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Football Officiating => NCAA Discussion => Topic started by: hefnerjm on December 05, 2015, 08:29:30 PM
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Timing question:
Team A is leading late in 4th qtr and the game clock is running as Team A has been running the ball to try to end the game. Before a 3rd down and long, Team A intentionally allows the play clock to run out and commits a delay of game penalty which is accepted by Team B. When should the game clock next start?
my colleague says: on the ready because the clock was running when the foul occurred.
I say: on the next snap because Team A committed the foul with the intent of burning clock.
Does the clock status (hot or not) change if Team B is winning?
What say ye?
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You're correct. If a team fouls and would get an unfair advantage, the game clock can be started or stopped at the discretion of the R. Taking a DOG definitely falls into that. My general rule for myself is any presnap foul qualifies, especially if the play clock is low since they will get a fresh 25 after enforcement. If Team B is winning, I would restart the clock like normal. Team A is working against the clock on that situation, so restarting it actually hurts them anyway.
As a bit of a retort, ask your colleague how many times he would let Team A take DOGs to run out the clock. Say Team A has 1st and Goal with 4 minutes left and continually lets the play clock run out. How long would he let it continue before putting an end to that farce?
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You are correct. In the normal course of the game it would be in the ready unless team A was in a scrimmage kick formation. However, R has to use his authority to start on the snap since A is trying to use it to run out the clock. Would your friend let them repeatedly do it until the clock ran out, never snapping the ball?
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Point your colleague to rule 3-4-3 and A.R. 3-4-3-I. It always surprises me when officials insist they are right when there is a trivial A.R. proving them wrong...