This could all be avoided if you make a universal fair catch gesture that can’t be confused with waving your teammates away from the ball like touching the top of your helmet. Dejean himself gave a pretty weird explanation that he was trying to keep his balance/winding himself to run to the ball and didn’t even say he was signaling to his teammates. I think it was a good call when it comes down to what the rule says about an invalid fair catch, but there shouldn’t even have to be a rule about what is valid and invalid if they both lead to the same result of the ball being dead at the spot. If you’re going to say that waving below your shoulder also results in a dead ball, shouldn’t the rule say that any waving is a fair catch? I just don’t get it. https://youtube.com/shorts/PIc6m95ZAr8?si=SAGlUCmeAZ_rnKac https://youtube.com/shorts/9sL4nTWw8Gk?si=JjD3BmC7-kr8qRWR
I agree there needs to be consistency, but watch both videos in my post #61 about his explanation, it definitely adds to the weirdness of this discussion
An underrated, dumb ass decision by Stricklin that gets looked over. I have no idea why ACC officials are allowed back in the swamp.
There must be both (not either) "waving" and "signaling" as per RULE 2/SECTION 8/ARTICLE 3; I don't see any way around that. It's not just waving, and it's not just signaling. It has to be a "waving signal." The expressed standard for the replay officials is "There must be indisputable video evidence for an on-field officiating call to be changed by the Instant Replay Official." As I watch the video of the player, there is a near zero chance that he is "signaling" with his left hand, and he is clearly not "waving" with his right hand. There is also a near zero chance of the two arms working in conjunction as part of the signaling effort; clearly not a "waving signal." This matches the on-field call of the situation by most viewers, I would imagine. I truly can't imagine somebody watches this (officials or message board posters) and can think, definitively, that this is *not* the case: https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1715880845838626816/pu/vid/avc1/720x1280/pP1Q3SSpE9OOoet8.mp4 Now, if we are going to use the text of "any waving motion that does not meet the criteria for a valid signal" and combine that with "by any player of Team B" then we are going to open up a nasty can of worms when we see how players run down the field and/or fight off/through blocks. The best thing they can do with this decision is admit they screwed up should not have reversed the call. Just my two bits. Go GATORS! ,WESGATORS
So, I read this as a supposed ‘invalid fair catch signal’ is not actually stated as explicitly reviewable. Only a play where the ball is advanced after calling for a fair catch. That was not the case here on this play. They were reviewing the play to see if he stayed in bounds. Again, none of the on field officials called a fair catch that was advanced nor did they call an invalid fair catch signal. The only thing they all called was a TD for Iowa. “The chief question is whether DeJean's return should have been reviewed at all. Although Rule 12, Section 3, Article IV of the NCAA rule book -- the section that outlines reviewable plays -- does not explicitly state invalid fair catches as reviewable, plays that include the "receiving team advancing after a fair catch signal" are listed. Carollo, according to those on the call, clarified that "all aspects of the play" under review can be examined once the review is initiated. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said postgame he was told the review began to determine if DeJean stayed in bounds during the play.” NCAA, Big Ten officials explain why Iowa go-ahead TD was called back in loss to Minnesota Naturally now they’re doing a lot of cya.
That decision alone I personally would have fired him than overridden him if I had a say. Worst CFB ever "officiated". And just a tiny step below the Kings/Lakers playoff series as worst in sports imho.
Maybe this is a bit off topic and I didn’t read every comment so it may be redundant, Am I the only person who thinks the officials are letting the defenders get too close to the fair catch receiver? I see it in most games I watch.
So to continue the OT- I would change the rule to a bigger halo IF a fair catch is called. I remember one of our guys being bumped into vs Auburn on a punt return- which caused a fumble which led to an Auburn victory. What a dirty no-call. IMO if the defender is within 3 yards it should be a 5 yarder. (Not 15.) The Swindle thing still makes me see red 20 years later. It was so orchestrated, but at least we took action- no ACC refs in the Swamp ever again. I'm really disappointed in SS for reversing this. It tells me he thinks griping about the Swindle is just sour grapes.