Comments on: 2013 BCS Championship: Officials Blow Early Calls In Alabama’s Favor http://fansided.com/2013/01/07/2013-bcs-championship-officials-blow-early-calls-in-alabamas-favor/ Sports News - An Independent Sports Network Thu, 23 May 2013 05:42:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Bob Papadazzio http://fansided.com/2013/01/07/2013-bcs-championship-officials-blow-early-calls-in-alabamas-favor/#comment-6893 Bob Papadazzio Wed, 09 Jan 2013 11:57:00 +0000 http://fansided.com/?p=299002#comment-6893 If you're going to comment on "bad calls" it would serve you well to actually consult a damn rulebook first, you moron! TWO Notre Dame players actually committed interference on that play: #41 committed kick catch interference, and #8 committed fair catch interference. Per NCAA Rule Changes 2012: " Through officiating interpretation, kick returners are provided protection of one yard (in front of the returner) to complete a catch before the kicking team is allowed to make contact." At the time the ball was falling into Jones' arms #41 was within a yard in front of Jones. Had he not been called, given the fact that Jones had signaled a fair catch, #8 was in clear violation of NCAA Rule 6-5-1-b. "When a Team B player makes a valid fair catch signal, the unimpeded opportunity to catch a free or scrimmage kick continues if this player muffs the kick and still has an opportunity to complete the catch. This protection terminates when the kick touches the ground. If the player subsequently catches the kick, the ball is placed where he first touched it (A.R. 6-5-1-I-II)." The ball had never touched the ground when #8 touched it, and thus Jones was not, per the rules, given an unimpeded opportunity to catch the ball. If you’re going to comment on “bad calls” it would serve you well to actually consult a damn rulebook first, you moron! TWO Notre Dame players actually committed interference on that play: #41 committed kick catch interference, and #8 committed fair catch interference.

Per NCAA Rule Changes 2012: ” Through officiating interpretation, kick returners are provided
protection of one yard (in front of the returner) to complete a catch
before the kicking team is allowed to make contact.”

At the time the ball was falling into Jones’ arms #41 was within a yard in front of Jones. Had he not been called, given the fact that Jones had signaled a fair catch, #8 was in clear violation of NCAA Rule 6-5-1-b.

“When a Team B player makes a valid fair catch signal, the unimpeded opportunity to catch a free or scrimmage kick continues if this player muffs the kick and still has an opportunity to complete the catch. This protection terminates when the kick touches the ground. If the player subsequently catches the kick, the ball is placed where he first touched it (A.R. 6-5-1-I-II).”

The ball had never touched the ground when #8 touched it, and thus Jones was not, per the rules, given an unimpeded opportunity to catch the ball.

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