Bobref

The Ohio memo explains why they think it is a good idea to put a 6th official at C. Can you give us the counterpoint as to why a traditional 6 man lineup of R, L, H, U, S and F is superior?

Ohio thinks it is. This is verbatim from the weekly memo that the OHSAA sends out to administrators and head football coaches: The Center Judge Position Officiating football is a great challenge at all levels. The number of officials needed to adequately cover good football games, like we have in the state of Ohio, is an example of this challenge. We know with the high caliber of football in Ohio that five-person mechanics leaves many holes in coverage. The goal is to add officials to cover the important areas of our game. When we studied the high school game, we realized that one huge area in which we need better coverage is the line of scrimmage and everything that happens in that three-yard band beyond the line of scrimmage. The center judge is a position that was added at both the collegiate and professional levels which gives great coverage to the line of scrimmage since the referee must focus on the quarterback soon after the snap (this is true at our level, also). We found the center judge position very successful in 2017 and 2018. There are other advantages to the center judge position. These mechanics give the umpire more freedom to focus on the point of attack because we have coverage on the line of scrimmage from the center judge. Also, these mechanics give us better coverage on both scrimmage kicks and free kicks. We are very encouraged with the evolution of the center judge position and we will look to expand more each year. To do this, we need several things to happen: 1. We need to increase the number of class 1 officials to supplement regular season crews. 2. Concurrently, we need schools to assist in scheduling six-person crews to regular season contests. My hope is that we can work together to improve coverage in our football contests that our game demands. I know we have a real scramble for sufficient officials to cover games in some areas using only 5. But we could start by switching to 6 by the 2nd week of the tournament. Something to think about.

No, but you’ve given me an idea for a great fantasy novel.

Now that legislation in CA allowing college athletes to profit from use of their name and likeness has been signed into law, what will be the consequences - long and short term - for college athletics? Several other states are considering similar legislation. How will the NCAA respond? What will be the unintended consequences? Does this signal a sea change in the way college athletes are treated? https://www.si.com/college-football/2019/09/30/california-governor-signs-fair-pay-play-act-lebron-james

No argument there.

You guys should invest a few $$ in a field mike.

Sagarin has the Vikings a 7 pt. favorite, including the home field advantage.

There are a lot of personal fouls that don’t carry an automatic 1st down with their yardage penalty. Easiest way to remember is that only fouls that start with “roughing” carry an automatic 1st down: passer, kicker, holder and snapper.

Losing Daelin Hayes for the season with a torn shoulder labrum is significant.

If the crew can get the defense counted and confirm there’s 12, and the ball hasn’t been snapped, we’re instructed to shut it down and call a dead ball foul for illegal substitution, which is 5 yds. If you can’t get the play shut down before the ball is snapped, and there are 12 in the defensive formation, then it’s a 15 yd. illegal participation penalty (live ball). If the defense has 12, and one of them is trying to get off, but doesn’t get there before the snap, that’s also illegal substitution, but it’s a 5 yd. live ball foul at the snap.

Exactly why you should not infer anything from the mere fact that officials, for some reason, didn’t show up.

Correct. Can’t tell from a still whether there could have been kick catching interference.

Since we’ve been told the Mercy Rule is the exclusive method of altering timekeeping, I’m punting this one to the IHSAA.

Nothing.

Then you shouldn’t assume the crew “got a better gig elsewhere.”

Works for me. Except, I’ll be at Notre Dame tomorrow.

I wish I could. I’ll be out in the rain at Wheeler ... if we play.

Until the game actually starts, it’s in the hands of game management. Once the game starts, the guy in the white hat has complete control over whether conditions are safe to play. If the game is suspended, the determination of how late we can restart, once the referee says conditions are safe, also belongs to game management. This is from the NF policy: a. When thunder is heard or lightning is seen*, the leading edge of the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location with lightning. Suspend play for at least 30 minutes and vacate the outdoor activity to the previously designated safer location immediately. b. 30-minute rule. Once play has been suspended, wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard or lightning is witnessed* prior to resuming play. c. Any subsequent thunder or lightning* after the beginning of the 30-minute count will reset the clock and another 30-minute count should begin.” * – At night, under certain atmospheric conditions, lightning flashes may be seen from distant storms. In these cases, it may be safe to continue an event. If no thunder can be heard and the flashes are low on the horizon, the storm may not pose a threat. Independently verified lightning detection information would help eliminate any uncertainty.

Based on the weather in northwest Indiana right now, I’d say they’re likely to have some company tomorrow.

Does someone actually pay this guy to come up with stuff like that? I mean, is that part of his job? Or is it more like a hobby?

I have a hard time thinking of HCC or any MIC schools as “Northern.”

This may say more about the decline of “big school football” in the Northern half of the state than anything else.

If the GID had an award for “Most logical fallacies contained in a single post of 2 sentences or less,” this would be the leader in the clubhouse.

There is another possible justification ... which would explain why it only applies in the tournament: the IHSAA owns exclusive broadcast rights to the tournament games. A drone that could take pictures, or stream video, would potentially conflict with that, and decrease the value of the IHSAA’s broadcast rights. I assume that whatever contract the IHSAA has with its broadcast partners obliges it to take reasonable steps to safeguard the exclusivity of the product.

All of which benefit the member schools financially. Just say “thank you,” coach. That presumes you know what that justification was. What do you think it was?