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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513 Questions

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Last Answer on January 23, 2021

Best Rated

Don't know if there is a difference between pro and college. If both teams commit a dead ball foul (both personal fouls), why wouldn't those fouls offset?

Asked by dmuellenberg@comcast.net almost 5 years ago

Personal fouls don't offset. Dead ball fouls all get enforced in the order of occurence. They would not offset since, by "definition", they are fouls that occurred after a play - they should not have happened.

How do I remove myself from this site

Asked by Steve in motown almost 5 years ago

You'll have to ask someone who knows that answer.

What rule would be violated (if any) if the O-line decided to hold hands after the snap [and essentially play a version of Red Rover] when pass protecting?

Asked by sploxy about 5 years ago

That's interlocked interference. In college, the rule states, "Teammates of the ball carrier or passer may interfere for him by blocking but shall not use interlocked interference by grasping or encircling one another in any manner while contacting an opponent." Besides the fact that their hands or arms might get broken!

Case Keenum against the bears,When he leaped and extended the ball for the first down and then fumbled, if Peterson recovered the ball behind the first down line would it have been a first down due to change of possession? because 1st down was made

Asked by Leo about 5 years ago

I didn't see this play so I'm not sure what to rule. If a ball carrier (QB or other) extends the ball and he isn't yet down (or forward progress ruled), then the ball is still alive. If Peterson is also on the Bears (sorry, don't know) and he recovers behind the line, then that is where the succeeding spot (next snap) takes place. If Peterson is on the other team, it's their ball if the loose ball (Keenum's fumble) is still alive. As I said, simply because the ball crossed the line to gain, if the play is still alive, then we don't have a first down.

In high school do we need to have 5 lineman numbers in the game for special teams?

Asked by Old guy about 5 years ago

You're looking at NFHS Rule 7-2-5. On downs 1, 2, and 3, you need five lineman numbered 50-79. Exception: if the team shifts into a scrimmage kick formation, only the center can be a numbering exception. On fourth down, or a kick try, you can have numbering exceptions on the line, players other than 50-79.

In Overtime, team A is leading. Team B has possession and fumbles; team A recovers and returns the fumble, and also fumbles, recovered back by team B. Is the game over, won by team A, or does team B still have a another possession?

Asked by Jim about 5 years ago

First, the series by the team on offense (your team B) is over. Since the defense (your team A) is winning, that indicates that they were already on offense in this period of OT. So, yes, game over and Team A wins.

Why no dead ball call when the sfo db was clearly out of bounds,started to strip the ball from the sea receiver,come back in bounds,while the receiver still had possession of rhe ball,and then successfully strip the ball for a fumble?

Asked by JO about 5 years ago

The rules analyst on the game, John Parry, explained that since the ball carrier had possession in bounds, the ball was alive with the runner in bounds. That despite the fact that the defender had a foot out of bounds. Since the strip of the ball occurred in the field of play, at least according to what Parry said, the ball was still alive.