Bobref

The call in the back of the end zone was in the 2nd quarter with the score 7-7. It ended up 41-23.

Thank goodness!

What is the difference between a “horrible” call and one that is merely “wrong?” I guess it depends on whose ox is being gored. The back judge let a D1 player run by him, so he was in a poor position to make a call on the end line. He got it wrong. And I stand by my statement that Westfield was the obviously superior team that night. That TD might have made a difference in the score, but the outcome wasn’t in doubt in the 2nd half.

And no one would find such a self-study credible.

I believe what IO was saying 😉is that Guardian caps and other similar technologies have been found to reduce linear acceleration of the head in collisions by as much as 11%, but only reduce angular acceleration by about 2%. And, of course, angular acceleration is what produces concussions. At least, that’s what the American Academy of Neurology says. Interesting that this study was published in 2015, and there are still no good studies demonstrating that these devices reduce the risk of concussion. https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/1347 HELMET ADD-ONS MAY NOT LOWER CONCUSSION RISK IN ATHLETES WASHINGTON, DC - Football helmet add-ons such as outer soft-shell layers, spray treatments, helmet pads and fiber sheets may not significantly help lower the risk of concussions in athletes, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 67th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, April 18 to 25, 2015. “Our study suggests that despite many products targeted at reducing concussions in players, there is no magic concussion prevention product on the market at this time,” said study author John Lloyd, PhD, of BRAINS, Inc. in San Antonio, Fla., and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers modified the standard drop test system, approved by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment, by using a crash test dummy head and neck to more realistically simulate head impact. Sensors were placed in the dummy’s head to measure linear and angular rotational responses to helmet impacts at 10, 12 and 14 miles per hour. Using this device, BRAINS researchers evaluated four football helmet add-ons: Guardian Cap, UnEqual Technologies’ Concussion Reduction Technology, Shockstrips and Helmet Glide. Riddell Revolution Speed and Xenith X1 football helmets were outfitted with each of these add-ons and impacted five times from drop heights of 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 meters. Linear acceleration, angular velocity and angular accelerations of the head were measured in response to impacts. The study found that compared to helmets without the add-ons, those fitted with the Guardian Cap, Concussion Reduction Technology and Shockstrips reduced linear accelerations by about 11 percent, but only reduced angular accelerations by 2 percent, while Helmet Glide was shown to have no effect. “These findings are important because angular accelerations are believed to be the major biomechanical forces involved in concussion,” said Lloyd. “Few add-on products have undergone even basic biomechanical evaluation. Hopefully, our research will lead to more rigorous testing of helmets and add-ons.” The study was supported by BRAINS, Inc. and Seeing Stars Foundation. To learn more about concussion, please visit www.aan.com/concussion.

I was there that night. The back judge got one wrong on a bang-bang play on the end line. But Westfield was by far the better team that night.

Helmet add ons that purport to reduce concussions are all the rage now. The NFL even mandates them in certain situations. But what is the science behind them and, more importantly, do they work? I’d like to hear about your experiences, both pro & con.

Done. Thanks.

That doesn’t work for me, maybe because I’m using an iPad? Help!

I am not a big fan of the manner in which the Rulebook deals with “defenseless” players. It does a great job of defining what is meant by “defenseless,” and gives helpful examples of defenseless players. But, IMO, does not do a very good job of telling us what sort of contact against such a player is legal, and what constitutes unnecessary roughness, and is a foul. The new definitions contained in Rule 2-32-16, however, provide that guidance … but only with regard to defenseless receivers (or interceptors, as the rule applies equally to offense and defense). I sought, and received, an official interpretation of the new rule from Asst. Commissioner Faulkens. Regardless of how awkwardly the new rule goes about it, the official interpretation is as follows: In the case of a defenseless receiver, the only types of forcible contact permitted against such a receiver are: Contact initiated with open hands and arms extended, just like in the blindside block rule. Contact during an attempted “form tackle,” i.e., where the opponent’s contact includes an attempt to “wrap up” the receiver. Contact occurring in the course of a legitimate attempt to make a play on the football. Any forcible contact against a defenseless receiver that does not fit into one of these three categories is a foul, either for unnecessary roughness or targeting (if the contact is above the shoulders). No more ESPN highlight hits on receivers, trying to separate them from the ball. Prediction: In the coming years we will see this type of specific protection extended to all types of defenseless players.

First Amendment, anyone?

Maybe the easiest prediction I ever made on here. He gone! I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Can you say “lawsuit?” Edited July 11 by Bobref

I worked a lot of games for those two schools. They were my favorite places to work for many reasons. Just two great, classy programs.

John Barron was the coach of one of the teams. I spoke with him last week, but “forgot” to mention that incident.

Many years ago, South Bend used to hold a Summer festival in July that included all sorts of athletic events, including an all star game of area football players. I got our crew to officiate one of the games. Figured it’d be a nice, no pressure, way to get in some field time in the Summer. Back then there weren’t the opportunities to work in the Summer like there are now. Well, early in the proceedings one of the players spit on an opponent and there commenced a bench clearing brawl — one of only 3 in which I was involved in 40 seasons.

Or even a series. That gets the message across: “Behave, or sit.”

Rule 7-2-2 has been in the rulebook forever. Nothing new here. “The players on each side of and next to the snapper may lock legs with the snapper, but any other A lineman must have each foot outside the ­closest foot of the player next to him at the snap.” The only restriction on interlocking legs is at the snap. Once the ball is snapped, there are no such restrictions. There is a rule against “interlocked blocking,” but it does not included interlocked feet.

Send me a message with your location and I’ll put you in touch with the right person.

Exactly. That’s why it falls on the coaches to control the players in the only way that’ll make them settle down — playing time. They act like jackasses, sit ‘em down for a series and see if that works.

You had better believe it.

What would you have the officials do that they didn’t? The way in which officials handle this sort of thing is well established. There is an escalating sequence of responses, which goes like this: Talk to the players. This is something the crew does throughout the game. But it becomes much more focused if things get chippy. Talk to the head coaches. “Coach, your #50 is going to get you in trouble if he keeps up the chirping, shoving, etc.” Hopefully, the coach has a little more influence on the player, and calms him down. Throw the flag. Talk can only get you so far. If talking doesn’t work, the flag usually does. Disqualify the offenders. This is absolutely a last resort. I have some pretty good sources (not anyone on last night’s crew), and understand there was a disqualification for targeting against the North early on — which, by all accounts, was exactly the right call. But it continued, and the coaches didn’t even sit offending players for a series after a personal foul or unsportsmanlike conduct foul. There is only so much the officials can do … and my sources tell me the crew did everything they could, but got little cooperation from the coaching staffs. Was that the targeting foul committed against the South QB? The offender was disqualified, as the Referee judged it to be a flagrant personal foul.

Yes.

I officiated this game twice. I can tell you that the last thing you want to do is throw a bunch of flags at what is supposed to be half football game, half graduation party.

I understand it was a sh*tshow tonight. What happened?