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!

SubscribeGet emails when new questions are answered. Ask Me Anything!Show Bio +

Share:

Ask me anything!

Submit Your Question

514 Questions

Share:

Last Answer on January 23, 2021

Best Rated

I thought players weren't supposed to land on qbs anymore? The Foles injury was a direct result of a DE landing with his full weight on him! Then,no flag,no ejection,nothing. I saw these hits flagged every single time last year....so I'm confused

Asked by Brett Jennings over 5 years ago

Me, too. I thought the rulings last year were extreme - a fairly light contact - that even QBs didn't complain about - were fouls. I didn't see the Foles hit so I can't comment.

Ref marks the ball in play after a long pass. Team wants to spike ball and kick FG. But not enough time. However first O player to line takes stance and fires out on def player. Penalty? Is that enough to stop clock so FG can be kicked?

Asked by Jay over 6 years ago

You put in a bunch of good stuff in this question. I have to make a few inferences. You say there isn't enough time [to spike and kick]. That likely means it is the end of a quarter. If it's the end of the second or fourth quarter, we have some special rules. First, if the clock is running (ref marked it ready so it is) and a penalty (the false start) causes the clock to stop, then the offended team (defense here) has the option of a ten second runoff. Here, you say there isn't enough time to spike it and then get your FG team on for a kick. With a ten second runoff, the period might be over. Also, in college, if there are less than three seconds left, you can't spike it and get another play in. Timing is everything.

Help with NCAA rule. Team A attempts a FG and the FG is blocked. There is an inadvertent whistle in scramble for ball. Defense recovers ball. Does Defense retain possession or does offense get to rekick? Our ruling - kicking team rekicked and won

Asked by Jason O almost 6 years ago

Loose ball - replay the down.

College football question. When there is a offensive dead ball personal foul penalty right after a first down why is it a 1st and 10 instead of a 1st and 25 after the 15 yard Mark off?

Asked by Myvols2002 over 5 years ago

Until the chains are set, it is still the interval between the last play and the next snap. So you mark off the penalty before you technically declared the first down. Therefore you set the chains after you mark off the penalty.

If a high school player has touretts syndrome and tics are there accommodations made for him as to illegal movement on offense or can he only play on the defensive side of the ball

Asked by BOB almost 6 years ago

In all likelihood, that is a question to be decided by the state athletic association. If you play, the rules apply to you unless someone at a higher pay grade says otherwise.

Extra Point try, defense flagged for personal foul/roughing kicker. Half distance. Offense decided to go for 2 instead of re-kick. On ensuing kick, ref applied the 15 yard penalty from the roughing call. Isn't penalizing twice for the same call?

Asked by Paul E Miller over 5 years ago

I think they erred on that enforcement. They got the yardage on the PAT in order to go for two. There should not have been yardage on the KO.

The ball is on the 50 yard line. On a touchdown run their is a holding call at the 20 yard line. Where is the foul marked off from?

Asked by The StripedOne over 5 years ago

Run ended in the endzone, foul occured behind the spot. Mark off from the spot of the foul - the 20 yard line.