In contrast, had the UT player "bounced off" the on-the-ground Purdue player and kept moving ... TD.

In other words (and again, as I understand the rule). If you have the ball and are horizontally on top of a grounded defender for a few seconds and you clearly can't move any more ... at that point, you simply can't extend your arm with the ball for a first down or a TD. Again, I could be wrong. Maybe somebody on the board knows the rule fully and can explain.

Now, to be fair, I can see how a Tennessee fan would be displeased — as the call was a tough one.

Not the way they call it these days. They let plays go on near the goal line. The TN player was trying to pull his guy forward. There was still a struggle.

I thought I saw the ref wave his hands when I watched it the first time as someone above mentioned, but the replay didn't show that ref, so I'm not sure.

(12-31-2021 11:43 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(12-31-2021 11:38 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  Just watched the end of the UT vs. Purdue game on YouTube. It seemed the forward progress of the UT ballcarrier laying on top of the Purdue player clearly was stopped for a sufficient bit of time before the UT man reached the ball over the line. Thus the play (as I understand the rule, and I could easily be wrong) was dead regardless of whether the official was tardy in blowing the whistle and/or waving the hands. There are "gray areas" in play stoppage and the officials simply ruled in favor of Purdue in this case.

In contrast, had the UT player "bounced off" the on-the-ground Purdue player and kept moving ... TD.

In other words (and again, as I understand the rule). If you have the ball and are horizontally on top of a grounded defender for a few seconds and you clearly can't move any more ... at that point, you simply can't extend your arm with the ball for a first down or a TD. Again, I could be wrong. Maybe somebody on the board knows the rule fully and can explain.

Now, to be fair, I can see how a Tennessee fan would be displeased — as the call was a tough one.

Not the way they call it these days. They let plays go on near the goal line. The TN player was trying to pull his guy forward. There was still a struggle.

I thought I saw the ref wave his hands when I watched it the first time as someone above mentioned, but the replay didn't show that ref, so I'm not sure.

You very well could be correct on the interpretation of the rule, Bullet. I'm seeing a good friend tonight and he is a major UT fan. I want to get his take.