Football Official

Football Official

Zebra

Somewhere in, NJ

Male, 62

I've officiated football for over 30 years, now in my 26th on the college level. I've worked NCAA playoffs at the Division II and III level. In addition, I've coached at the scholastic level and have been an educator for over 35 years. I have no interest whatsoever in being an NFL official! Ever!

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514 Questions

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Last Answer on January 23, 2021

Best Rated

On a kickoff if the ball hits the upright and falls back into play is it a live ball

Asked by Mike17gibbs@gmail.com about 8 years ago

No. Goalposts is out of bounds. Touching something out of bounds makes the ball dead.

To what extent is a tackler responsible for knowing whether the ballcarrier is in-bounds or OB? Assume late whistles:
A: Ballcarrier steps on sideline and is immediately tackled.
B: Ballcarrier is two steps OB and is tackled.
C. All cases in-between

Asked by Bridgbum almost 8 years ago

That's a good question. Simply put, the tackler is responsible - period. And don't assume any whistle; as is often said, the play kills itself, not the whistle. For example, if a player is down and there's no immediate whistle, and the player gets hit, it's a foul, whistle or not.

Back to out of bounds: in your example A, you can envision the tackler right there as the runner hits OOB. You probably don't flag that because it's happening so quickly at the sideline. In B, you have a foul; that's pretty obvious. Cases in between? There really isn't an in-between. If the runner steps out, he's out and can't be hit. If the contact begins while the runner is in bounds, then it's not a foul unless there is unnecessary continuing contact out of bounds.



If two players are running down the field and one punches the other it is a personal foul. Why is it not a personal foul when one player has the football and another player tries to punch the football out missing and punching the arm or ribs?

What is the intent of the act? While officials can't always determine intent, in the case you cite, if a player is trying to strip the ball and something else happens, you look at intent. Throwing a punch is quite different.
 If the ruling is on intent on a personal foul if someone swings with a closed fist or open hand with intent to hit the ball and miss the ball hitting the body the intent is to hit something so by definition that should be a personal foul right?

Asked by Jeff about 8 years ago

I list you after the first sentence.

In Michigan Michigan State game, Spartans had onside kick attempt with one second left in the game. Assuming the needed only 1 to 8 points to win or tie, could they have recovered the onside kick and had an untimed down on offense? What scenario?

Asked by Gerry about 8 years ago

I'm going to say no. The question above addresses that, too. The clock starts on the legal touch in the field of play. If there is one second left, as soon as the MSU player touches it legally, the clock starts. And with one second left - and K not being able to advance the kick - the clock goes to zero and the game is over.

If team A has a 3rd and goal situation on the 11 yd line and attempts a pass into the endzone and Team B commits a personal foul (not sure if it was roughing the QB or a target hit on the intended receiver).....what would be the course of action?

Asked by Confused about 8 years ago

The easy part is if it's a targeting (in college) the player is ejected. A roughing the QB is an automatic first down (NCAA). Same for targeting. If there was no score on the play, that would create 1 & goal at the 5 1/2 yard line.

What would have happened during tonights ram niners game the playclock was at zero before the niners recovered the onside kick is ent that A delay of game?? If the niners.would have.scored would it have still counted

Asked by MIKE thomas over 7 years ago

Didn't see the game but based on what you're writing: thete is a play clock for kickoffs just as on any other play. If the play clock expired before it was kicked (And I've never seen that) then the kickibg team is penalized five yards. So, if it went to :00, there was no kick and thete can't be a recovery. The kicking team, by the way, cannot advance a recovery of their own kick.

Why doesn't the Miami/Bulls game have any pink ribbon on field or on themselves?

Asked by Ka about 8 years ago

That is,a league/ team issue, not officiating.