I watched parts of several FCS playoff games and a couple of Texas high school playoff games yesterday. Can’t remember in which game this happened. Toward the end of one of those games, the team leading in score punted. It was a short punt that landed near the pressbox sideline, bounced high, and a was dropping down and would have landed about 3’ out of bounds, but a squad member on that sideline stepped out into the restricted area (one foot actually in the field of play), and grabbed the untouched ball in the air before it landed. There were no players of either team near the spot where this action occurred. The F dropped a flag, which resulted in a lot of ignorant banter among the broadcast ‘talent.’ There were references to “illegal touching,” and other comments about this being a ‘penalty’ because the squad member had one foot in the field of play, as though it would have been OK if he was standing totally OB. Morons. The crew eventually (correctly) ruled UNS, and penalized the guilty team from the dead-ball spot (which would be correct regardless of which team committed the foul, i.e., PSK if receiving team, or spot where dead-ball belongs to B, if by kicking team).
So, exactly what is the foul? It is a 9–2-3-c Unfair Act, ‘interfering with the ball while it is in play.’ Had this player been in the team area (as defined), we certainly would not rule illegal interference. Even in the coaches box, which is only ‘supposed’ to be occupied by coaches, we wouldn’t rule anything illegal. But, once they get into the restricted area and interfere with a live ball or an opponent, then we must rule illegal interference. The rule allows the R to impose any penalty he thinks is equitable. A simple 15-yard penalty is appropriate, in this case (and 1 UNS on the fouling squad member’s UNS ‘counter’), which they did.
Never seen this happen before, so it is good action to discuss, and understand.
