Recent Posts

11

General Discussion / Re: Clock operator checklist/cheat sheets?

« Last post by zebrastripes on July 11, 2026, 01:13:02 PM »

Turn the freaking tenths and the horn off before every game, because most schools are too stupid to do it on their own and/or they think it’s like basketball where the clock needs to show tenths and have a horn.

12

National Federation Discussion / Re: Subtle Change in Manual

« Last post by dch on July 11, 2026, 11:27:45 AM »

a very long time ago we tried having the wing call roughing the kicker and/or holder -- it didn't last.  As the R I'm not having others make the decision re roughing (or not) when it happens right in front and very close to where I'm standing.

13

Texas Topics / Fair Catch Kicks with fouls?

« Last post by TxJim on July 11, 2026, 10:50:32 AM »

For promoting thoughts about FCKs, rules, and penalty administation which may or maybe not(?) apply to FCKs without further guidance. I was thinking there are some gray areas needing clarification.
Others thoughts?
 
1. Team A’s request is granted for a Fair Catch Kick at the B-40 with 0:05 2Q. Team B lines up in 3 sets of  three players aligned shoulder to shoulder within two yards of each other near the B-10 with two receivers positioned near the goal post in B’s end zone. A19’s Fair Catch Kick is short and is caught by B5 in B’s endzone and he returns into the field of play. B45, B47 and B22 move forward shoulder to shoulder blocking Team A players at the B-20, opening a lane for B5 to advance into A’s endzone as time expires. A55 committed a) an illegal blindside block, or b) a live ball UNS, at the 50 during B5’s return. Ruling?

Ruling: In both, Touchdown Team B, quarter is extended for Team B’s Try down, 25 seconds play clock [UIL]. Team B’s kick formation is legal (2-16-11-g and -h, 6-1-2-c-6 and -7) and the wedge blocks by B are legal since illegal wedge formations and blocks only apply to free kicks (6-1-10-b). Team B has the option to enforce fifteen-yard penalties for either A’s personal foul or the unsportsmanlike conduct on the try or at the succeeding kickoff to begin the 3Q. The quarter is extended for B’s try. (3-2-3-a-4-c).


2. Team A’s request is granted for a Fair Catch Kick at the B-40 with 0:00 2Q. Team B lines up in 3 sets of three players aligned shoulder to shoulder within two yards of each other near the B-10 with two receivers positioned near the goal post in B’s end zone. A19’s Fair Catch Kick is short and is caught by B5 in B’s endzone and he returns into the field of play. B45, B47 and B22 move forward shoulder to shoulder blocking Team A players at the B-20, opening a lane for B5 to advance into A’s endzone. During the return, B55 committed an illegal blindside block at the 50. Ruling?

Ruling: B 1/10 B-35, untimed scrimmage down, 25 seconds play clock. Team B’s formation and wedge blocks are legal since illegal wedge formations and blocks only apply to free kicks (2-16-11-g and -h, 6-1-2-c-6 and -7). The result of the play is a TD, so Team A will accept Team B’s IBB foul enforced from the 50. Team B is awarded an untimed down (3-2-3-a-4-b).


3. Team A’s request is granted for a Fair Catch Kick at the B-40 with 0:00 2Q. Team B lines up in 3 sets of  three players aligned shoulder to shoulder within two yards of each other near the B-10 with two receivers positioned near the goal post in B’s end zone. A19’s Fair Catch Kick is short and is caught by B5 in B’s endzone and he returns into the field of play. B45, B47 and B22 move forward shoulder to shoulder blocking Team A players at the B-20, opening a lane for B5 to advance.  During the B5’s run, A55 tackles B5 by the horse collar at the A-40. Ruling?

Ruling: B 1/10 A-25 untimed scrimmage down, 25 seconds play clock. Team B’s acceptance of A’s foul will extend the quarter for one play, otherwise if B declines the half is over (3-2-3-a-4-b).


4. Team A’s request is granted for a Fair Catch Kick at the B-40 with 0:00 2Q. A19’s Fair Catch Kick is very high and short and is caught by B5 at the B-10. B5 returns the ball to the B-40 where he is hit and fumbles. A22 recovers the ball while grounded at the B-41. While the ball was in flight, B50 blocks A44 below the waist at the B-29. Ruling?

Ruling: A, Fair Catch Kick, B-25 or A, 1/10 B-25 untimed scrimmage down, 25 seconds play clock. Team A was executing a Fair Catch Kick with an accepted penalty during the kick and Team B would not next put the ball in play. The only enforcement option is from the previous spot. By interpretation of Rule 3-2-3-a-4-b, Team A may elect to repeat the down as a Fair Catch Kick or as one untimed scrimmage down after enforcement of B’s penalty from the previous Fair Catch Kick spot. If A declines, the half is over. (3-2-3-a-4-b).


5. Team A’s request is granted for a Fair Catch Kick at the B-40 with 0:00 2Q. A19’s Fair Catch Kick is very high and short and is caught by B5 at the B-10. B5 returns the ball to the B-40 where he is hit and fumbles. A22 recovers the ball at the B-41 and returns it across B’s goal line. While the ball was in flight, B50 blocks A44 below the waist at the B-29 and then A55 commits a personal foul at the B-20 during A22’s return. Ruling?

Ruling: A, rekick Fair Catch Kick, B-40 for offsetting fouls; or A untimed scrimmage down 1/10, B-35, 25 seconds for A declining offsetting fouls. Team A has the option to decline offsetting fouls. If Team A takes B’s penalty, Team B will take A’s, the fouls offset and the only option is to reattempt the Fair Catch Kick at the B-40 (3-2-3-a-2, 3-2-3-a-4-b, 10-2-2-4-a). If A declines, B must take A’s penalty since to decline would result in a Team A touchdown. By interpretation of Rule 2-16-11-a and 10-2-2-2-a, since Team A fouled while executing a running play after a change of possession that resulted in a touchdown, the “trigger” for another Fair Catch Kick option is gone and after enforcement of A’s penalty, the quarter is extended for Team A to run a scrimmage play (3-2-3-a-4-b).

14

NCAA Discussion / Re: Al Riveron steps down as ACC coordinator

« Last post by zebrastripes on July 11, 2026, 08:03:25 AM »

Gary Patterson, who resigned two games into the 2025 season after an egregious overreach by ACC collaborative replay, is the name currently swirling as a favorite for this job. Would be a great fit for the role and a middle finger to Riveron, as well.

15

Texas Topics / Playoff Spreadsheet data website

« Last post by dammitbobby on July 10, 2026, 04:58:12 PM »

I've been doing the playoff spreadsheet for 4 years now, and I also have past spreadsheets from 2010, 2013, 2015, and 2018... if anyone has a final (end of season) version of the PDF for any other year, please send it to me. I've been compiling information into a website I built specifically to house this data.

https://texasplayoffs.com

It's gated behind a password right now, password is: Playoffs!

It's protected until I fully understand how people, including those outside of the officiating realm, would, or could, use this data. For example, would a coach use it to argue for, or against, a particular chapter? Would UIL or TASO make assumptions, correct or not, or decisions, that could adversely impact officials, based on data? I don't know.

So if you are interested in how the data stacks up, form a higher vantage point than one year, feel free to dive in. I'd love your feedback as to what data representations are useful, which ones are not, if you have any other "questions" you would like the answer to, that the data can provide. If you can give me reasons/examples of how this could be misused as well, I would be super grateful for that feedback as well.

Just to be clear: Any assumptions or conclusions you make regarding the data are your own: not mine, not UIL's, not TASO's, not coaches, or any other interested parties... All I have done is aggregate the data in ways I think are interesting.

16

National Federation Discussion / Re: Subtle Change in Manual

« Last post by fudilligas on July 10, 2026, 01:27:24 PM »

what our crew used to do was have the R cover the roughing the snapper along with any holding on the line and have the wing who is facing the R cover the roughing the kicker and holder.....the wing is still in position to cover the sideline if necessary ......it seemed to work quite well

17

National Federation Discussion / Re: Subtle Change in Manual

« Last post by Rich on July 10, 2026, 12:15:50 PM »

The R's going to have to carry some of the usual U burden as well, such as holding the snap when needed.  I'm sure there are other things.

18

Texas Topics / Re: Substitutions 3-5-2-d

« Last post by ElvisLives on July 09, 2026, 04:35:03 PM »

Thanks for the background on the rule and why it exists.  Would you maybe only consider enforcing it if the offending team is somehow using it to deliberately confuse the opponent?

Of course. But, that would be hard to judge. One scenario I see is Team A sends in an ‘apparent’ sub, and the defense kind of relaxes, then the sub runs off quickly and Team A hurries to snap the ball before Team B re-focuses on the formation and situation in front of them. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. But, I won’t be fooled twice. You’ll get a flag, for certain.

19

Texas Topics / Re: Substitutions 3-5-2-d

« Last post by Bulldog75 on July 09, 2026, 03:07:24 PM »

Thanks for the background on the rule and why it exists.  Would you maybe only consider enforcing it if the offending team is somehow using it to deliberately confuse the opponent?

20

NCAA Discussion / Re: Al Riveron steps down as ACC coordinator

« Last post by Grant - AR on July 09, 2026, 01:11:55 PM »

Most of the best ACC officials have departed since Al got the job – Mullins, Patterson, Heaser, Flanagan, Savoie, as well as plenty of non-Rs. No one is going to pretend like that’s a coincidence.

These three have gone to the SEC. 

I heard today that the ACC approached someone about the job and he turned it down.