Didn't realize waving your teammates off the ball was the same as a fair catch? Am I missing something? Is this a new rule like trying to jump over the punt protection?
This is more evidence of interference in pesky games that are not ending to suit those who . . . prefer . . . a different finish. If the ball was dead upon catching then it was a 15-yard late hit after a "fair catch" but that wasn't called. Just the BS.
One of the most bizarre rulings I’ve seen in some time. Everyone, absolutely everyone knew full well the returner was using his arm to tell his teammates to stay away from the ball. Once he picked up the ball, no whistle or arm waving by any of the officials on the field to stop the play. 2 referees raised their arms to signal a TD. It’s was only after a review the ball was deemed dead. So, a player can’t make any movements with his arms other than catch the ball or signal for a fair catch?? Wowzer! I bet that ridiculous rule gets tweaked in the offseason.
Agree 2w/ 62gator. Then, on TV they went to the retired referee; and, he, of course, explained the rule and how it was accurately enforced. It used to be that you had to have your arm above your shoulder and wave it back and forth (because some returners would shield their eyes from the sun, confusing the punting team again). It's another rule written probably in the name of "safety" that mucks up the game. EDIT: I believe the referee on the field said "he waved his left arm which is a valid fair catch signal..." As 62gator said - then why wasn't there a whistle on the play? Fair catch - wave your hand back and forth above your shoulder. As soon as the returner catches and secures the ball - whistles galore stopping the play. Everything else - is either a Nazi salute, or shielding your eyes from the sun, or waving your team away from they ball and in every case allows the punting team to hit you hard and bring you down. No whistles until the runner is down or scores. Does it really have to be so complicated?
Dumb rule and “review” of a dumb rule. It needs to be a CLEAR “fair catch” signal to be deemed a fair catch. They need to go back to that.
I didn't even know a fair catch was still a thing if the ball hit the ground first. At that point you shouldn't even be able to fair catch it in my opinion
He actually said "the returner waved his left hand, which is an INVALID fair catch signal". I didn't see him wave his left hand at all, just point to his teammates/ball with his right hand/arm, NOT above his shoulder. I assume this "invalid fair catch signal" is some sort of rule to keep returners from behaving in a manner designed to make the defense think he was signalling a fair catch, when by "definition", he did not. He could then race through a defense that believes he had signaled a fair catch, so is pulling up. If so, seems like that would be an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the returner. I also agree he did neither of these things on this play (real or fake fair catch signal).
I think it’s just a bad call / judgment on the field and nothing more than that. I don’t trust the refs they hire to review these plays for TV viewers as they just seem to be league sponsored peacekeepers to parrot the call on the field and keep the masses at bay.
This happened by the Minnesota bench, and I believe the coaches for Minnesota, pointed this out to the referees, and asked them to review it. Good job on the coaches, however, I think it was a lame call by the refs.
I thought that was a crap call … thought u had to have hand over head, waving to be a fair catch … that was a steal in my opinion !!
I expect the ACC will hire those guys ASAP and bring them to the Swamp this year with FSU being their ACC cash cow.
Absolutely....if this was the rule then the returner should signal fair catch for every ball that he doesn't intend to field and return. That would seemingly protect the receiving team from any inadvertent touching by another player on his team.
Yep, our AD has allowed scumbag ACC refs back onto Florida Field setting us up for more screwing when we are taking it to their potential playoff cash cow.
They were there two years ago....Recall Jammy what's his name and his multiple uncalled personal fouls?
The call was valid. The returner moved his hand above his shoulder. Just barely but it was above the shoulder. I tuned into the post game on local radio and Ed Podalak said he was told anything above the shoulder was a fair catchbl signal when he was returning punts in his day. Plus Iowa did not deserve to win that game or any game for that matter.
You can see the returner does wave his left arm a couple times while pointing at the ball. As another poster previously mentioned, any waving of the arm that is not above the shoulders is an INVALID fair catch signal. But even after an invalid fair catch signal, the ball is still dead once it fielded (below copied from the rulebook): "A valid or invalid fair catch signal deprives the receiving team of the opportunity to advance the ball. The ball is declared dead at the spot of the catch or recovery. If the catch precedes the signal, the ball is dead when the signal is first given." I agree the call doesn't feel right, but it appears to be technically correct.
