I watched some of this game live, and I am disappointed that I either didn't see a Windthorst try, or, somehow, this action just got by me.
No question. This is a false start. These players are making a quick, jerky motion to drop down in three-point stances. There is only one reason to make this type of movement, and that is to cause the defense to react, with the hope, by the offensive team, that the defense either makes contact, or is still in the NZ at the snap. Patently illegal. Even if you, somehow - and incorrectly - ruled this action to not be a false start, it is definitely an illegal shift, as the ball gets snapped almost the instant that the linemen get their hands on the ground - no one second pause.
We gotta get this stopped. We had a team do that on their first try early in the game (and early in the season), and we called them on it. They fussed, of course. But, once they knew we were going to make this call, they didn't do it any more. We also had a couple of teams 'go fast' like this on regular scrimmage downs. We also put a stop to that.
Some of you made comments about "if this was the first time..." or "if they don't do this every down..." Baloney. This is a foul the first time it shows up. This is a foul every time it shows up. We simply must have the courage to make this call and stop these attempts by the offense to illegally draw a foul against the defense. This is no different than defenses making those abrupt movements at the line, in the guise of 'normal defensive movements,' in an attempt to draw a false start. We gotta have the cajones to make these calls, and get these types of actions stopped. These are completely illegal. They are illegal because they are totally outside the spirit of fair play. Yeah, coaches may not care about fair play, but that is why we exist. To make sure the integrity of the game is protected.
This team had obviously been doing this all season. Now, how does a team get all the way to a championship game still doing this? As with most officiating issues in UIL (Texas) sports, it is the ability of coaches to select the officials that work their games. Many officials are reluctant to make tough calls like this, fearing that, if they do, they'll not be selected to work future games for that school. I've been saying this for at least 30 years: Officiating of UIL sports will not reach the highest level that can be reached until the institutions (coaches) are removed from the official assignment process. This is what you get. You don't see this happening in FBS football, because it is illegal, and FBS officials are expected to make these calls. They are able to make these calls, because they are unencumbered by the spectre of the "scratch." In my FBS days, if I made such a correct call against Oklahoma/Boise State/Oregon/Alabama, etc., I might have had same school three weeks later. No amount of complaining about the call would have got me removed. Even an occasional incorrect call/missed no call wouldn't be cause for removal from a future assignment to that school. We busted our butts to make correct calls, and didn't need any 'encouragement' from any coach or institution to do so, and didn't fear repercussion for any single judgment call. Yes, a pattern of incorrect calls/missed no calls would have consequences, but those were as much in the form of self-criticism than outside criticism.
The point is: Officials are not free to do the job right when the contestants can select the officials working their contests. Let's get that changed.
