Bobref

So many great rivalry games this week. Which ones are you keeping your eyes on?

In light of the 12 team playoff, are conference championship games eventually going the way of the dodo? They generate an awful lot of $$.

A Poles home run.

“Merrillville Wins 5A Championship — Cody Parkhurst Vindicated!”

And up north, the Mighty, Mighty Eagles of St. Edward punched their 5th consecutive ticket to the final four by dominating previously unbeaten Mentor, 27-7.

The IHSAA and the coaches whose games that crew has worked have seen fit to put that crew in the state finals … twice, and in the semistate more than double that number of times. There’s a decent chance you’ll see them in Indy next weekend. But you would disqualify them from ever doing what the people in the know have repeatedly said they have earned because of one alleged missed call in one game. You would never hold a player or coach to that standard. You, sir, are part of the problem. I’m going to look at that game film and I’ll tell you whether I think they missed one. But regardless of whether they did or not, your position is absurd.

“Forward progress is the end of advancement of the ball, toward the opponent's goal, in a runner's possession.” I take it from your description that this is not a play where the issue is whether the runner was down because he touched the ground with something other than his hand or foot. Rather, whether the ball became dead as a result of the runner’s forward progress being stopped. To answer that question, we have to know when the rules say the ball is dead. The rule is pretty simple: “The ball becomes dead and the down is ended: a. When a runner goes out of bounds, is held so his forward progress is stopped or allows any part of his person other than hand or foot to touch the ground.” The key word in the rule as it relates to the play you described, is “held.” It’s not enough that the runner is not advancing toward the goal line. He has to be “held” by an opponent. So, if he runs into his own blockers, and is stacked up, but doesn’t go down and is not held by an opponent, the ball remains alive. i should add, it’s a basic officiating fundamental that you don’t blow the whistle without seeing the ball. A slow whistle is always better than a fast one. The only whistle that causes the ball to become dead is an inadvertent whistle. Otherwise, the whistle just confirms that the ball is, indeed, dead.

After calling a timeout with 0:05 on the clock. Personally, I have no problem with it. But apparently there’s some sort of an unwritten rule among coaches … But Narduzzi didn’t get the memo. Or, more likely, got it and threw it in the trash.

Forecast has changed again.

This is the block that negated Rocket’s last minute punt return TD in the 1991 Orange Bowl against Colorado. You judge for yourself whether it’s a block in the back, or a side block. Without this flag, Irish win the National Championship. If you watch the video clip, it’s really, really close.

Hudl video doesn’t show the dead ball interval, which is important to a complete understanding of the play. So, I spoke with the crew chief. This formation was brought up by the coach in the pregame conference. The receiver was inside the numbers after the ball was marked ready for play. He then moved out. It was not a part of the substitution process, so there was no impermissible deception. Legal play all the way.

Can you say when in the game the play occurred? I’ll look at the Hudl video. ”Hideout” plays are illegal, and have been for a long time. ART. 4 . . . It is illegal participation: d.To use a player, replaced player, substitute, coach, athletic trainer or other attendant in a substitution or pretended substitution to deceive opponents at or immediately before the snap or free kick. 9.6.4 SITUATION B: Following a kickoff return, A1 and A2 enter the field while A3, A4 and A5 move toward the sideline. A5 stops within the 9-yard marks while A3 and A4 continue toward the team box. The ball is blown ready for play with A3 and A4 outside the 9-yard marks and is snapped without a huddle and the quarterback throws a forward pass to A4, who has gone downfield as a wide receiver. RULING: This play is illegal because a pretended substitution is used to deceive the opponents. The penalty of 15 yards for the illegal participation foul will be administered from the previous spot since the foul occurred at the snap. (9-6-4d)

Forecast I saw no longer contains the threat of rain.

Happy 58th birthday to the single greatest game-changer I ever saw in college football, “Rocket” Ismail. I will be eternally grateful that I got to see the expression on Bo Schembechler’s face when he ran that second kickoff back against Michigan in 1989. Wish I could find that on video.

Since I’m at Dwenger to observe and evaluate the officiating crew, that might not go over too well. 😉

Looks like we could get wet Friday night. ☹️ How will that affect the teams? I know Dwenger is the favorite. But they say weather is the great equalizer.

Confirmed that kickoff is 7:30 Eastern.

I’ll be communicating with the AD and the crew chief on the officiating crew tomorrow. So, I’ll get it from the horse’s mouth.

Harrell’s site lists game time as 7 pm.

You talked me into it. I’ll be at Dwenger before 6 pm, so I usually beat the parking hassle.

Just looking for a decent burger. Maybe pizza.

I will be at Dwenger Friday night. Suggestions for a place to eat before the game would be much appreciated.

I’ll be at Dwenger Friday night. Suggestions on a decent place to eat before the game would be appreciated.

Definitely a bummer. Would like to get a crack at “owning” him.

Looks like a tib-fib fracture. Bad injury, but better than an ACL.